The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-01-14

.@pauiisaH platform OF lSa. the president
further recommeRds that the Interstate
commerce law be amended SO as TO pro-
Woe, tnat no railroad company subject
10 the 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 completes with IL respecting
business TO which the Interstate COM
merce act applies; that a law be enact
ed providing that no railroad corpora
uon subject to the interstate commerce
nected 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 texcept 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
q such bonds, or other obligations, or,
y 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
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 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.
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
committee whenever it may be desired.
In addition TO the foregoing amend
ments OF the interstate law,
the interstate commerce commission
should be given the power, after a hear
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 t~ralninen in the operation of trains,
which are apt to produce accidents and
injuries TO railway trainmen. The won
uerful 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
planes.
The question has arisen in the opera
ions OF the interstate 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
unuer tNlS 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 an ordinary claim, and process i'm each
suit should be sufficiently served III 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-
fore the interstate committee
~ tho AnlyA L - naaftH ,~an vLat ~.
be enacted into law"
Control Of the Trusts.
The second part of the message 10 de-
voted to the control OF trusts. After q
lengthy discussion Of trusts, good and
bad, and the success OF prosecutions un-
der the Sherman antitrust act, Mr.. Taft
TT is the duty and purpose of the exec
utve to direct an investigation by the de-
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
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, il 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 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
which l 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 fnan-
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
|
For Government Control.
Generally. In the industrial comhina-
lions 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 Tar
exceeds the business done I'm n one
state. This fact viii justify the fed |
eral government In granting a federal
charter To such a combination to make
and sell In Interstate ana 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 II offers protection TO IA fed
erai ompany against harmful, yexatious
and unnecessary Invasion by the states, ,
Il shall subject II TO reasonable taxation
and control by the states, with respect to
It's purely local business.
Many people conducting great busi-
nesses have cherished a hope and . be-
lief that In some way or other n line |
may be drawn between good trusts and
bad trusts and that II Ia possible by
amendment TO the antitrust law To make
a distinction under which good combine
tons may he permitted TO organise. sup
press competition. control prices. and do
Il all legally II only they do not abuse
the power by taking too great prort out
OF the business. They point with force To
notorious trusts as having grown
into power through criminal methods by
the use of illegal rebates and plain cheat
ing. and by various acts utterly vioiative
Of business honesty or morality. and urge
the establishment OF some legal line OF
by which riminal trusts OF
this kind can be punished, and they. on
the other hand be permitted under the
law to carry on their business. Now. |
the public. and especially the business
ought to rid themselves Of the
idea tina such a distinction Is practic-