Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-12-06
Investing Public should
BE Amply SafegUnrded.

The congress has the power to charter
corporations 10 engage in interstate and
foreign commerce, and a general law can
be enacted under the provisions of which
existing corporations could take out fed
eral charters and new federal corpora
tons could be created. An essential pro-
vision of such law should be a method
of predetermining by some federal board
or commission whether the applicant for
federal charter was an association or
combination within the restrictions of the
federal law. Provision should also be
made for complete publicity in all matters
Affecting the public and complete protec-
ton TO the investing public and the share
holders in the matter of issuing corporate
securities. If an incorporation law is not
deemed advisable, a license act for big
interstate corporations might be enacted.
or combination of the two might he
tried. The supervision established might
be analogous to that now exercised over
national banks. At least, the antitrust
act should be supplemented by specific
prohibitions Of the methods which ax-
perience has shown have been of most
service in enabling monopolistic combina-
tons to crush out competition. The real
owners Of corporation should be COM
PEELED to do business in their own name
The right to hold stock in other corpora.
tons should hereafter be denied TO inter
state corporations, unless on approval by
the proper government officials, and
prerequisite to such approval should be
the listing with the government Of all
owners and stockholders, both bv the
corporation owning such stock and by
the corporations in which such stock is
owned.
To confer upon the national govern
ment, in connection with the amendment
advocate in the antitrust law. power Of
supervision over big business concerns
engaged in interstate commerce. would
benefit them as it has benefited the ma
uonal banks. In the recent business
crisis it is noteworthy that the institn-
tons which failed were institutions
which were not under the supervision and
control of the national government
Those which were under national con-
troll stood the test.
National control Of the kind above ad-
Vocated would be to the benefit of avarv
well-managed railway. From the stand
point Of the public there is need for ad-
uuonal tracks, additional terminals and
improvements in the actual handling NJ
the railroads, and all this as rapdly az
possible. Ample. safe, and speedy trans
portauon facilities are even more neces-
sary than cheap transportation. There
lore there is need for the investment NJ
money which will provide for all these
things while at the same time securing az
tas as is possible better wages and
shorter hours for their employees. There
lore, while there must be Just and rea-
sonable regulation Of rates, we should be
the first to protest against any arbitrary
and unthinking movement TO cut them
down without the fullest and most care
full consideration Of all interests con-
cerned and Of the actual needs OF the
situation. Only special body OF men
acting for the national government nm
der authority conferred upon II by the
congress is competent to pass judgment
. on such matter.
Greater Elasticity In
Currency IL Urged.
Inc president quotes extensively from
M iast message In dealing with the a.