Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-01
ADAMsON STATES VIEWS
ON TAFT RAILROAD BILL
Congressman COrreCtS Certain
Measurements Sent From
Washington in Dispatches
ny RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 31.-The
position of Judge w. c. Adamson with
reference to the pending administration
railroad bill has been persistently mis-
represented in press dispatches from
Washington. The judge is the ranking
Democrat on the Interstate and foreign
commerce committee of the house, which
reported the measure His position VIII
entitle him to lead the opposition to the
bill, and he regards ii as important that
his views be not misrepTesented, or mis-
understood.
judge Adamson has prepared the fol-
lowing statement, as correction of the
numerous press dispatches, purportinS 10
give his views:
Press dispatches enormously tell the
country that Mr. Adamson. Of Georgia.
opposes government population of stocks
and bonds and prevention Of competing
lines consolidating. This error must
have emanated from some persons cppos-
ed to Ny. AdamsOns position.
Nh. Adamson is very decidedly in favor
of competition and - very much in
favor Of governmental reGUlatin OF public
service corporations. re is also in favor
of parental control OF children, but with
the limitation that parents should con
troll their own children and rot the chill
dren of other people.
Each government. whether federal or
stare, SDOIlQ see 10 II ludl every OF NAii'i-Ai
person 1t generates is honestly organized
and honestly conducted. 1t is not the
business cf the federal government. to
charter corporations, but If il does char
te one II is responsible to the people for
il.
THE internal and financial concerns of
the corpora ton should be honestly man
aged in the interests of safe business
transactions and this should be looked
of bxy ba which creates
the corporation. That is a matter entire
ly different however. to the regulation by
the federal government or rates and
practices of manipulation in interstate
commerce. That power depends in no
respect on ownership o. property, condl-
lions of competition. amount of capital
stock or Indebtedness. but is an abso-
lutte power to be exercised according to
the facts in each case to compel rea-
sonable and just practices and charges.
1.-THE inquisitorial provisions of the
ministration bill looking to controlling
the question of competition and the mat
ter of stocks and bonds are confessedly
not in aid of regulating transportation
but are acknowledge by the authors to
be intended for the purpose OF taking
care of investments and providing meth
DDS by which consolidation can be
legalized under court of JudS-
ment and the manipulation of stocks and
bonds made secure in the hands of the
present holders under legal sanction.
The commerce court is but necessary
incident to the program which will vir-
tually nullify the antitrust law-at least
enable the court by construction to eX-
empt from its penalties the chief viola
tors. An nsurmountable objection to the
bill is that it was prepared by the execu-
tive department and congress ordered to
accept it,
Whether realized or not by the puta-
tive authors of the administration bill in
the, house and senate. the country will
soon discover that the provisions of the
bill referred to were drawn in the inter-
est of the reactionaries and are being
pressed i'm this bill because it appears
impossible to secure a federal-in ceopora-
ton law at this time"