Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-03-06
Interferenees With Business Freedom
Baltimore Sum

Legislative control of business. now
much in vogue in the United States, is
not a new thing, the Iron Age OBJ
serves. but was very prevalent in
England and other countries of Eu-
rope several centuries ago. Parlia-
ment prescribed the most minute
price of grain, etc, as well as the
ordinary methods of business. When
a law failed it was replaced with
more stringent measures, the ideas
and interests of the dominant class
controlling the legislative machine
But wages advanced or Teceded in
defiance of acts Of Parliament, and
the prices of commodities fluctuated
in obedience TO the economic law
without regard TO legislation. The
only effect of excessive legislation was
TO hamper business, restrict industry
and promote poverty. England mean
while Jagged industrially behind Hol-
land and the Italian republics, where
more liberal views prevailed. For
FIVE centres England continued to
tinker with business until the mass OF
impractica able feudaI. legislation fell
into decay and Parliament discovered
that the laws of trade-the desire Of
the majority of business men for fair
dealing-are wiser than statutes made
by amateurs Business affairs, it
was at length perceived, largely regu-
late themselves. Strict execution of
the common law, it was seen, was all
that was needed. The less the reg1l-
Iation the better, provided the ordi-
nary law is rigidly enforced.
With the sweeping away Of the petty
interferences with industry and COM
merce the English began to assert
themselves in the worlds trade. Bust
ness expanded by leaps and bounds.
II at length became an accepted maxim
that freedom, not restriction, is the
life Of business and the condition OF
prosperity. Laws are necessary evils,
but the less law the better, provided
that what law there is is strictly and
impartially applied. A free cOmmun-
ity like an individual, works to best
advantage when manacled. Equity
of opportunity and equality before the
law are the prime conditions Of maxi
mum production. Enjoying these con-
ditions, the United States has pros
pered greatly in the past in contrast
with the Old World, where unIimit-
ed restrictions have lessened the pro-
ductivity of labor.
At present a wave Of mania for
legislation is sweeping over the
country. Our contemporary passes in
review the new legislation which
regulates manufactures, the conditions
of employment, the dealing in certain
articles, the running of railroads, etc,
much of which is necessary, but
more vexatious and needless. IF the
growth Of legislation continues it
will be a short time until every man
who conducts an industry or business
will be technically, at least, law
breaker, since few companies carry
ing on a business of any magnitude
can comply literally with all the
requirements of legislation In
Texas, for example, it is made a felony
to deal in products of certain corpor
atoms, and the manufacturer is en-
barrassed by the impossibility of
knowing what are the lawful rates
on every article he ships or receives;
invisible schedules have been clothed
with the sanctity of law and forti-
fed with dire penalties. The evil of
oYer-reguIation may be expected, how
ever, to work its own cure, The in
jury it does will in due time become
manifest to all, and then reform will
follow along lines of conservatism.