The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-10

is the Republican party. We call at
tention to the significant fact that
the promised relief was postponed
until after the coming election-an
election to succeed in which the Re-
publican party must nave that same
support from the beneficiaries of the
high protective tariff as it has al
ways heretofore received from them;
and to the further fact that during
years of uninterrupted power no &C
ton whatever has been taken by the
Republican congress to correct the
admitted by existing tariff iniquities.
We favor immediate revision of the
tariff by the reduction of import
duties. Articles entering into COM
petition with trust-controlled prod
ucts should be placed upon the free
list: and material reductions should
sarieS of life. especially upon articles
competing with such American manu-
features as are sold abroad more
cheaply than at home; and graduate
reduction should be made in such
other schedules as may be necessary
to restore the tariff to a revenue
basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers of paper a shelter be-
hind which they have organized COM
binationS to raise the price of pulp
and of paper thus imposing a tax
v
We demand the immediate repeal
of tariff on wood pulp. print paper.
lumber, timber and logs and that
these articles be placed upon the
free list.
A private monopoly is indefensible
and intolerable. We, therefore, favor
criminal law against guilty trust
magnates and officials, and demand
the enactment of such additional
legislation as may be necessary to
make it impossible for private
monopoly to exist in the United
remedies, we specify three; first,
law preventing a duplication of direc-
tors among competing corporations;
second, a license system which will
without abridging the right of each
state to create corporations or its
corporations doing business within
its limits, make 1t necessary for a
manufacturing or trading corporation
engaged in interstate commerce to
take out a federal license before it
shall be permitted to control as much
which it deals. The license to pro-
tect the public from watered stock
and to prohibit the control by such
corporations of more than so per
cent of the total amount of any
product consumed in the United
such licensed corporations to sell to
all purchasers in all parts of the
country on the same terms, after
making due allowance for cost of
transportation.
Railroad Regulation.
We assert the right of congress to
exercise complete control over inter-
state commerce and the right of each
state to exercise control over COM
mence within its borders.
We demand such enlargement of
the powers of the Interstate Com
merce commission as may be neces-
sary to compel railroads to perform
their duties as common carriers and
prevent discrimination and extortion
We favor the efficient supervision of
and rate regulation of railroads engage
ed in interstate commerce. To this end
we recommend the physical valuation
of railroads by the interstate commerce
commission, such valuation to take into
consideration the physical value of the
property. the original cost of reproduc-
ton and all elements of value that will
render the valuation made fair and
Just.
We favor such legislation as will pro-
hibit the railroads from engaging in
business which brings them into COM
petition with their shippers, also legis-
lation which Will assure such reduction
in transportation rates as condition will
permit, care being taken to avoid re-
duction that would compel reduction
of wages, prevent adequate service or
do injustice to legitimate investment.
We heartily approve the laws prohibit
ing the pass and the rebate and we
favor any further necessary legislation
to restrain, correct and prevent such
abuses.