The Washington times., 1908-01-31

benefit to the public. Even though the
combination be broken Up and small
measure of reform thereby produced,
the real good aimed at can not be Oh
tanned, for such real good can come
only by q thorough and continuing SUI
perVislOn over tine acts of the cOm5tna-
ton IN all its parts. so IS 20 prevent
stock watering, improper forms Of COM
petition, and, in short, wrongdoing gem
orally.
The law should correct that portion
Of the Sherman act which prohibits
all combinations Of the cJaracter above
described, whether they be reasonable
or unreasonable, but this should be
done only as part OF a ges-sraI scheme
TO provide for this effective and thor
OughgoinS supervision by l1e National
Government of all the OF arati0us Of
the big interstate business concerns.
Judge HOugh. of New York. in his re-
cent decision in the Hartman case,
states that the Congress possesses the
power TO limit the interstate operations
Of corporations not complying with i cd
e-1l safeguards against the recurrence
OF obnoxious practices and 10 incense
those which AFFORD the public adequate
security against methods calculated 70
diminish solvency. and therefore en-
cheney and economy IN interstate trans
portatlOu. The Judge ddQs mat IN lhese
matters the power 81 congress rs
ample though ass yet not fruitful In
results" II is very earnestly 10 De de-
sired that either along &c lines the
Judge indicates, or In some OtLer way
equally efdcaciOus, the Congress nay
exercise the power which he holds IL
possesses.
Duty Of Property Holder.
superGciauy il may seem that the
laws. the passage OF which ] herein
again advocate-for have repeatedly
advocated them bef0re-are not con-
nectsd. But IN reality they are con-
nected. Each and every one Of these
laws. If enacted. would represent part
OF the campaign against privilege, part
Of tie campaign 20 make tne class OF
great property holders re4iize lAs-t prop
ertv has its duties no less than is
When the courts guarantee to the
employer. as they should, The rights OK
the employer, and 10 property the rights
OF property, they should no less en-
TlatlCally make it evident that they
VIII exact from property and from the
employer the duties which should
necessarily accompany these rights ana
Hitherto our laws have failed In pre-
ciseIv this point Of enforcing the per
f0rmanre OF duty by the man or prop
erty toward the man who works Tor
Elm uv the man or great wealth.
especially II he uses tlat wealth Ia
corporate form. toward the investor
thc uageWoTkeT. and the general public.
The permanent failure of the man OF
property 10 fulfill his obligations would
ultimately assure the Wrestling from
him Of the privileges which he is en-
titled To enjoy only If he recognizes
the Obligations accompanying them.
Those who assume or share the respon-
eibfHtv for this failure are rendering
bat q Door service TO the cause which
they believe they champion.
/ do net know whether it IS pos
sibIe. but if possible, it is certainly
desirable, that in connection with
measures to restrain stock water
ing and OvercapitaIization there
should be measures taken TO pre-
vent at least the grOSser forms Of
gambling in securities and conf
mOdities, such as making large
sales of what men do not possess
and "cOrneriRg7 the market.
Legitimate purchases Of commodities
and o. stocks an' securities for invest
ment have no connection whatever with