El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-22
Politics In Canada Affected
By New Industrial Problems
Canadians Think They Are Solving Problem Better Than
the United States

2O26 branches These banks and their
numerous branches serve all the bank
ing needs of the 1000. 600 Canadians,
except that of savings, which is cared
for by the postoffice. These banks
are under extremely stringent regula-
tions which require governmental su-
pervision to an extent that is prac-
tically controlling. The banks all is
sue currency for circulation, and all
of them hold a portion Of their cash
reserves in government notes.
The postal savings bank system in
Canada was established in 1858 and
has been Highly successful. These
banks now have balances of more than
S60,000,000. They also have an annuity
feature, under which any person who
pays in a small sum weekly or month
ly, say 10 to so cents, will be granted
an annuity Of several dollars month,
according to a fixed sliding scale, after
he reaches the age of 65. In such
matters the Canadians have gone much
farther than the Americans, either IN
federal or state legislation
Combating LABOR Troubles.
Perhaps the most interesting of the
Canadian legislative experiments are
those which seek TO obviate labor trou-
bles and to prevent mOnOpOlies- The
minister Of labor in the Laurier gov
ernment is William Lyon Mackenzie
King, a grandson Of that Mackenzie
who led a rebellion against England
in upper Canada, about the time Mar
tin Van Buren, succeeded Andrew Jack
son in the white house Mr.. King IS
a profound student Of sociology, to
which he has devoted MS entire atten-
ton, and although a young man rep
resenting a new school of political
thought, he already has carved a name
for himself on the imperishable rec
ords of his country
His first act as minister was 10 de-
wise a scheme Of arbitration for the
prevention of strikes and lockouts, in
which representatives Of both employ
ers and employees in equal numbers are
on the arbitral board under the chair
manship of a representative Of the
government It is against the law to
order a. strike or lockout until after
this arbitraI board has rendered its
decision. However, the Judgment Of
the board is not binding, and II either
side objects the strike or the lockout
may then be ordered. In practice the
arbitration has nearly always resulted
in a peaceful settlement.
Even more original and progressive
is the Canadian antitrust law, another
product Of Mr.. Kings genius. Under
this law the onus of initiating a prose-
cution against an alleged monopoly is
removed from the government and
rests entirely with the people. In the
United States the department Of JUS
tice undertakes all prosecutions against
the trusts. and this sometimes brin gs
the government into direct political
antagonism with a certain great in
terest. Under the Canadian system
action may be taken by any six per-
sons who think there is a trust or com
binatiOn that amounts to a substantial
monopoly, or that is depressing the
public or suppressing competition by
unfair means. These persons may
make out a prima facie case before
any Judge, who thereupon will order
an inquiry. A board is appointed, on
which sit representatives Of the com
plainants, representatives OF the cor
poration accused. and an agent of the
government who is the chairman and
who has the deciding. vote
This board is by law authorized to
compel the attendance OF witnesses
and the giving Of testimony, as if 1t
were a court, but at the same time
1t is specifically exempted from the
obligation to adhere to the strict rules
OF evidence Therefore it can take in
hearsay testimony, and may sweep
aside every non-essential technicality
Not only is this radical method on
inquiry provided for, but the problem
Of making the punishment fit the
crime has been solved in a most un-
usual and original fashion In the
United States it has been a mOoted
question whether convicted trusts and
combinations ought to be punished by
a fine or whether some officers and
directors ought to be sent to Jail. Both
plans appear to have serious faults
Trust Probes Are Deep.
In Canada the board that finds a