The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-01-13
Would Prevent Evil Practices.


property which is the subject of such
reorganiZa ton.
would Prevent Evil Practices.
beiieve these suggested notifications
IN ana amendments TO the interstate COM
fnerce act would make il a complete and
effective measure for securing reasonable
ness OF rates and fairness of practices in
the operation of interstate railroad lines,
without undue preference to any indi-
vIdual or class over any others and would
prevent the recurrence of many OF the
practices which have given rise in the
1ast TO so much public Inconvenience and
.Oss.
nents OF the interstate commerce law
the Interstate Commerce Commission
snouid be given the power, after. a hear
ng. TO determine upon the uniform con-
'tructlon of these appliances-such as
Sill steps, ladders. roof hand holds run
ming boards and hand brakes on freight
ears engaged in interstate commerce
used by the trainmen in the operation of
trains, the defects and lack of uniformity
IN which are apt 10 produce accidents
and injuries to railway trainmen.
The question has arisen in the opera
ton OF the interstate commerce employ
ers liability act as TO whether suit can
be brought against the employer company
in any place other than that of its home
office. The right to bring the suit under
this act should be as easy of enforcement
as the right of a private person not in
the companys employ to sue on an ordi-
nary claim, and process in such suit
should be sufficiently served If upon the
station agent of the company upon whom
service is authorized is made. TO bond the
company in ordinary actions arising under
state laws. Bills for both the foregoing
purposes have been considered by the
House of Representatives and have been
passed, and are now before the interstate
commerce committee of the Senate. /
earnestly urge that they be, enacted into
law.
Antitrust Law.
The increase in the capital OF a bust
ness for the purpose of reducing the cost
of production and effecting economy i'm
the mana cement has become as essential
in modern progress as the change from
the hand tool to the machine.
Monopoly destroys competition entirely
and the restraint of the full and free
operation of competition has a tendency
to restrain commerce and trade.
The object of the antitrust law was
to suppress the abuses of business of
the kind described. II was not to inter-
fere with a great volume of capital
which. concentrated under one organiza-
ton. reduced the cost OF production and
made its profit thereby, and took no adj
vantage of its size. by methods akin TO
duress. to stifie competition with it,
1 conceive that nothing could happen
IflOTe OtSlTuCllNt u Tie DlOcDtillt VI tillo
country than the loss of that great econ
omy in production which has been and
will be effected in all manufacturing lines
by the employment of large capital under
one management / do not mean to say
that there is not limit beyond which
the economy Of management by the en-
largement of plant ceases, and where
this happens and combination continues
beyond this point, the very fact shows
intent to monopolize and not TO econo-
mize.
Feared Universal Trust.
There are enough. however. of such
successful combinations TO arouse the
fears of good. patriotic men as TO the
result of a continuance of this move
ment toward the concentration IN the
hands of a few of the absolute control
of the prices of all MANUFACTURED prod
ucts.
The question which i wish in tins mes
sage TO bring clearly to the considera-
ton and decision OF the Congress wheth-
er to avoid business danger something
cannot be done by which these business
combinations may be offered a means.
without great financial disturbance. of
changing the character. organization and
extent of their business into one within
the lines of the law under federal control
and supervision, securing compliance with
the antitrust statutes.
Many people conducting great business
es have cherished a hope and a belief
that in some way or other a line may be
drawn between good trusts and bad
trusts" Certainly under the present
antitrust law no such distinction exists.
Through all our consideration of this
grave question however, we must insist
that the suppression of competition, the
controlling of prices, and the monopoly
or attempt TO monopofze in interstate
commerce and business are not only un-
lawful bu. contrary TO the public good.
and that they must be restrained and
punished until ended.
Asks National Corporation Law.
1 therefore recommend the enactment
by Congress of a general law providing
for the formation of corporations to en-
gage in trade and commerce among the
States and with foreign nations. protect
ing them from undue interference by the
States and regulating their activities so
as to prevent the recurrence. under ma
tional auspices, of those abuses which
have arisen under State control. Such
a law should provide for the issue OF
stock of such corporations to an amount
equal only to the cash paid In on the
stock: and il the stock be issued for
property, then at fair valuation ascer-
tanned under approval and supervision OF
federal authority after a full and COM
plete disclosure of all the facts pertain
ing to the value of such property and
the interest thereby of the persons 10
whom II is proposed to issue stock in
payment of such property. 1t should
subject the real and personal property
only of such corporations to the same
taxation as imposed by the States with
in which 1t may be situated upon other
similar property located therein, and II
should require such corporations TO file
full and complete reports of their oper-
ations with the Department of Commerce
and Labor at regular intervals.
Corporations organized under this act
should be prohibited from acquiring and
holding stock in other corporations Eek
cent for special reasons upon approval by
the proper federal authorities) thus avoid
ing the creation, undes national auspices,
of the holding company. with subordi-
nate corporations in different States.
which has been such an effective agency
in the creation of the great trusts and
monopoliies.
Sure of Opposition.
Such a national Incorporation law VIII
he opposed, first. by those who believe
that trusts should be completely broken
nm and their property destroyed: 1t will
he onnosed, second. by those who doubt
The constitutionality of such federal in
oornoration and even IL 1t is valid, object
80 r. as too great federal Capitalization.
yt will be opposed, third, by those who
Mill insist that a mere voluntary incorpor-