Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-07-21

oHHft w duueu 10, HOt SuDSlItultu lOF, STATE
remedies.
We welcome the belated promise of tariff
reform now affected by the Republican party
III tardy recognition of the righteousness OF
the Democratic position on this question (;
but the people cannot safely intrust the
execution of this important work TO a parfy
which Is go deeply obligated to the highly
protected interests as is the RepabIi an
party. we call attention TO the significant
Iact that the promised relief was postponed
until after the coming election-an election
10 succeed in which the Republican party
must haye that same support from the beue-
nclaries OF the high protective tariff as it
las arrays heretofore received from them ::
anu toetne further fact that during years of
uninterrupted power no action whatever has
teth taken Dy the Republican Congress to
correct the admittedly existing tariff in
We favor the immediate revision Of the
tariff by the reduction of import duties
Articles entering into competition with
trust-controlied products should be placed
upon the free list. and material reductions
should be made in the tariff upon the neces-
sarles of life, especially upon articles com
petlnS With such American manufactures as
are sold abroad more cheaply than at home
ana graduate reductions should be made in
such other schedules as may be necessary
to restore the tariff to revenue basis
Existing duties have given to the manu-
facturers of paper shelter behind which
they have organized combinations to raise
the price OF pulp and of paper, thus impos-
Ing tax upon the spread of knowledge
We demand the immediate repeal Of the
tariff on pulp print paper lumber timber
ana logs and that these articles be placed
upon the free list.
Trusts.
private monopoly is indefensible and
intoierable. We, therefore, favor the Yigor-
Gus enforcement of the criminal law against
gctltg trust magnates and officials, and de-
u hn a.rraa
islation as may be necessary TO make it i'm
possible for private monopoly to exist in
the United States. Among the additional
remedies we specify three: First a law
preventing a duplication of directors among
competing corporations; second, a license
system which Will, without abridging the
right of each State to create corporations
or its right to regulate it will foreign
corporations doing business within It's linn
its, make it necessary for manufacturing
or trading corporation engaged ia interstate
commerce to take out a federal license be-
fore it shall be permitted to control as
much as % per cent of the product in
which it deals, the license to protect the
public from watered stock and to prohibit
the control by such corporation of more
than 90 per cent of the total amount of any
product consumed in the United States and
third, a law compelling such licensed cor
poration to sell to all purchasers in all
parts of the country on the same terms,
after making que allowance for cost of
transportation.
Railroad Regulations.
We assert the right of Congress to exer-
else complete control over interstate COM
merce and the right of each State to exer-
else like control over. commerce within its
borders.
We demand such enlargement of the pow
ers of the Interstate Commerce Commission
as may be necessary to compel railroads to
perform their duties as common carriers
and prevent discrimination and extortion.
We favor the efficient supervision and
rate regulation of railroads engaged in in
terstate commerce, and to this end we rec
ommend the valuation of railroads by the
Interstate Commerce Commission, such val
uation to take into consideration the ply
steal value of the property, the criminal
cost. cost of production and all elements of
value that will render the valuation made
fair and just.
We favor such legislation as will prohibit
the railroads from engaging in business
which brings them into competition with
their shippers, also legislation which will
assure such reduction in transportation
rates conditions will permit care being
taken to avoid reductions that would com
pei a reduction of wages, prevent adequate
service or do injustice TO legitimate invest
hibiting the pass and the rebate, and we
favor any further necessary legislation to
restrain, control and prevent such abuses.
We favor such legislation as will increase
the power of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, giving to it the initiative with ref
erence to rates and transportation charges
put into effect by the railroad companies,
and permitting the Interstate Commerce
Commission on its own initiative to declare
a rate Illegal and as being more than should
be charged for such service That the
present law relating thereto is inadequate
by reason of the fact that the Interstate
Commerce Commission is without power to
fix investigate rate until complaint
has been made to IL by the shipper.
We further declare that all agreements of
traffic or other associations of railway agents
affecting interstate rates. service or ciassi-
ieatlon shall be unlawful unless filed with
and approved by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
We favor the enactment of law giving
TO the Interstate Commerce Commission the
power to inspect proposed railroad tariff
rates or schedules before they shall take
effect. and. If they be found to be unrea-
sonable, to Initiate an adjustment thereof.
Ranking.
The panic of 1907. coming without any
legitimate excuse. when the Republican par
IL had for decade been in complete CON
additional proof that it Is either unwilling
or incompetent TO protect the interests of
the general Public. 1t has so linked the
country TO Wall street that the syndicate
sins % the spectators are visited upon the
whole people While refusing to rescue the
wealth producers from spoiation at the
hands of the stock gamblers and spectators
In farm products. it has deposited treasury
funds. withcdt interest and without com
petition in fayorite banks. 1t has used an
emergency for which 1t Is largely RESPONSE
bic TO force through Congress bill chang
ing the has is of bank currency and inviting
market manipulation, and has failed to give
to the 15,02J,Ooo depositors of the country
protectioa n their savings.
We believe that in so far as the needs of
commerce require an emergency currency.
such currency should be issued. controlled
by the federal government and loaned on
adequate security TO national and state
banks We pledge ourselves 70 legislation
mnder which the national hanks shall be