Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-07
BETTER CONTROL OF TRADE
Federal Government Possesses Power
More Activity Is Needed

hoTc ACTIVITY IS NeeQeu
No small part of the trouble that we
the national virtue of self-reliance, of in
dependence ds In initiatiye and action, II
provide for its fullest exercise, compat-
ible with seeing that liberty does not
become become a, liberty to wrong others; IN
that the lack of all effective regula-
ton inevitably breeds. The founders of
the constitution provided that the ma
and sole control of interstate commerce.
There was then practically no interstate
business save such as was conducted by
water and this the national government
at once proceeded to regulate in thor
ouEhgolng and effective fashion. Con-
ditions have now so wholly changed that
| the Interstate commerce by water is in
| significant compared with the amount
that goes by land, and almost all big
business nt arn,s ), concerns are now engaged in
can be but partially and imperfectly con-
trolled or regulated by the action Of any
enng to bs es spc too Sras
tic or else too lax, and in either case
ineffective for purposes of justice. Or
control. This does not mean that there
Should should be any extension of federal au-
lists under the constitution in amplest
and most far-reaching form; but it does
mean that there, should be an extension
ing Capitalization. 1t is merely looking
facts in the face land realizing that cen
tralization in business has already come
that the public at large can only protect
itself from certain evil effects Of this
business Ger esntrazation by providing bet
: through the authority already central
lied IN the national government by the
Sensti IT. ion Itself There must be
of action which this nation has elected
: to pursue: and has steadily pursued, dur
ef The as bo5
! the administration of the law by tn
d depa m Of justice The most vita
, roads. AS to these, in my judgmen
there should now be either a nationa
. incorporation act or law licensing rail
commerce upon certais sAe eendito n:erS! IA
: law should be so framed as to give t
Q the interstate commerce commission
4 of securities, while ample means shout
s be provided to enable the commission
: whenever in, it's judgment 1t is neces
: any railroad. AS I stated in my mes
:. sage to, the, congress a year ago, rail
nto neua be s given to ente
y ments being made public in. minute dc
+ tai tai and to the consent of the inter
n the SseT rs
g assumes proper control of interstat
d commerce, in the exercise of the al
e thority. it already possesses. 1t will h
) impossible either to give to or to &c
: from the railroads full Justice. Th
o railroads and all other great corpora
$ lions will do well to recognize that TIL
e control must come; the only question
d as to what governmental body can mo.
d wisely exercise it. The courts will d.
It termine the. limits within which the fec
IS eral authority can exercise, It, and thel
s. will still remain ample work within eac
lie state for the railway commission of thu
lie state: and the national interstate con
y merce commission will work in harmon
Re with the several state commissions, eac
re within it's own province. to achieve IL
he desired end.