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

ana Sttldle HS SdllSl iCS WE1G
packed. The senate gave the closest
attention today to reading of the
Presidents message following the GER
emonies of swearing in Senator Cum
MINIS Of Iowa. The reading began at
12:17 and was completed at 1: :55,
when adjournment was taken until to-
morrow The house also listened at
tentively, then adjourned at 2:4O.
The message was in part as follows:
The financial standing of the ma
ton 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-
pose a thoroughly good system which
will do away with the existing defects.
Corporations.
"As regards the great corporations
engaged in interstate business, and
especially the railroads, l can only re-
peat what I have already again and
again said in my messages to the con-
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
the 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. l 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 .ageHcy Of the national govern
ment full power of control and su-
pervision 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
and accounts of the railways has been
one Of the most valuable features in
recent legislation.
Telegraph anI telephone companies
engaged in interstate business should
be put under the jurisdiction of the
interstate commerce commission.
The opposition to government con-
troll 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 in
unrestricted individualism in business.
)77t as there were formerly many sin
cere men who believed in slavery
that is, in the unrestricted right of
an individual to own another indivld-
ual. These men do not by themselves
nave great weight however. 1.-The ef-
Iectve fight against adequate govern
ment control and supervision of in
ulVldual, and especially Of corporate,
wea tn engaged in interstate business
Is chiefly done under cover; and es-
peoially under cover of an appeal to
states rights. 1t is not at all infre-
uuent to read in the same speech
o'nunciation of predatory wealth fos-
'red by special privilege and defiant
w both the public welfare and law of
'oe and, and a denunciation of CEN
''h2ation in the central government
" 'he power to deal with this centra-
H1ed and organized wealth. OF course
'He 0olicy set forth in such twin de-
'uhc ations amounts to absolutely
"thlng. for the first half is nullified by
''e second half. The chief reason,
"'ng the many sound and compell-
reasons. that led to the formation
me national government, was the
:, So'ute need that the union. and not
several states, should deal with in
he commerce was granted abso-
''T and plenarily to the central gov
"ent and was exercised completely
regards the only instruments of in
8te commerce known in those days
e waterways. the highroads, as
l as the partnerships of individuals
then conducted all of what busi-
ness there was.
., we do not for a moment believe that
problem will be solved by any
,.,,, and easy method The solution
con come only by pressing various