The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-12-03


commission he'uE Hfl obtained Uhll
lAa national government anea
proper control 0l Interstate commerce.
in the exercise 0f the authority A al-
ready possesses it WIN be impossible
either to give t0 81 So gat from the
railroads tom Justice. Ihe railroads
and aii other great corporations win
% Weii 30 recognize chat this control
must come the only question ia aa Go
what governmental body can most
wisely exercise it The courts win de-
termine the limits within which the
FEDERAL authority can exercise ii. and
there win still remain ample work
within each state for the railway com
mission OF that state; and the national
Interstate commerce commission VIII
work IN harmony with the several state
commissions. each within IFS own prov
inee, TO achieve the desired end
Control or Interstate
Buninesa Concerns Urged.
Moreover, In my Judgment there should
be additional legislation looking 10 the
proper control OF the great business con-
Germs engaged In Interstate business, this
CONTROL 10 be exercised for their own
benefit and prosperity no less than for
the protection Of investors and OF the
general public As ! have repeatedly
said Ia messages to congress and else
where. experience has definitely shown
not merely the unwisdom but the futiiity
Of endeavoring to put a stop to all busl-
ness combinations. Modern industrial
conditions are such that combination is
not only necessary but Inevitable It Is
SO in the world Of business just as 1t IS
70 IN the world Of labor, and II is as idle
to desire 10 put an end 70 all corpora
tions, to ali big combinations OF capital.
as to desire 70 put an end to comblna-
tions Of labor Corporation and labor
union alike have come to stay. Each II
properly managed Is a source Of good
and not evil Whenever in either there
ls evil, It should be promptly held to ac-
count; but 1t should receive hearty en-
enlargement 80 long as 1t Is properly
managed. Il Is profoundly immoral to
put or keep on the statute books a law,
nominally in the interest Of public moral
ity that really puts premium upon
public immortality by undertaking to
forbid honest men from doing what must
be done under modern business condi-
TONS SO that the law itself provides that
its own infraction must Be the condition
precedent upon business success. To aim
at the accomplishment Of too much nsu-
ally means the accomplishment OF too lit
tie and often the doing Of positive dam
age.
The antitrust law should not be re-
pealed: but Il should be made both more
efficient and more IN harmony with act
ual conditions. Il should be so amended
as TO forbid only the kind Of combination
which does harm TO the general public,
such amendment TO be accompanied by.
or to be an incident OF. a grant OF su-
pervisory power 70 the government over
these big corporations engaged IN inter
state business. This should be accom-
panied BY provision for the compulsory
publication OF accounts and the subjec-
ton Of books and papers to the inspec-
ton Of the government officials be-
ginning has already been made for such
supervision By the establishment OF the
bureau Of corporations
"The antitrust law should not prohibit
combinations that do no injustice to the
public. still less those the existence OF
which Is on the whole Of benefit to the
public. But even II this feature 0f the
law were abolished, there would remain
as an equally Objectionable feature ths
difficulty and delay now incident to It's
enforcement. The government must now
submit % irlysome and repeated delays
before obtaining a final decision OF The
courts upon proceedings instituted, and
even favorable decree may mean nf
empty victory Moreover, 10 attempt Il
control these corporations by Lawsuits
means 10 impose upon both the depart
ment Of justice and the courts an i'm
possible burden; Il is not feasible 20 carrl
son more than a limited number OF sucl
suits Such a Law 70 be really effective
must Of course be administered BY al
executive body. and not merely by mean
of lawsuits The design should be Il
prevent the abuses incident to the crea
tlon Of unhealthy and improper eombina
tions. instead OF waiting until they ar
In existence and then attempting 20 de
atroy them BY civil or criminal proceed
ings