The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-28

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constant Improvement in our army !
E
nary working of human nature If we
did not recognize hat the moral stand
ards set by President Roosevelt will not
continue to be observed by those whom
cupidity and a desire for financial
power may tempt, unless the requisite
machinery is introduced into the law
which shall in its practical operation
maintain these standards and secure
the country against a departure from
them.
The Chief Function.
The chief function of the next adj
m~inistration, in my Judgment, is dis
inc from, and a progressive develop
ment of that which has been per-
formed by President Roosevelt. The
chief function of the next administration
In to complete and perfect the machin-
cry by which these standards may be
maintained, by which the law-breakers
may be promptly restrained and pun
ished, but which shall operate with suf-
ficient accuracy and dispatch TO inter-
fere with legitimate business as little
as possible. Such machinery is not ade-
quate.
There should be a classification of
that very small percentage of indus
trial corporation having power and OPP
p~ortunity to effect illegal restraint of
trade and ~monopolies, and legislation
either inducing or compelling them to
subject themselves to registry and to
proper publicity regulations and super
vision of the Department of Commerce
and Labor.
The question of rates and the treat
ment of railways is one that has two
sides. The shippers are certainly enti-
tied to reasonable rates; but less is an
injustice to the carriers. Good business
for the railroads Is essential to general
prosperity.
From what has been said the proper
conclusion would seem to be hat IN
attempting to datermine' whether the
entire schedule of rates of a railway is
excessive. TIE physical valuation of the
road is a relevant and important but
not necessarily a controlling factor.
The Interstate Comm rec Commission
has now the power to ascertain the
II necessary, in the reason
abIeness OF rates. IL the machinery for
doing 40 IL not adequate, nv Ii probable,
1t should be made so. 4a4t,
1t In necessary, therefore, TO devise
some means for classifying and insur-
Ing Federal supervision of such orpora-
lions rs have the power and temptation
to effect restraints of interstate trade
and mOnopOlies. Such corporations con-
stftute a very small percentage of all
engaged in interstate business.
The proposal to compel every cor
poration to sell It's commodities at the
same price the country over, allowing
for transportation, Is utterly imprac-
ticable. If 1t can be shown that In order
to drive out competition, a corporation
owing a large part of the plant pro-
ducing an article is selling in one part
of the country, where 1t has competi-
tors, at a low and Improbable price. and
in another part of the country, where II
has none. at an exorbitant price, this
is evidence that 1t is attempting an un-
lawful monopoly, and justif1es convic-
ton under the antitrust law, but the
proposal 10 supervise the business of
corporations In such a way as to fix
the price of commodities and compel
the sale at such price Ia as absurd and
sOcialistic a plank as was ever Inserted
In a Democratic political PLATFORM.
The chief difference between the Re-
n,,blioan and tha narnoorafio r,atfor,,.
r. a. a,mo-..a. u,h,.h 10. ha.o.ea.o
~ - -
oeeh seen oe."ooh 'He po"e.Ss i WI
Roosevelt ana those "hich nave peeh
advocated by the Democratic candidate,
Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. RooseVelts policies
have been progressive ana reguintfvet
mr. "r'"nS
value of Combination of Capital.
The combination of capital In large
plants to manufacture goods with the
greatest economy IN Just as necessary
as the assembling OF the parts or " ma
cnine 10 'he economic"i ana nnore rapio
".." -. NJ" 1870
-. ;rt.rsara r,,th 80 anv 800 ,han
.ha athar whan s,,oh oaa,ao.tions
~ oanit.I arc legitimate and orc nrnn-
erlv controlled for tbev arc then the
nat,,roI ros,,lts of modern entornr,sa
and ore henefciaI m tbe nublic
when bowever such com hina tions
are not based on any economic ~principle
hut GRO made merely for the nurnose
Of controlling the market. to maintain
or raise nrices restrict outnut and drive
ant competitors. the public derives no
benefit ana we have n monopoly. = =
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