The San Francisco call., 1908-04-28

deliberate fraud the successful bidder in thf
competition is guilty OF obtaining money by
false pretenses, and the others have made Iheni
selves parties to a conspiracy clearly unlawful
at the common law.
Where, as In the case Of Boston agreement. y
a number of the most important manufacturers
and dealers In structural Steel in this country
including the American bridge company, OF
the constituent members of the United States
steel corporations. have combined together for
the purpose of raising prices by means of col
lpfive bids and false representations, their con-
duct is not only repugnant to common hon
.esty, but is plainly obnoxious to the federal
statute known as the Sherman or antitrust
The commission believes that an example
should be made of these men, and that the
members of the Boston agreement al
1903, entered in the fraudulent competitions
for the Cove street draw span and the Brook
line street bridge should be brought before a
Congress of July Q, 1890. The. three years Him.
itation for participation in these transactions
by the commission is so complete that there
should be no difficulty in the government Sc.
curing conviction In this case.
1 have submitted this report to the depart
ment OF justice for thorough investigation and
for action il action shall prove practicable.
LEGISLATION NEEDED
Surely such a state of affairs as that sci
forth above emphasizes the need for further
legislation. not merely because of the material
benefits such legislation will secure, but above
all because this federal action should be part
our people as whole to a lively and effective
condemnation of the low standard of morality
.i implied d,. IN such conduct t. on the part of the
man is to provide a livelihood for himsel:
and for those dependent upon him: 1t Is from
every standpoint desirable that each of our
citizens should endeavor by hard work and hon
orab1e methods to secure for him and his sucn
a competence as will carry with it the Oh.
portunity to enjoy In reasonable fashion the
comforts and refnements of life; and further.
more. the man Of great business ability whc
NH tnS rfryna tr -l<-l< 80
In so doing confers benefit upon humanity as
a whole and Is entitled to reward, to respect
of evil. social. Industrial and political which
It is our duty as a nation sternly to combat
there is none at the same time more base and
the plain and simple rules Of honesty with cyn.
ical contempt If they interfere with making
profit and as nation we cannot be held guilt.
less II we condone such action. The man who
preaches hatred OF wealth honestly acquired
%no s II w osr@ sar and jealousy and SANDER
by thrift. energy and industry have become
men mel, or means, is menace to the community.
that particular kind of multi millionaire who l.
almost the least cnvable and is certainly one
OF the least admirable Of all our citizens; a
man OF whom II has been well said that his
face has grown hard and cruel while his body
has grown SOFT; whose son is fool and his
daughter foreign princess; whose nominal
pleasures are at best those Of a tasteless and
extrayagant luxury. and whose real delight,
whose real life work Is the accumulation AMI
use or power In its most sordid and least
elevating form. In the chaos OF an absolutely
unrestricted commercial indyidualism under mod.
ern conditions this is type that becomes prom
inent as inevitably as the marauder baron be.
came prominent In the physical chaos in the dark
ages We are striving for legislation to min.
imize the abuses which give this type its
hourishing prominence. partly for the sake OF
what what can be accomplished by the legislation
Itself and partly because the legislation marks
our participation in great and stern moral
development TO bring ideals and conduct
into measurable accord.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.