The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-12-08

w A
R3sevet's annual message, the last
that the present executive will send
m congress, was read in the house
and senate today. The galleries We're
hacked. The senate gave the closest
attention today to reading of the
residents message following the cer-
monies of swearing in Senator Cum
minis Of Iowa. The reading began at
1917 and was completed at / 55,
when adjournment was taken until to-
morrow. The house also listened at
tsntively, then adjourned at 2:40.
The message was in part as follows:
The financial standing of the ma
tion at the present time is excellent,
and the financial management of the
nations interests by the government
during the last seven years has shown
the most satisfactory results. But our
currency system is imperfect, and it is
earnestly to be hoped that the curren-
cy commission will be able to pro-
nose a thoroughly good system which
viii do away with the existing defects.
Corporations.
"As regards the great corporations
ENGAGED in interstate business, and
especially the railroads, l can only re-
reat what / have already again and
again said in my messages to the con-
gress. | believe that under the inter
state clause of the constitution the
important factors in modern business.
United States has complete and para
mount right to control all agencies Of
Interstate commerce, and I believe that
1ne national government alone can
exercise this right with wisdom and
effectiveness so as both to secure JUS
tice from, and to do justice to- the
great corporations which are the most
important factors in modern business.
| believe that it is worse than folly to
attempt to prohibit all combinations
As is done by the Sherman antitrust
law because such a law can be en-
forced only imperfectly and unequally,
and its enforcement works almost as
much hardship as good. I strongly
advocate that instead of an unWiSe
effort to prohibit all combinations,
there shall be substituted a law which
shall expressly permit combinations
which are in the interest of the pub
lie. but shall at the same time give to
some .agercy of the national govern
ment full power of control and su-
pervsion over them. One of the chief
features of this control should be the
securing entire publicity in all matters
which the public has a right to know,
and furthermore, the power, not by
judicial but by executive action, to
prevent or put a stop to every form
Of improper favoritism or other wrong
doing.
The railways of the country should
be put completely under the interstate
commerce commission and removed
from the domain of the antitrust law.
The power of the commission should
be made thoroughgoing so that it could
exercise complete supervision and con-
troll over the issue of securities as well
as over the raising and lowering OF
rates. As regards rates, at least, this
power should be summary. The power
to investigate the financial operations
anu ACCOUNTS VI Tie Idll " dy mas pS>A
ore Of the most valuable features in
recent legislation.
Telegraph AMI telephone companies
engaged in interstate business should
be put under the jurisdiction of the
Interstate commerce commission.
The opposition to government con-
trol Of these great corporations makes
its most effective effort in the shape
Of an appeal to the old doctrine OF
states rights OF course there are
many sincere men who now believe III
unrestricted individualism in business
ut as there were formerly many sin
cere men who believed in slavery
that is. in the unrestricted right ol
an Individual to own another 1ndlVld-
ua'. These men do not by themselves
have great weight however. The ef-
fect+ve fight against adequate govern
ment control and supervision OF IN
dlvidual, and especially of corporate
Wea IN engaged in interstate business
Is chiefly done under cover; and es-
PeHially under cover Of an appeal &c
states rights. 1t is not at all 1nfre-
ouent TO read in the same speech
oenunciation of predatory wealth los
Tered by special privilege and def1an'
~ both the public welfare and law o.
re and, and a denunciation of CEN
t'af7ation in the central government
of the power to deal with this centra'
med and organized wealth. OF course
me Tolicy set forth in such twin de-
hunc atiOns amounts to absolutely
nothing for the first half is nullified by
'e second half The chief reason
sNong the many sound and COMPEL
'E reasons. that led to the formation
vt The national government, was the
''So'ute need that the union. and no
'i'e several states, should deal with In
SF9fe commerce was granted abso'
."'e and plenarily to the central gov
'"ent and was exercised completel.
o. regards the only instruments of in
'N'fte commerce known in those day
me waterways. the highroads, a.
as the partnerships of individual
"'' then conducted all of what bust
ness there was.
We do not for a moment believe tina
problem will be solved by an.
Ft and easy method. The solution
come only by pressing variou