Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-05
Reorganization Is Needed

Then, too, a reorganization of the
department of justice, of the bureau
of corporations in the department
of commerce and labor and of the
interstate commerce commission,
looking to effective cooperation Of
these agencies, is needed 10 secure
a more rapid and certain enforce
ment of the laws affecting inter-
state railroads and industrial COM
binations.
| hope to be able to submit at the
first regular session of the incom-
ing congress, in December next,
definite suggestions in respect to
the needed amendments to the
antitrust and the interstate COM
merce law. and the changes re-
quired in the executive departments
concerned in their enforcement.
1t is believed that with the
changes to be recommended,
American business can be assured
of that measure of stability and
certainty in respect to those things
that may be done and those that
are prohibited, which is essential
to the life and growth of all busl-
ness. Such a plan must include
the right of the people to avail
themselves of those methods of
combining capital and effort
deemed necessary to reach the
highest degree of economic eff
cheney, at the same time differen-
tiating between combinations based
upon legitimate economic reasons
and those formed with the intent
of creating monopolies and arti-
ficially controlling prices.
The work OF formulating into
practical shape such changes is
creative work of the highest order
and requires all the deliberation
possible in the interval. | believe
that the amendments to be pro-
posed are lust as necessary in the
protection of legitimate business as
i'm the clinching Of the reforms
which properly bear the name of
my predecessor.
Revision of Tariff
A matter of most pressing impor-
lance is the revision of the tariff.
In accordance with the promises
of the platform upon which l was
elected l shall call congress into
extra session, to meet on the 18th
day of March, I'M order that consid-
Grafton may be at once given TO a
bill revising the Dingley act. This
should secure an adequate revenue
and adjust the duties in such a
manner as to afford to labor and to
all industries in this country,
whether of the farm, mine or fac
tory, protection by tariff equal to
the difference between the cost of
production abroad and the cost of
production here. and have a pro-
vision which shall put into force,
lot n
certain facts, higher or maximum
tariff against those countries whose
trade policy toward us equitably
requires such discrimination. 1t is
thought that there has been such
a change in conditions since the
enactment of the Dingley act,
drafted on similarly protective
principle. that the measure of the
tariff above stated will permit the
reduction of rates in certain sched-
ules and will require the advance
ment of few, if any
The proposal to revise the tariff
made i'm such an authoritative way
as TO lead the business community
to count upon It, necessarily halts
all those branches of business III
rcctIy affected. and as these are
most important, IT disturbs the
whole business of the country 1t
is imperatively necessary. there
fore. that a tariff bill be drawn in
good faith in accordance with
PROMISES made before the election
by the party in power, and as
promptly passed as due considera-
ton will permit. II is not that the
tariff is more important in the long
run than the perfecting of the re-
forms in respect to ANTITRUST leg