Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-13

according 60 their greatest utility and the
vesting OF power in the executive 10 ats
pose Of coal. phosphate. oil and mineral
lands, ana OF water power sites IN such a
way as to prevent their monopoly. and
union OF ownership in syndicate Of com
blnation have been already introduced, and
VIII doubtless IN a form approved by con-
sress be made into law. The subject has
attracted the widest Interest and It's I'M
portanee is becoming more and more i'm
pressed upon the American people.
Rivers and HnrbOrs.
THE river and harbor bill which has
Just been reported by the river and har-
bors committee Of the house, has been
framed with a view to complying with the
plank Of the platform I have just above
quoted. II has taken the plan for the Inn
provement o fthe Ohio river from Plttshurs
to Cairo as a project to be carried out In
a certain number Of years and Il has
treated similar projects for Improvement
Of the Missouri from Kansas City to ST.
Louis, for the Improvement Of the Missls-
sippl from st. Paul to ST. Louis and OF
the same river from st. Louis 70 Cairo,
and by continuing contracts and regular
appropriations these projects will go until
they are completed. This is a change from
the previous plans and is the result Of an
extended popular agitation in favor OF such
a system. .
ECONOMY in Administration.
Following the panic Of 1907 the govern
ment revenues fell off and the expenditures
continued as before, leaving a deficit for
the years 1907. 1908 n 1909. There was.
however, no deficit in the whole admins
tration of Mr.. Roosevelt when the expenses
are compared with the revenues. Indeed, 1t
will be found that under the operation Of
the Dingley bill. which covers most Of his
administration and the first six months of
the present administration the surplus on
the whole was about $3.50, 100000. At the
beginning Of this administration, however,
it was perfectly evident that with ex-
penses increasing and revenues decreasing
there would be a continuous deficit, and
this the republican party, with its majority
in congress and the responsibility placed
upon it, has proposed to meet by reducing
expenditures and Increasing revenues.
II have already shown what the increase
in revenue has been. The present admins
tration in its estimates for the year ending
June 90, 1911, cut them some tSrty odd mil
lion dollars below the actual appropriations
OF the year before, and now 1t is proposed
to appoint a joint commission, consisting Of
congressman, senator's and members APP
pointed by the executive. who shall e&-
anime the Organization of the various de-
partments n bureaus, and by the elimi-
nation Of duplication, the construction OF
bureau and the Increase in efficiency Of
the individual civil servant, shall decrease
the regular permanent cost Of governmental
operations
Antitrust Legislation.
with respect to trusts, the republican
party spoke as follows in its platform:
1.-THE republican party passed the sher-
man antitrust law over the democratic OPP
position n enforced 1t after democratic
derellction. 1t has been a wholesome In
Btrument for good In the hands OF o wise
and feerless administration. But experience
has shown that its effectiveness can be
strengthened and its real objects better at
tanned by such amendments as will give
to the federal government greater supervis-
Ion and control over and secure greater
publicity in the management of that class
Of corporations engaged in interstate COM
merce having power and opportunity to
effect m~onopolies,
"Slnce this plank was adopted prosecu-
tions of the Tobacco trust and the Stand
ard on trust begun in the last administra-
ton hare gone on and have resulted in
DEGREES in the court of appeals of the Sec
ond and Eighth circuits, which are now
pending on appeal in the supreme court.
The DEGREES in each case tear apart the
oongeries of subordinate corporations,
which united by holding companies. make
up the trust in each case, and enjoin in
dividuals from a further maintenance Of
the illegal combination Of such corpora
tions to carry on the business for which 1t
was organized,
1T has been said that the republican
party made a promise, so to amend the
law as to ameliorate and soften the appli-
cation Of the trust law In It's Introduction
upon business as conducted by the greater
corporations, but 1 find nothing in the
platform to Justify such a construction.
The principle of the antitrust law is that
those engaged in modern business, espe-
cially with respect to their competitors OF
live and live,' and that they shall not use
the bigness of their firm to brighten ex-
elusive patronage from their customers
and the elimination of smaller concerns
from competition, and thus control output
and fix prices.
Federal Charter Bill.
The attorney general has prepared a
bill which he thinks, and I think, will offer
TO those VINO WISH 10 pursue a laWIul
method of business the means of easily
doing so. A lawful interstate. business
under the protection Of a federal charter,
which, while It viii subject the business
of the concern to the closest scrutiny Of
government officials, will save the bust
ness from harrassment by state authori-
ties and will give It that protection which
its peaceful pursuit Of It's business as q
federal corporation will necessarily secure
ii. This measure has met the approval OF
these who fear too great concentration
Of power in the federal government and of
those who deny the right OF the federal
government in such cases to grant lncof-
poration. / believe the act to be con-
stitutional, and / believe that II enforced
It would furnish a solution OF our present
difficulties, but as It was not specifically
declared for in the republican platform i
do not feel justified in asking the adoption
CT such an act as a party matter. 1 have
brought It forward, however. as a sugges-
ton for meeting the difficulties which are
likely to be presented in the prosecution
Of crspected illegal trusts as a means by
which they can put their houses In order
and take their places among those en-
gagged in legitimate business.
CUDAHY LOSES TAX CASE