Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-23
BUSINESS AND
THE GOVERNMENT
SECRETARY CORTELYOU SAYS
THAT THEY ARE CLOSELY
RELATED.
URGES TARIFF REVISION TO
MAKE SCHEDULES MORE
EQUITABLE.

Syracuse, N. Y, April 22.-Corpo-
ations for conducting any enterprise
or managing any business are Of
course differently situated from indi-
yiduals doing the same thing Indi-
Viduals owe nothing TO the state for
their individuality. Before the state
or any earthly form of government
began the individual was. and he
would be here, were all government
TO be over brown. That Individuality
is incapable of humiliation. A Cor
poration ,On the other hand, owes it's
life to the government which brings
it into existence. 1t has only such
powers as that government chooses
to confer upon it. These powers may
be broad or they may be very linn
tied. The statutes granting or pro-
viding for such corporations have in
many instances reserved to the state
the right to alter or repeal the char
tiers and abolish the corporations.
Under these reservations much legis-
la ion has been enacted for the pro-
lection of the public interests. 1t
would appear to be in any case the
right Of the legislature to exercise a
reasonable supervision over the crea-
lures of the government. This is es-
Decially true as to corporations that
! are endowed by the legislature with
! the right to exercise the power of
1 eminent domain. Most of the first
railroad enterprises that were pro-
/ jected in this country were begun by
/ the state on the theory that only the
! sovereign authority underlies the
railroad legislation of the states to-
! day, the corporation thus endowed
with such power being considered the
agent Of the sovereign; although it
was several years before all the
s ates accepted the theory; one state
| for a long time insisting that a rail
road corporation must pay to the
owner of land his price for the same
when it was wanted for the purposes
: of the corporation"
So said Score AIRY George B. Cor
telyou of the National treasury de-
! Dartment in an address at the annual
banquet of the Syracuse Chamber of
Commerce yesterday, Speaking upon
the subject of Government and Bust
ness.
/ Mr.. CorteIyou said that the grants
! Of land made by the general govern
ment to the several states for the
purpose Of aiding in the construction
Of railroads were usually turned over
. to corporations to do the desired
work; and so anxious were the peO-
pie to get the iron horse to their
doors that such safeguards as the OPP
portunity readily afforded for the bet
ter protection of the public were not
erected. Some of the states have,
by reason of availing themselves of
later opportunity, somewhat rene
died the oversight, while some in
their zeal have gone too far. But
the failure to attend to the matter
when proper provision might have
been made makes more difficult the
supervision which the sovereign
power ought to be able to exercise
over its creations.
Because of the many controversies
that have arisen between grantor
and grantee all over the land" said
the secretary, Sin the case of fran
chises for public works Of utility,
giving rise to almost constant itiga'
Just such as our theorist declared
would be attendant upon works done
by government directly, and in the
majority of instances to a disregard
of the rights Of the public, supervi-
sion. in greater or less degree, has
become a necessity, and the estab
Iishment of this supervision is in
the line of a due regard for the pub.
lie welfare.
and let me say, too, that along
the line of it's fostering care over
business interests, government can
at the moment do several things that
will be of large benefit to the coun
Try. It can give US such legislation
as will foTtify US against financia.
disturbance and furnish us with a
supply of currency adequate for the
needs of cur business community in
all sections and at all seasons Of the
ar. believe this will be done
So that with temporary device, ii
nothing further can be had at this
time. and with provision for a com
petent commission to study and re
por@ upon the question, we shall
make progress toward a wise solu
ion of this vastly important prob
lem.
1T can give US. also, such legisla
tion through the simple measure
now before the congress, as viii en-
courage the upbuiIding of our mer
chant marine, so especially essential
10 our commercial interests in Cen
traI and South America and on the
Pacific coast.
1T can amend the Sherman anti
trust act SO as to make certain OF its
provisions a help rather than hind
rance to honest business.
1t can prov de for an inves ,igatior
of our tariff with a view to makins
its schedules more equitable for the
people Of all interests and all sec
tons
Before turning aside for this word
on these matters of more immediate
, interest, / had briefly and l fear very
5 imperfecty touched upon a few in
, stances in which it appeared thai
: government MIGHT eyarciSa ubo-e