The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-10-28

the only effective way by which to
prevent wrong doing. Men will always
AXE the chances of violating the law
for money If they can have some one
else pay the fine.
Should Provide Forfeiture.
But the rule of individual RESPONSE
bility does not relieve US from the
great necessity of putting into every
Corporate charter hereafter granted,
either by state or nation, not only the
right to amend or repeal the same but
also an effective provision for the for
| fixture of the charter of corporation
guilty of violation of law. 1t might
| not be necessary to proceed in this
way often. But it would have a re-
straining and SOLDERING effect to a re-
markable degree upon those who
| would violate the law. On the other
hand it would in no wise disturb those
| whose purpose was to abide by the
law. The state endows the corporation
with vast powers. Is there any rea-
son in the world why those powers
should continue to be exercised or
why the state should not withdraw
them if they are being abused or used
for the oppression of citizens OF the
state. The penitenttary for the cor
poration is the forfeiture of it's char
ter We should make the most earnest
effort in passing laws dealing with this
subject to individualize and to dis
tinguish, to select those who are
guilty and protect those who are not
Thousands of corporations carrying on
a perfectly legitimate business in hon
est and upright ways are not only en-
titled TO individual protection but they
are entitled to have such laws passed
as will relieve them from the burden
and the embarrassment which they
must suffer by reason of indiscrlmln-
ate attacks upon all corporations and
by reason of the grouping of the
guilty with the innocent There
, should be no longer any prejudice
,gainst corporations as such but there
+ should be the striCtest and the most
: drastic enforcement of law against
t those which violate it. This Is not only
! essential for the public generally but
: ii is essential to the interests OF the
, corporations who want to abide by
he law.
l Government Control.
I It is a disputed question of consti-
I tutionaI law but l believe that the ma
/ tionaI government has the power to
regulate and control the capitalization
; of all corporations engaged IN inter
state commerce. If it has this power
$ it should exercise it. II is one of the
2 astounding facts Of history that We
j nave not heretofore exercised it fol-
G the fictitious capitalization in thE
r country exceeds the national dept a.
{ the close of the civil war. II WouLc
= seem that the national government
n the only sovereignty which can dea
d with this subject effectively. We can
It not undo the things which have hap
|. pened but we can control the mattel
;. for the future. 1t will be a great sur
II prise to me if the court should holC
# that the national government has no
: the power to take out of the channeL
! - the TrlllT and de
e ception caused by over capitalization
d | believe that the power which cal
= control interstate commerce cal
d cleanse interstate commerce Iron
" fraud, oppression and injustice
Is is quite true that the national govern
a ment cannot enter into the state an
i. preside over the organization or tn
Corporation created by the state, bu
"a believe it can say that no. corpora
- ton shall engage in interstate com
= merce until it has met the test estan
- lished by the national government an
- the government can fix the test TO IN
I. clude a surveillance as TO It's capltai
a OF course I cannot go into a constt
70 tutional argument here, but II tn
- power exists we ought to proceed
- exercise it without delay. The Rs
or publican party is committed to TIL
- principle of legislation and it shout
~ make good without hesitating Il
"A promise.
: 1t seems impossible to go furtht
~ into the discussion of the policy wit
It reference to corporations, althoug
- there are other matters worthy OF a
"a tention. But in passing from this sui
~ ject permit me to say that above q
- things we should dedicate our par
~ to the enforcement of our laws. Mo
~ than legislation do we need the e.
1T sorcement of the laws we have. Mo
r. than coveting greater power do v