The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-12
FRON OTHER PENS
MoNoPoL1Es AND HISTORY

Federal supervision of interstate
corporations. after an administrative
system that shall displace the present
portentous operations of judicial or
other Investigations, raises a question
of state rights that is as old as the
constitution itself. There will prob
ably be found little difficulty in arrang-
ing this specific matter under the gen
eral power of congress to regulate
commerce among the several states, if
congress proves to be SO disposed. One
of the rejected proposals that came
before the constitutional convention
conferred power on congress ito grant
charters of Incorporation" This was
qualified in another proposal to Ger
tain cases where the public good may
require them, and the authority of a
single state may be Incompetent" The
provision was joined with another ''for
cutting canals where deemed neces-
sary," and both proposals were de-
signed to accompany that ito estab-
fish postoffices and postroads." which
latter is found in the constitution.
The canal project was voted down
and the vote carried the Incorporation
proposal along with it. Some Of the
trainers thought that the United States
should not be murdered with the ex-
pense of cutting canals. the benefit
from which might accrue only to the
places where the canal were cut.
Panama was not dreamed of in 1887,
nor inland ship channels. nor irriga-
Some of the trainers favored the canal
cutting power, but were distinctly OPP
posed to federal charter-making pow
ers. They feared monopolies might be
established thereby!
So the states were left to the bust
ness of creating corporations. What
has actually happened. of course. is
| that not few creations or the states
have developed into monopolies.. and
these have now come to require a
stronger supervision than the state can
conveniently afford. In some current
| instances certain states have taken &C
| ton to exercise a radical control with
| in tn cir own boundaries. with the re-
| suit of threatening a chaotic condition
| of things. Bulletin.
THE NOISY WAISTCOAT.
| Trousers and coats are to be more
conservative, but vests are to be noisier
| than ever before, according to the
spring and summer fashions agreed
upon by the American Merchant Tail
| ors' convention which has just adJorn-
ed in New York. When you go out tc
| find a vest that will comport with the
| STYLES in vogue next spring and summer
| and you enter a tailor shop or a cloth
ing store, you must not ask to look at
| certain pattern, as formerly, but to
| be shown the newest thing In the way
| Of a scream, a shout, an uproar, or an
explosion, and after the first expert
| ence in this line you will stuff your ears
with cotton batting so as to soften, II
not actually deaden, the noise There
| was some debate in the convention, II
| Is understood, as to the advtsabil1ty OF
| introducing the turmoil vest in presi-
Dental year, on grounds purely OF
/ public policy. Many of the delegates
were averse to the idea, claiming that
from all appearances the year would
contain all the noise, in any event, that
| people possessed of ordinary nerves
would be able to stand. The advocates
of immediate action, however, contend
| ed that the Introduction of the noisy
] waistcoats would have the erect OF
/ neutralizing the political noise, or, al
least, of blending It into one continuous
and not altogether inharmonious roar
like that which steals over the Chicago
loop district in the busy morning ano
evening Chicago 1nter-Ocean-