Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-01-14

terState carriers established by the acts
of congress, and as recommended in this
communication. 1 see no reason why
agreements between carriers subject to
the act, specifying the classihealons or
freight and the rates, fares and charges
for transportation of passengers and
freight which they may agree to estab-
fish. should not IL 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
fares, charges, or ctassifications by 80
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
vide, that no railroad company subject |
to the commerce act shall, directly or in |
directly, acquire any interests OF any
lease any railroad, or any other corpora |
tion which completes with 1t 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-
nected with or relating to any part OF It's
business governed by said act, issue any
taneous payment to 1t 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 uie
date of their issue). without the prevl-
Gus or simultaneous payment TO Such cor
poration of not less than the par value
of such bonds or other obngatlons, 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 commissions; and that
| no property service, or other thing than
| money, shall be taken in payment to such
! carrier corporation of the par or other
| err obligation, except the fair value OF
such property. services or other thing as
| certained by the commission,
| Would Prevent Wrong Practices.
The president continues:
| II believe these suggested notifications
| in and amendments to the interstate COM
| effective measure for securing reasonable
ness of rates and fairness of practices In
without, undue preference to any individu-
by my direction the attorney general
has drafted a bill to carry out these
recommendations. which will be fur
nished upon request to the appropriate
I'm addition to the foregoing amend
nlents of the interstate commerce law.
the interstate commerce commission
ing to determine upon the uniform con-
struction of these appliances-such as sill
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
derfui reforms effected in the number Of
switchmen and trainmen injured by coup
ling accidents, due to the enforced IN
| PRODUCTION of safety couplers, is demon
stration of what be done If railroads
are compelled to adopt proper safety ap-
THE question has arisen in the opera
tons OF the interstate commerce employ
ers liability act as t 10 whether npvs suit o can
pany In any place other than that of its
home office. The right to bring the suit
IL Dc nnf hA nG n n
forcement the right of a private per-
son not in the company's employ to sue
on an 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
! sidered by the house Of representatives
| and have been passed. and are now be-
of the senate. / earnestly urge that they
, be enacted into law
I 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 I'M
der the Sherman antitrust act, Mr.. TAFT
! SAYS:
e utive to direct investigation by the de-
q partment of justice through the grand
: jury or otherwise, into the history, organ,
d ization and purposes Of all the industrial
> companies with respect TO which there Il
: any reasonable ground for suspicion tha1
[ they have been organized for A purpose
i and are conducting business on plar
which is in violation of the antitrust
:. is not beyond the power of the depart
= ment of justice, II sufficient funds arr
! furnished to carry on the investigation.
= and to pay the counsel engaged in thu
1 work. But such an investigation ant
: possible prosecution of corporations who's
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 business com
! munity, to dry up the now flowing sources
y of capital from its places of boarding. AM
= produce a halt in our present prosperity
: that will cause suffering and strained cir
eumstanees among the f lnnoeg rhe man ati To-
g which l wish In this message to hrini
s clearly to the consideration and decision
le of the congress whether to avoid bushes
= danger something cannot be done b
IL which these business combinations ma
lee be offered a means. without great fnan
ot ciai disturbance of changing the char
= aeter, organization and extent OF thel
4 law under federal control and supervision
!. securing compliance with the anti-trns
t statutes.
90 For Government Control.
a. s.Generally in the industrial combine
lions called trusts the principal bus
te ness is the sale of goods In many state
Id and In foreign markets: In other word
r exceeds the business done IN any or
it state. This fact will Justify the fee
10 erdl government III 6idh 1Sh1i
ct charter to such a combination to MAX
e. | and sell in interstate and foreign con
1g | merce the products of useful manufat
IL ture under such limitations as will 81
to cure compliance with the anti-tru
on law. 1t Is possible so to frame a statu
s. that while II offers protection to fee
IL eral company against harmful. VeNatiot
s- and unnecessary. invasion by the state
In it shall subject II to reasonable taNati6
he and control by the states with respect
ct its purely local business.
nd MANY people conducting great bus
d. nesses have cherished a hope and b
he lief that In some way or other lii
be may be drawn between good trusts az
es bad trusts and that 1t is possible /
an amendment to the antitrust law to mai
Ter q distinction under winch good sompln
tions may be permitted to organize su
press competition. control prices. and
It all legally If only they do not abu
ols the power by taking too great profit o
mt of tile business They point with force
certain notorious trusts as having grow
X into power through criminal methods