The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-01-14

rate making, and other practices Of in
terstate carriers established by the acts
Of congress. and as recommended in this
agreements between carriers subject to
the act. specifying the classifications OF
freight and the rates, fares and charges
for transportation of passengers and
freight which they, may agree to estab-
lish, should not be permitted. provided,
copies of such agreements be promptly
filed with the commission. but subject TO
all the provisions OF the interstate com
merce act. and subject to the right OF
any parties to such agreement to cancel
it as to all or any of the agreed rates,
fares, charges, Cl ClaSSiHcatlonS by 80
days notice in writing 10 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
commerce law be amended so as to pro
vide. that no railroad company subject
to the commerce act shall directly or IN
directly, acquire any interests OF any
Kind in capital stock. or purchase or
lease any railroad or any other corpora
ton which competes with II respecting
business to which the interstate com
merce act applies, that law be enact
ed providing that no railroad corpora
ton subject TO the interstate commerce
act shall hereafter for any purpose con
nocted with or relating to any part OF its
business governed by said act issue any
capital stock without previous or stimuli
taneOus payment To il of not less than
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 issuc), without the preNl-
Gus or simultaneous payment to such cor
poraton 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 ascertnlned 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, bond or oth.
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 II a complete ana
effective measure for securing reasonable
ness of rates and fairness OF practices in
the operation of interstate railroad lines,
without undue preference TO any indlvldu-
al or class over any others.
by my direction the attorney general
has drafted a bill to carry out these
recommendations, which will be fur
committee whenever it may be desired.
In addition to the foregoing amend
ments of the interstate commerce law,
the interstate commerce commission
should be given the power, after hear
ing, TO determine upon the uniform con-
struction of these appliancesIsuch AS slil
steps. ladders roof hand holds, running
boards and hand brakes freight cars
engaged in interstate commerce-used by
the trainmen in the opera ton 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 Of
switchmen and trainmen injured by coup
ling accidents, due to the enforced IN
PRODUCTION of safety cOuplers. is a demon
stration of what can be done if railroads
are compelled to adopt proper safety APP
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
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 a private per-
son not in the company's employ to sue
on ordinary claim, and process in each
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 con
sidored by the house of representatives
and have been passed, and are now be-
fore the interstate commerce committee
of the senate. l earnestly urge that they
Control of the Trusts.
The second part of the message Is de-
voted to the control of trusts. After
lengthy discussion of trusts, good and
bad and the success Of prosecutions un-
der the Sherman antitrust act, Mr.. Taft
says:
1T is the duty and purpose of the exec
utive to direct an investigation by the de-
paitment of justice, through the grand
jury or otherwise into the history, organ
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 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 such 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
turb the confidence Of the bus sness 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
faults of the guilty few. The question
clearly to the consideration and decision
OF the congress whether to avoid business
danger something cannot be done by
which these business combinations may
be offered a means. without great finan-
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.
securing compliance with the antitrust
statutes.
For Government Control.
Generally, in the industrial combina-
tions called trusts the principal busi-
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 done in any one
state. This fact will Justify the fed
eral government in granting federal
charter to such a combination to make
and sell in interstate and foreign com
merce the products Of useful manufac-
ture under such limitations as will Sc
cure a compliance with the antitrust
law. 1t is possible SO to frame a statute
that while IL offers protection to a fed
eral company against harmful. veXatious
and unnecessary invasion by the states.
ii shall subject II to reasonable taxation
and control by the states with respect to
its purely local business.