The Springfield herald., 1910-01-14


the act specifying the ciassihcations OF
freight and the rates. fares and charges
for trnnsEporttntihon Et ton OF passensfps estnbi aha
lsh, should not be permitted. provided.
copies of such agreements be promptly
filed with the commission, but subject 10
all the provisions of the interstate com.
merce act. and subject to the right OF
it as to ali or any OF the agreed rates.
fares. charses' OF eiassihessi1Is cat nis. by nos ~
Other Amendments Urged.
In accord with other declarations of the
Republican platform of 1908. the president
commerce law be amended 80 as to pro.
vide, that no railroad company subject
to the commerce act shall: directly or IN
kind in capital stock. or purchase or
lease any railroad. or any other corpo,ra- pe,s-
business to which the interstate COM
merce act applies; that a law be enact
tion subject to the Interstate commerce
act shall hereafter for any purpose con-
nected with or relating to any part ns OF ans ,,s
taneous payment to 1t of not less than
the par value Of such stock. or any bonds
or other obligations Except notes matnr-
ing not more than one year from the
oase ons or simultaneous payment to such cor
poration of not less than the par Vaiue
of such bonds. or other obligations: ., or
then not without such payment OF the
reasonable market value of such bonds
terstate commerce commission; and that
no property. service. or other thing thah
sn ne Of " .he par or other
required price of such stock. bond or 9th.
er obligation. except the . fair value value OF
such property. services or other thins as
certaned 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 1t a complete and
| effective measure for securing reasonable
ness of rates and fairness of practices in
| without undue preference to any individu-
! al or class over any others. ,,
has drafted a bill to carry, out these
recommendations, which will be fur
| committee whenever 1t may be desired.
In ADDITION to the foregoing amend e, ID
the interstate commerce commission
| should be given the power. after hear
| ing. to determine upon the uniform con,
| 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 tra!nmen injured by coup
| ling accidents, due to the enforced in
| PRODUCTION of safety couplers. is a demon
| stration OF what can be done II railroads
| are compelled to adopt proper safety ap-
plances.
"The question has arisen in the opera
| tons of the interstate commerce employ
ers' liability act, as to whether suit can
| be brought against the employer COM
IN rsh to the OF
| under this act should be as easy of en-
forcement as the right of private per-
son not In the company's employ to sue
| on an ordinary claim, and process in each
suit should be sufficiently served II 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; Biils ior noth
| sidered by the house of representatives
and have been passed. and are now be
| fore the interstate commerce committee
OF the senate earnestly urge that they
| be enacted Into law.
Control Of the Trusts.
The second part Of h the message f,s. j. de,
lengthy discussion of trusts. good and
| bad. and the success of prosecutions un-
der the Sherman ANTITRUST act. Mr. Tart
| says:
TT 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
Viii which Is in Violation OF the ant trust
law. The work is a heavy one, but 1T
is not beyond the power OF the ,n,,s depart rs
| furnished to carry on the investigations
and to pay the counsel engaged In the
| 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
turb the confidence OF the cuisines business oSsns eom
| of capital from Its places of boarding. and
produce halt in our present prosperity
| that will cause suffering and strained cir
faults Of the guilty. few. The question
which 1 wish in this message to bring
/ clearly to the consideration and decision
| of the congress whether to avoid business
danger something cannot be done by
| be offered means. without great finan-
cial disturbance; of changing the char
| business into one within the lines of the
law under federal control and supervision,
/ statutes.
For Government Control.
Generally, in the industrial combine
tions called trusts the principal bust
| and in foreign markets.; in other words
the Interstate and foreign business far
| state This fact will Justify the fed
| eral government in granting federal
and sell in Interstate and foreign COM
| merce the products of useful manufac-
/ ture under such limitations as VIII Sc
| cure n compliance with the antitrust
| law. II Ia possible to frame statute
| that while 1t offers protection to a fed
| eral company against harmful, veNatious
| and unnecessary invasion by the states.
/ IL shall subject 1t to reasonable taxation
/ and control by the states. with respect to
| fts purely local business.
| MANY people conducting great busi-
nesses have cherished hope and be-
| lief that in some way or other line
may he drawn between good trusts and
| bad trusts. and that 1t is possible by
| amendment to the anu-trust law to make
| distinction under which good combina-
| tons may be permitted to organize, sup
| press competition, control prices and do
| it all legally II only they do not abuse
| the power by taking too great profit out
| of the business. They point with force to
| certain 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
| of business honesty or morality. and urge
| separation by which criminal trusts of
| this kind can be punished. and they. on
the other hand. be permitted under the
| law to carry their business. Now
| the public. and especially the business
public ought to rid themselves OF the
! idea that such distinction IS practic-
Diplomacy.