The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-11-20

fectlve measure to obtain reasonable
rates and fairness of practices in the
operation of interstate railroad lines -
Mr.. Wickersham, in speaking of the
Sherman antitrust law, said that no
statute was so generally misunder-
stood
The speaker said the great purpose
to be borne in mind in connection
with this and similar legislation is
always the preservation Of the free
dom to trade.
mo doubt" said he, 'the Sherman
act is sufficiently comprehensive to
destroy such monopolies as the hold
ing corporation, but at the same time
that the national government FORCES
weapon to destroy abuses, it must
provide substitute for those legiti-
mate enterprises that are equally de-
pendent for their existence upon the
system so abused.
1T must provide a means of en-
abling cooperative enterprises to en-
gage freely in interstate and foreign
commerce without interference by
state action, which fetter, confine and
destroy the possibility of such free
pursuit. This only can be done by
the enactment of a federal law pro-
viding for the formation of corpora
tions to engage in trade and COM
merce among states, protecting them
from undue interference by states
and regulating their activities so as
to prevent the recurrence under ma
tional auspices Of those abuses that
have arisen under state control
Maaa~> Tr.t:nn Cnroora&ione
"Such a law should provide for the
organization and management of
trading corporations. 1t should pro-
tect the corporations organized under
it from undue interference by state
authorities, subjecting it's real and
personal property only to such tax
alton as is imposed by the state upon
other similar property located there
in; and it should require it to file
complete reports of it's operations
with the bureau of corporations or
some other similar office.
"Such corporations should be pro-
hibited from acquiring or holding
stock of other corporations.
"These agencies of commerce, thus
created under national authority,
should appeal to legitimate investors
and to legitimate enterprises. They
would not afford the same opportunity
for stock watering and stock juggling
as exists today under the complex
and conflicting regulations of many
states; but they would offer to in
vestors a security that does not ex-
list under the present system; and, if
availed of to a large extent, it might
be advisable at some future time to
prohibit trading corporations, or
ganized under state laws, from en-
gaging in interstate commerce.
"This, however should be consid
cred only if the success of voluntary
organization under national law
should make it clearly contrary to
the general welfare that no other than
national corporations engage in in
terstate trade"
Rabbi Wise Is Speaker.
DR.. Stephen D. Wise, rabbi of the
Free Synagogue of New York, spoke
on municipal reforms. He said in
part:
THE most deadly enemy Of the re-
public, who must be met and over
come, is the city CRATER the NUM-
cipal corruptionist.
"The power of Tammany Hall, not
Tammany Hall of New York, but of
Philadelphia. Chicago and San Fran
cisco, is made possible by the cor
rupt leadership of a few and the in
ert acquiesence Of the many. The
difference between most political cor
ruptionists and the average political
purist is that the former are dead in
earnest and the latter are in earnest,
dead.
civil reform must be a matter of
continuous and ceaseless striving.
The civic reformation will not be at
tanned if municipalities grow tired
after a few years Of earnest effort,
as San Francisco has grown tired.
Leaders of the cause of civic reform
alton, like the churches, spend too
much time and strength in fighting
each other, instead of waging united
warfare upon the common enemy"