The Penn's Grove record., 1908-07-31

business as little as possible. Such
machinery is not now adequate.
Under the present rate bill, and

49,
business as little as possible. Such
machinery is not now adequate.
Under the present rate bill, and
under. all it's amendments, the bur-
den of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in Supervising and regulating
the operation of the railroads Of this
country has grown SO heavy. that 1t
Is utterly impossible for that tribunal
to hear and dispose, in any reason
able time, of the many complaints,
queries and issues that are brought
before it for. decision. 1t ought I'd be
relieved of it's jurisdiction as an ex-
ecutive, directing body, and its func-
tons should be limited to the quasi
judicial investigation of complaints
by individuals and by a department
OF the Government charged with the
executive business of supervising the
operation of railways.
There should be a classification of
that very small percentage Of indus
trial corporations having power and
opportunity to effect Illegal restraints
OF trade and .~monopolies; and legis-
lation either inducing or compelling
them to subject themselves to regis
try and to proper publicity regula-
lions and supervision of the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor.
Railway Traffic Agreements.
1t is agreeable to note in this re-
gard that the Republican platform
expressly; and the Democratic plat
form implicitly; approve an amend
ment to the interstate commerce law
by which interstate railroads may
| m q h 11cofY1 Two a. "A 4 ofy.NS o-fc tf -
proved by the commission.
Valuation of Railways.
1t is clear that the sum of ali rates
or receipts of a railway; less proper
expenses, should be limited to d fair
profit upon the reasonable value Of
it's property, and that If the sum ex-
ceeds this measure it ought to be re-
duced.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
| sion has now the power to ascertain
the value of the physical railroad
| property, If necessary, in determin-
ing the reasonableness of rates. If
the machinery for doing so is not adj
| equate, as Is probable, 1t should be
made so.
Control of Corporations.
The fact is that nearly all corpora
lions doing q commercial business are
engaged in interstate commerce, and
il they all were required to take out
a Federal license or a Federal char
ter, the burden upon the interstate
business of the country would be-
come intolerable.
1t is necessary, therefore, to de-
| wise some means for classifying and
insuring Federal supervision of such
corporations as have the power and
temptation to effect restraints of in
terstate trade and ~monopolies. Such
corporations constitute a very small
percentage of all engaged in inter-
state business.
Combination of Capital.
The combination of capital in large
plants to manufacture goods with the
greatest economy Is just as necessary
as the assembling Of parts of a ma
chine to the economical and more
rapid manufacture of what in old
times was made by hand.
The Government should not inter-
fere with n any more than the
other, and when such aggregations of
capital are legitimate and are prop
erfy controlled, they are then the
natural results of modern enterprise
and are beneficial to the public. In
the proper operation Of competition
the public will soon share with the
manufacturer the advantage in econ
omy of operation and lower prices.
Proper Treatment of Trusts.
Unlawful trusts should be re-
strained with all the efficiency of in
junctive process, and the persons en-
gagged in maintaining them should be
punished with all the severity of
criminal prosecution, in order that
the methods pursued in the operation
of their business shall be brought
within the law.
Revision of the Tariff.
1t is the policy of the Republican
party permanently to continue that
standard of living. In 1897 the Ding
ley tariff bill was passed, under which
we have had, as already said, e. pc
riod of enormous prosperity.
The consequent material develop
ment has greatly changed the condi-
lions under which many articles de-
scribed by the schedules of the tariff
are now produced. The tariff in a
number of the schedules exceeds the
difference between the cost of pro-
duction of such articles abroad and
at home, including a reasonable profit
to the American producer. The ex-
cess over that difference serves no
useful purpose, but offers a tempta-
ton to those who would monopolize
the production and the sale of such
articles in this country to profit by
the excessive rate.
On the other hand there are other
schedules in which the tariff is not
sufficiently high to give the measure
OF protection which they should re-
ceive upon Republican principles, and
as to those the tariffs should be
raised. A revision Of the tariff I'M
dertaken upon this principle, which
is at the basis of our present business
system, begun promptly upon the in
coming of the new Administration,
and considered at a special session
with the preliminary Investigations
already begun by the appropriate
committees of the House and Senate,
will make the disturbance of business
incident to such a change as little as
possible.
The Rights Of Labor.
LII Oruer TO 1nQuce tnelr employer
into a compliance with their request
for changed terms of employment,
workmen have the right to strike in
a body. They have a right to use
such persuasion as they may, provid-
ed it does not reach the point of du-
ress, to lead their relustant co-labor-
ers to join them in their union
against their employer, and they
have a right, if they choose, to accu-
mulate funds to support those en-
gagged in a strike, to delegate to off,
; GERS the power to direct the action of