Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-01-14

x,
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 classifcations of
freight and the rates, fares and charges
for transportation of passengers and
lish, 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
It as to all or any of the agreed rates,
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
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 1t respecting
merce act applies; that a law be enact
ed providing that no railroad corpora
ton l subject to the interstate nn commerce e
nected with or relating to any part of Its
business governed by said act, issue any
taneous payment to It 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
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
Ill,
required price of such stock, bond or 9TH
er 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
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.
by my direction the attorney general
has drafted u bill to carry out these
recommendations, which will be fur
nshed upon request to the appropriate
committee whenever 1t may be desired,
"In addition to the foregoing amend
ments of the interstate commerce 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
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
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 demon
stration of what can be done IL railroads
are compelled to adopt proper safety APP
pliances.
THE question has arisen in the opera
tons, of the interstate commerce 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
under this act should be as easy of en-
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 c-hrary actions
arising under state lava Bills ior both
the foregoing purposes have been con-
| sidered by the house of representatives
| and have been passed. and are now be-
| fore the Interstate commerce committee
| of the senate. i 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 q
| lengthy discussion of trusts, good and
| bad, and the success of prosecutions TN
der the Sherman antitrust act, Mr.. Taft
| says:
''It is the duty and purpose of the exec
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 purpose
| and are conducting business ON a plan
| which is in violation of the antitrust
law. The work is 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
| 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 source:
| of capital from its places of boarding, anc
| produce halt In our present prosperity
| that will cause suffering and strained cir
cumstances among the innocent many fol
| which ! wish in this message to brnl
| clearly to the consideration and decision
of the congress whether to avoid busines!
| danger something cannot be done b,
| which these business combinations may
be offered means. without great imam
cial disturbance; of changing the char
business into one within the, lines of thu
| law under federal control and supervision
| securing compliance WIN tne anu-truS
| statutes.
For Government Control.
| "Generally, in the industrial combina
| tions called trusts the principal bust
| ness is the sale of goods in many state
| and in foreign markets; in other words
the interstate and foreign business ia
exceeds the business done in any on
state This fact will justify the fed
eral government in granting fedora
charter to such combination to max
| 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 anti-trus
law. 1t is possible so TO frame a statut
that while 1t offers protection to a fed
eral company against harmful, veXatiou
and unnecessary invasion by the states
1t shall subject II to reasonable taxation
and control by the states, with respect t
its purely local business.
MANY people conducting great bust
nesses have cherished hope and be
lief that in some way or other lin
may be drawn between good trusts an
bad trusts and that II is possible b.
amendment to the antitrust law to max
a distinction under which good combina
tons may be permitted to organize, sup
press competition, control prices and d
1t all legally II only they do not abus
the power by taking too great profit ou
of the business. They point with force t
certain notorious trusts as having grow