Mexico Missouri message., 1910-01-13


terstate carriers established by the acts
Of congress, and as recommended in this
communication, see no reason why
agreements between carriers subject to
the act, specifying the classihcations of
freight and the rates, fares and charges
for transportation OF passengers and
fish, 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
Il as to all or any Of the agreed rates,
fares, charges, or classifications by 30
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 1903, 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
kind in capital stock or purchase or
lease any railroad, or any other corpora
ton which completes with It respecting
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
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 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,
II 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, bond or 9TH
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:
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
the operation Of interstate railroad lines,
without undue preference to any individu-
al or class over any others.
has drafted bill to carry out these
recommendations, which will be fur
nished upon request to the appropriate
In addition to the foregoing amend
ments 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 tratnmen 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 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 IL railroads
are compelled to adopt proper safety ap-
planes.
THE question has arisen In the opera
tons of the interstate commerce employ
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-
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-
| sdered by the house of representatives
and have been passed, and are now. be
| fore the Interstate commerce committee
Of the senate. 1 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
der the Sherman antitrust act Mr.. Taft
says:
| 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 II
| 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
| 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
| 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
| which 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
which these business combinations may
| be offered a means, without great finan-
| cial disturbance, of changing the char
| acter, organization and extent of their
law under federal control and supervision,
securing compliance with the antitrust
| statutes.
For Government Control.
Generally, in the Industrial combina-
| lions 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 done in any one
state. This fact will Justify the fed
| eral government in granting a federal
| charter to such n 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 II is possible so TO frame a statute
that while 1t offers protection to fed
/ eral company against harmful, yeNatious
| and unnecessary invasion by the states,
] 1t shall subject II to reasonable taxation
/ and control by the states, with respect 10
| its purely local business.
| MANY people conducting great bust
| nesses have cherished a hope and a be-
lief that in some way or other a line
| may be drawn between good trusts and
| bad trusts and that II is possible by
| amendment to the antitrust law to make
distinction under which good combina-
| lions may be permitted to organize, sup