The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
tcontlnued from Page s.)


business world and would produce such
distrust OF the agitators that IN the
revulsion the distnlst would extend TO
honest men who, III sincere and sane
fashion, are trying to remedy the evils
The antitrust law should not bc re.
pcaled; but Il should be made both
more efficient aud more III harmony with
actual conditions Ii should he 40
amended as TO forbid only the kind Of
combination which does harm to the
general public. such amendments to be
accompanied by. or to be an incident Of.
u grant OF supervisory power to the
Government over these hig concerns en-.
gagged in interstate business, This
should be accompanied hy provision for
the compulsory publication OF accounts
and the subsection Of books and papers
to the inspection OF the Government
officials, 4 beginning has already been
made tor such supervision by tho es.
tabli>hmcnt OF the Bureau Of Corpora.
tions.
The antitrust law should not prohibit
combinations that do no injustice to the
public. still less those the existence oil
which Is on the whole OF benefit 10 the
public. But even II this feature OF the
law were abolished. there would remain
rs an equally Objectionable feature the
difficulty and delay now incident to la
Enforcement, The Government must
now submit to irksome and repeated
delay before obtaining final decision
of the courts upon proceedings institut.
ed, aud even q favorable decrce may
mean an empty victory. Moreover, to
attempt to control these corporations
by lawsuits means TO impose upon both
the Department OF Justice and the courts
an impossible burden; il ia not feasible
to carry ON more than a limited mum.
Der OF such suits, Such law to be
really effective must Of course be ad.
ministered by an executive body. and
not merely by means OF lawsuits. The
design should be to prevent the abuses
incident to the creation OF unhealthy
and improper combinations. instead of
waiting until they are in existence and
then attempting to destroy them BY
civil or criminal proceedings.
A combination should not be- tolerated
II II abuse the power acquired by com,
to the public detriment. No
or association OF any kind
should be permitted to engage in foreign
or interstate commerce that Ii formed
for the purpose OF. or whose operations
create, monopoly or general control OF
the production. sale. or distribution OF
any one or more OF the prime necessities
Of life or articles OF general use and
necessity. Such combinations are
against public policy; they violate the
common law; the doors OF the courts
IRE closed 10 those who are parties TO
them. and believe the Congress can
Hose the channels OF interstate com
nerce against them for It's protection.
The law should make It's prohibitions
md permissions MS clear and definite as
possible, leaving the least possible room
'or arbitrary action, or allegation OF
such action, on the part of the Execu.
i've, or OF divergent interpretations by
he courts. Among the points to be
timed at should be the prohibition OF
Unhealthy competition. such as by rend, /,
ring service at an actual loss for the |
purpose Of crushing out competition, the
OF imitation OF capital, and
he prohibition OF corporations max.
ng exclusive trade with itself a con.
lition OF having any trade with itself |
Reasonable agreements between, or com.
,inations OF. corporations should be per-
nitted. provided they are first submit
ed to and approved by some appropriate
Government body.
The Congress has the power 10 charter
orporations to engage in interstate and
oreign commerce, and general law
an be enacted under the provisions OF
which existing corporations could take
'ut Federal charters and new Federal
orporations could be created. An es.