The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-01-14

Tdte-maK1ng, ana OInST pTdCCiCcS " IL
terstate carriers established by the acts
of congress, and as In this
communication, / see no reason why
agreements between carriers subject to
the act, specifying the classifications OF
freight and the rates. fares and charges
for transportation Of passengers and
freight which they may agree TO estab-
lish, should not be permitted, provided,
copies of such agreements be promptly
filed with the commission, but subject to
all the provisions Of the interstate COM
merce act. and subject to he right OF
it as to all or any of the agreed rates,
fares, charges, or classifications by ~
days notice in writing TO the other par
ties and to the commission"
Other Amendments Urged.
In accord with other declarations Of the
Republican platform Of 1908. the president
further recommends that the interstate
commerce law be amended so as to pro-
vide, that no railroad company subJect
to the act shall, directly or in
directly, acquire any interests OF any
kin in capital stock, or purchase or
lease any railroad. or any other corpora
ton which completes with it respecting
business to which the interstate COM
merce act applies; that a law be enact
ed providing that no railroad corpora
ton subject to the interstate m
act shall hereafter for any purpose CON
nected with or relating to any part of it's
business governed by said act, issue any
capital stock without previous or stimuli
CdIleOuS pay lIeHl " IL u " ICSS tAio
the par value of such stock. or any bonds
or other obligations Except notes matur-
ing not more than one year from the
date of their issue), without the previ-
Gus or simultaneous payment to such cor
poration of not less than the par value
of such bonds, or other obligations, or,
If issued at less than their par xalue,
reasonable market value of such bonds
or obligations as ascertained by the in
terstate commission; and that
-~--t@ ~. fhin0 fhnn
money. shall be taken in payment to such
carrier corporation, of the par or other
required price of such stock. bond or 9TH
er obligation, except the far Xaiue OF
such property. services or other thing as
certained by the commission"
Would Prevent Wrong Practices.
The president continues:
II believe these suggested notifications
in and amendments to the interstate com
merce act would make it a complete and
measure for securing reasonable
ness of rates and fairness of practices in
the operation of interstate railroad lines,
without undue preference to any indlvldu-
al or class over any others.
by my direction the attorney general
has drafted a bill to carry out these
recommendations, which will be fur
nished upon request to the appropriate
committee whenever it may be desired.
In addition to the foregoing amend
ments of the interstate law,
the interstate commerce commission
SiIO0lo Ot given lllO poH0l ~ "a
ing. to determine upon the uniform con-
struction of these appliances-such as Sill
steps. ladders, roof hand holds. running
boards and hand brakes on freight cars
engaged in interstate cOmmerce-uSed by
the trainmen in the operation of trains,
the defects and lack of uniformity IN
which are apt TO produce accidents and
injuries to railway trainmen. The Won
derful reforms effected In the number or
SWitchmen and trainmen injured by coup
ling accidents, due to the enforced IN
.rA1llofinn of CofntU OnJIn1aTC jS a demon
Stration of what can be done If railroads
are compelled to adept proper safety ap-
pliances.
The question has arisen in the opera
tons of the interstate commerce employ
ers' liability act, as 20 whether suit can
be brought against the employer com
pany in any place othsr than that of its
home office. The right to bring the suit
under this act should be as easy of en-
forcement as the right of a private per-
son not in the companys employ TO sue
an ordinary claim, and process in each
suit should be sufficiently served II upon
the station agent of the company upo
whom service is authorized is made, to
bond the p in ordinary actions
arising under state laws. Bills for both
the foregoing purposes have been con-
by the house of representatives
and ave been passed. and are now be-
fore the interstate m
Of the senate. | earnestly urge that they
be enacted into w
Control of the Trusts.
The second part of the message is de-
voted to the control of trusts. After q
discussion of trusts, good and
bad, and the success of prosecutions I'M
der the Sherman antitrust act, Mr.. Taft
utlve to direct an investigation by the de-
partment of justice, through the grand
jury or otherwise, into the history, organ
and purposes of all the industrial
companies with respect to which there is
any reasonable ground for suspicion that
nave been organized for a purpose.
and are conducting business on a plan
The work is a heavy one, but it
Is not beyond the power of the depart
ment of justice, if sufficient funds are
FURNISHED, to carry on the Investigations
and to pay the counsel engaged in the
work. But such an Investigation and
possible prosecution of corporations whose
prosperity or destruction AFFECTS the COM
fort not only Of stockholders but millions
Of wage earners, employees, and associated
tradesmen must necessarily tend to dis
-urb the confidence of the business COM
nunity, to dry up the now flowing sources
IF capital from its places of boarding. and
a halt in our present prosperity
that will cause suffering and strained cir
among the innocent many for
of the guilty few. The question
which l wish in this message to bring
clearly to the consideration and decision
danger something cannot be done by
these business combinations may
De offered a means, without great fnan-
,ial disturbance, of changing the char
organization and extent OF their
business into one within the lines of the
under federal control and supervision,
compliance with the antitrust
statutes.
For Government Control.
Generally, in the industrial combina-
ions called trusts the principal bust
ness is the sale of goods in many states
and in foreign markets; in other words,
he interstate and foreign business far
exceeds the business done in any one
state. This fact will Justify the fed
,raI government in granting a federal
charter to such a combination to MAXI
and sell in interstate and foreign COM
MERGE the products of useful manufac-
trre under such limitations as Will Sc
,ure a compliance with the antitrust
It is possible so to frame a statute
while it offers protection to a fed
,ral mpa against harmful, VeXatlous
and unnecessary invasion by the states,
II shall ubject it to reasonable taxation
control by the states, with respect to
Its purely local business.
nesses have cherished a hope and a be-
that in some way or other a line
nav be drawn between good trusts and
trusts and that it is possible by
amendment to the antitrust law to make
a distinction under which good combina-
may be permitted to organize, sup
press competition. control prices, and do
il all legally if only they do not abuse
he power by taking too great profit out
the business. They point with force to
certain notorious trusts as having grown