Lower coast gazette., 1910-01-15

/ Az, stit oN'J'N - wv lbDIA VI
any parties to such agreement to cancel
it as to all or any Of the agreed rates,
fares, charges, or CtaSslftcattOns by 81
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
law be amended 50 as to pro-
| vide. that no railroad mpa subject
to the act Shall, directly or in
directly, acquire any interests of n
kind in capital stock, or purchase or
lease any railroad, or any other corpora
ton which completes with 1t respecting
business to which the interstate COM
merce act applies; that a law be enact
ed providing that no railroad corpora
ton subject 10 the interstate
act shall hereafter for any purpose con-
nccted with or relating to any part Of its
business governed by said act, issue any
capital stock without previous or stimuli
taneous payment to it of not less han
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 value,
then not without such payment Of the
reasonable market value Of such bonds
or obligations as ascertained by the in
terState commerce commission; and that
no property, service, or other thing than
money. shall be taken in payment to such
carrier corporation. of the par or other
required price of such stock. bono or 9TH
er obligation, except the fair value of
such property. services or other thing as
certained by the commission"
Would Prevent Wrong Practices.
The president continues:
Il believe these suggested notifications
In and amendments TO the interstate com
merce act would make it 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 individu-
al or class over any others.
by my direction the attorney general
has drafted a bill to carry out these
nished upon request to the appropriate
committee whenever 1t may be desired.
In addition to the foregoing amend
ments of the interstate law,
the interstate commission
should be given the power, after a hear
ing. to determine uHon the uniform con-
struciiOn of these appliances-such as sill
steps, ladders, roof hand holds, running
boards and and 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 numbe Of
switcfimen aud trainmen injured by coup
ling accidents. due TO the enforced in
PRODUCTION of safety couplers, is a demon
Stratlon OF what can be done IL railroads
are compelled to adept roper safety APP
planes.
THE question has arisen In the opera
tons Of the Interstate commerce employ
ers' liability act, as to whether suit cen
be brought against the employer CON-
Pany in any place other 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 q private per-
son not in the %CoInpany's employ to. sue
on an ordinary claim, and process in each
suit should be sufficiently served il 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 COLI
sidered by the house Of representatives
and have been passed. and are now be-
fore the interstate m committee
OF the senate. | earnestly urge that they
be enacted into law"
Control Of the Trusts.
The second part of the message is de-
voted to the control Of trusts. After a
lengthy discussion Of trusts, good and
bad, and the success of prosecutions un-
der the Sherman antitrust act, Mr.. Taft
1T is the duty and purpose of the exec
utive to direct an investigation by the de-
partment of justice, through the grand
jury or otherwise, into the history, organ
ization, and purposes of all the industrial
companies with respect to which there is
any reasonable ground for suspicion that
they have been organized for a purpose,
and are conducting business on a plan
which is in violation of the antitrust
law. 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 suck 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
the confidence Of the business COM
munity, to dry up the now flowing sources
OF capital from its places of boarding, and
produce a halt. in our present prosperity
that will cause suffering and strained cir
cumstances among the innocent many for
Of the guilty few. The question
which l wish in this message to bring
to the consideration and decision
the congress whether to avoid business
danger something cannot be done by
which these business combinations may
be offered a means, without great fnan-
cial disturbance. Of changing the char
acter, organization and extent of their
business into one within the lines of the
law under federal control and supervision,
compliance with the antitrust
For Government Control.
Generally, in the industrial combina-
tons called trusts the principal bust
ness is the sale of goods in many states
and in foreign markets; in other words.
the interstate and foreign business far
exceeds the business lone in any one
state. This fact will justify the fed
eral government in granting a federal
to such a combination to make
and sell in interstate and foreign com
merce the products of useful manufac-
under such limitations as will Sc
a compliance with the antitrust
1t Is possible so to frame q statute
while it offers protection to a fed
eral company against harmful. veXatious
and unnecessary invasion by the states,
1t shall subject 1t to reasonable taxation
and control by the states. with respect to
its purely local business.
Many people conducting great bust
have cherished a hope and a be-
lief that in some way or other a line
may be aiaNH between Sb6H trusts ana
bad trusts and that it is possible by
amendment to the antitrust law to make
q distinction under which good combina-
tons may be permitted to organize, sup
press competition. control prices, and do
It all legally If only they do not abuse
the power by taking too great profit out
Of the business. They point with force to
notorious trusts as having grown
into power through criminal methods by
the use of illegal rebates and plain cheat
ing. and by various acts utterly violative
business honesty or morality, and urge
the establishment Of some legal line Of
separation by which criminal trusts Of
this kind can be punished, and they. on
the other hand. be permitted under the
to carry on their business. Now,
the public. and especially the business
ought to rid themselves Of the
Idea that such a distinction Is practic-
ntni1nnaa