Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-08
Commerce and Combines.


President Taft's message to con-
gress dealing with the allied subjects
Of interstate commerce and industrial
combinations brings definitely before
the national legislature a plan for
action which has been clearly under
stood as a part OF the Taft policies.
While nothing revolutionary is at
tempted, the message embodies the
~well-known views Of the executive for
the adequate provision for corporation
regulation that shall fulfill the pledges
Of the platform IN which he was
elected, and thereby protect the pub
lie interests from unfair combination
or manipulation. 1t is evident that in
terests conducted along honest and
straightforward lines need have no
fear of meeting the requirements pro-
posed. The president manifests no
disposition to disturb business by any
arbitrary attitude.
The message Is characteristic OF the
judicial mind accustomed to weigh
fully the evidence on all sides, and yet
it is as firm for the right as it is fair
TO the rights of all the interests in
volved. The Sherman antitrust law
is very properly passed over for the
time being, inasmuch as it is even now
w~ithstanding it's full test in the cases
pending before the supreme court. But
since there appears to be need and op-
p~ortunity for extending the scope of
the federal power over corporations,
the president offers as a possible solu-
ton his plan for federal Incorporation
of large interstate concerns. This plan
already has been the subject of public
discussion, and in his language con-
corning It Mr.. Taft reveals an open
mindedness that indicates how fair is
his general attitude as to the whole
subject.
The fact that the attorney general
has approved the form of bill pro-
viding for such federal Incorporation
indicates that the administration has
looked thoroughly into the criticism
that such a law would be ~unconstitu-
tional. and to those who claim that 1t
is an invasion of state rights the
answer is ready that any state has al
ways the same privilege of regulating
operations within its borders, whether
the charter is issued at Trenton, Wash
ington or elsewhere. 1t would hardly
be the purpose or the province of a ma
tional charter to compel a state to
house a corporation which it desired to
forbid to do business within it's bor-
ders.
But these and other objections to
the measure, Mr.. Taft, expects, will be
voiced on the floor of congress-, for his
own language is that he wishes his
message to bring clearly to the con-
sideration and discussion of congress
the proposition outlined, and he is
very specific in his purpose to hedge
such federal corporations about with
every proviso for prosecution In case
the antitrust laws should be violated
The chief features OF the proposed
amendments to the interstate com
MERGE laws include his original com
merce court, distinctly a Taft idea
regulation of stock control and the
safeguarding of competing ines
These suggestions are identically the
same as had been outlined early in his
term, and it is apparent that the plead
ings of railroad officials for modihca'
lions of his essential program had alb
solutely no effect.
Mr.. Taft has lone well to present
these vital matters in a message unen
numbered by other topics. He ha'
stated to congress clearly and fully
the views of the administration as t'
what is essential for the correction O.
existing weaknesses in federal contro
of corporations and commerce, and thu
legislative body ought to be able from
such a judicial capitalization of thu
needs of the case to formulate appro
nriate legislation without undue delay