Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
GREED OF THE FEW
Unbrid|ed Corporate Absorp-
ton of Wealth Condemned.
VIEWS OF JUDGE CLEMENTS
Address on Interstate Commerce
Law Before University Club.
EVILS DEVELOPED IN TRADE
Awakening of Public Conscience En-
courages Hope of Reform-Ex-
listing Laws Commended.

DenOuncing that moral turpitude of
unbridled corporate greed which con-
dones industrial iniquities that are cal
culated to make possible the absorption
of the entire wealth and increment Of
the nation by the few, and declaring that
the preservation of our institutions de-
Ponds upon the suppression OF unfair
methods of business. but sounding note
Of encouragement in the hope that the
awakening of the public conscience would
make it Infamous to be discovered in
commercial fraud. Judge Judson c. Glenn
ents, chairman of the interstate COM
merce commission, addressed the Uni
versity Club last night. on the theme
The Morality of Interstate Commerce
Law"
"When I see the evils that permeate
all branches of trade-the adulteration
of foods and of drugs, short weights anu
measures, rebates and discri nlnating
abuses-I no longer believe In the fasci-
mating doctrine that appealed to me as
law student-that country Is best gov
erned that is least governed, Judge
Clements remarked. 1.-The protest or the
business world against regulation, on the
score that it was curfailment OF per-
sonal liberty. and that In trade every
man should be for himself and the devil
for the hindmOst. is the law OF the free-
booter, the law for the monopolists who
would Cypress their fellows by unfair and
unjust dealings"
Present Laws Approved.
Praising the present interstate COM
merce law. he said that it was legislation
that could not have been perfectly draft
ed in it's inception by any sociologist,
statesman. jurist or philosopher but was
built on experience, step by step. after
test by the courts and revisions to cor
rect defects, until it can stand the final
test Of application without flaw.
The dispensation OF railroad courtesieS
by the distribution Of free passes and
other methods Judge Clements described
as a deep-laid policy for the cultivation
of the friendship Of courts and legisla-
lures and other interests that might be
in a position to administer justice to the
donors. The giving of free passes. he as
serted, was always an unjust, unlawful
and unwarranted thing TO do from the
standpoint of tie stockholder. The pres
ident of "a road, he said, had no more
right to give a pass than he had to pre-
sent check to the recipient.
II a man Is offered a check he would
consider himself insulted. the speaker
said, but if he received a pass he con-
sidered il a compliment in the days
when passes were given out. He saw no
justification for this distinction, and eX-
pressed satisfaction that now every man
paid his own way.
Recognized as Inherently Bad.
The giving of passes. the watering of
stock and other abuses that do not stand
for honest investment. he declared, are
now recognized as inherently bad. I'M
just and unsound. and those who stay
on that side Of the fence and persist in
such methods will find themselves in the
future dishonored among men when un-
covered.
1T is no more compatible with JUS
tice. equality and morality, Judge
Clements declared. for the common
carrier unduly and unrea sonably dis
eliminate in the facilities afforded
charges imposed than ii would be
for the state itself IL it were perform
ing the service wantonly to discrimi-
nate between its citizens. all Of whom
must in fair proportion bear the bur
dens Of the state. 1t is no more JUS
tifiable upon principle and good morals
than would the government Of the
postal stamps to some Of its citizens at
price. or otherwise unjustly and wan
tonly discriminating in the collection
of taxes, whereby one citizen bears an
undue burden OF his government and
another one goes free.
Applies to Common Carriers.
How can it be said that a common
carrier. the agency OF the state. Is free