The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-12-05

2 and elbows. 1000 yards
Uonclui led from First PsRe.)
ntel. Ara re.a.ill fr.f, .'.' ~ rHoh .
law phon. A.' q Iri.ni Df .'r .ei'r
mining icy sonic i,-rfl inlto OBJ com
mission vheta.r iae -',.i-am ior a
federal charter VAS ag a.sacin;ion or
combination within The restrictions Of
the federal law. Provision should also
be nialo for complete publicity IN all
matters affecting The pl0i.c and com
plrf. protection 10 tie ntcsilnS public
anI tac shareholders in the matter or
Issuing corporate securities. II an In
corpefatioa law IS not deemed advlsa.
be. license act fQr big Interstate cor
poratons might he enacted or a com
bluuiion o. The two might be tried.
The snneryislon established might be
analogous 10 that now exercised over
NATIONAL banks. At least the anti
trust act should be supplemented by
spaciAc prohibitions OF the methods
VIII. y experience has shown have been
Of most service 10 enabling mcnopolis-
tic combinations 10 crush out competi-
ton.
The real owrcrs Of corporation
should lie compelled To Go business In
their own naMe Tho rl-l. 10 hold
stock 10 other corporations should here
after he dcAle.i 70 Interstate corpora
lions. unless on approval by the propef
government officials. and prerequisite
10 such approval should he the listing
with the government Of all owners and
stockholders, both 10y the corporation
owning such stock and by the corpora
ton In which such stock Is owned.
Lessons Of Recent Crisis.
To confer upon the national govern
ment IN connection with the amend
ment | advocate In the antitrust law
power OF supervision over big business
concerns engaged In Interstate com
merce would benefit them as 1t has
benefited the national banks. In the
recent business crisis it Is noteworthy
that the institutions which failed were
institutions which were not under tho
supervision and control Of the national
government. Those which were ulder
national control stood the test
National control Of the kind above
advocated would be to the benefit OF
every well managed railway. From
the standpoint Of the public there Is
need for additional tracks. additional
terminals and improvements In the ac-
tual handling Of the railroads. and all
this as rapidly as possible. Ample
safe and speedy transportation facii-
tics ere even more necessary than
CHEAP transportation. Therefore there
is need for the investment OF money
which will provide for all these things
while at the same time securing rs FAR
rs Is possible better wages and shorter
hours for their employees. Therefore
while there must be just and reasona-
BILE regulation Of rates. we should Dc
the first to protest against any arbitra'
ry and unthlnklng movement to cut
them down without the fullest and
most careful consideration OF all inter
ests concerned and Of the actual needs
Of the situation. Only a special body
Of men acting for the national govern
ment under authority conferred upon II
bv the congress Is competent to pass
Judgment on such a matter.
Those who fear from any reason the
extension Of federal activity VIII dc
well TO study the history not only OF
the national banking act, but OF the
pure food law, and notably the meat
inspection law recently enacted. The
pure food law was opposed so Violent
" that It's passage was delayed Tor q
decade. yet II has worked unmixed ana
immediate good. The meat inspection
law was even more violently assailed,
and the same men who now denounce
the attitude Of the national govern
ment in seeking to oversee and control
the workings of interstate common car
riers and business concerns then as
serted that we were "discrediting aud
running great American industry.
Two years have not elapsed. and al
ready It has become evident that the
great benefit the law confers upon the
public IS accompanied by an equal ben
eft to the reputable packing establish
ments. The latter are better of under
the law than they were without IT,
The benefit to interstate common car
riers and business concerns from the
legislation | advocate would be equal
ly marked.
Pure Food Law.
incidentally in the passage OF the
nure food law the action Of the vari-
Gus state food and dairy commission
ers showed In striking fashion how
much good for the whole people results
from the hearty cooperation Of the
federal and state officials In securing
given reform. II Is primarily to the
action Of these state commissioners
that we owe the enactment of this
law. for they aroused the people. first
10 demand the enactment and enforce.
ment OF state laws on the subject and
then the enactment Of the federal law,
without which the state laws were
largely ineffective. There must be the
closest cooperation between the ma