Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-10-19


the many projects advanced BY irdivd-
uals for bringing the business world into
closer toucn With the government. The
business men, on the other hand, appear
so engrossed in .heir own affairs that it
does not occur to them that the federal
government might I've made a mighty in
strument for work in their interest II
they insisted that It should be-
LITTLE INTEREST IN TARIFF.
The office of the German consul general
in New York city employs more men than
the United States Bureau of Mlnufac-
lures, which is supposed to be The gov
ernment agency for promoting the well
fare Of American commerce and industry.
IN the various hearings given by the
House and Senate committees on the tar
iff bills, almost the only persons appear
ing are manufacturers or traders whose
interest in proposed tariff changes is di-
rect and personal. The Senate committee
on interstate commerce will begin hear
ings November 10 on the corporation and
trust question and it Is probable that the
committee will have to go out with lariats
10 rope In a respectable showing of bust
ness sentiment. Yet George w. Perkins
& Co. for the express purpose Of studying
sociological questions and being of use
to the commercial world as a publtcist
BOARD OF TRADE ACTIVE.
About the sole connecting link between
the business world and the federal gov
eminent appears to be the national board
of trade. which within the last few
months has maintained headquarters In
Washington with q competent secretary
in charge he annual meeting Of the
board will ne held in this city January &c.
II and Is. At that meeting a special ef
fort Will be made to ascertain business
sentiment with respect to the antitrust
law. Tho circular announcing the meet
ing invites the various commercial or
CARNATIONS composing the board to study
the corporation question. and intimates
that it will he the chief topic before the
annual meeting
AT great cost to the people" writes
Secretary Anderson, the government as
certans the depth of water in our har-
bors. and prepares sailing charts that our
! seamen may take a safe course in enter
ing or leaving our ports. No one ques-
tions the wisdom of this proceeding
mas inc Nllne arrived NNen the DuSl-
ness men OF the United States, represent
ing the commercial organizations. should
take steps TO ascertain what If anything,
can be done by the government 10 pro-
vide the business OF the country with
sailing charts which will he an assurance
| to the laymen OF commerce and trade that
they may avoid the shoals OF ilegailty?
We shall be pleased to know if Won
consider these problems of sufficient i'm
I portance to engage the attention of your
| commercial organization, and If you APP
prove this manner of attempting to har-
moniae business opinion along lines which
may relieve the present uncertainty."
BUSINESS MEN TO BLAME
Business men have themselves largely
to blame if the laws affecting their in
terests are defective They carelessly
shove n politician into office at his own
| request, and then leave him to do what
| he pleases. At no time in the history of
American legislation has it been more ne
cessary Tor the merchant and manufac-
turer to interest himself in government
| affairs than now. The balance OF power
in the next presidential election probably
will be held by class of people whose
| representatives just now are declaring
that it is high political crime to pass any
| Legislation that will in any way help bust
ness
| DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE.
They are clamoring for an enforce
ment of the Sherman antitrust law
which, If actually accomplished, would
bring on a panic and they are opposing
nf
by business men might know what is
legal and what is not, on the ground that
| it will offer refuge" to commercial
Indicators. They are planning to as
sault the proposed plan of currency re-
form becus it does not allow latitude
| enough to wildcat banking and they are
demanding the recall of Judges because
| occasionally = corporation is ABLE to WIN
| in suit in the courts. The sind of Sher.
| man law amendment demanded by this
| class whose market by the way, is the
| business centers-is not its repeal and the
| substitution of a law which the people
| can understand in its place but an amend
| ment designed to make the law even more
| stringent. The demand for the breaking
| up of great corporations, instead of their
| control, is incessant, notwit hstanding tina,
to break them up will multiply expenses
and inevitably Increase the cost of living
| Competition in the railroad business es.
pecially Is demanded when the whole
| course Of natural law aid economies Il
| toward consolidation and federal control
| The cry of States rights is being raised
| again when the chief result Of tho aBita.
ton, If 1t succeeds. would be to hamper
| and not to promote commerce between tn,
States. This movement Is naturally non
partisan, for neither great political party
having had some actual experience anC
responsibility in making, would dar,
| to stand for it,
In no other country. probably, do bust
ness men have so little to do with gov
| ernment affairs or on the other hand
has government so little respect for busI
ness opinion, The two propositions o.
course 90 hand in hand, each an com
plement OF the other. The new German
tariff Is often quoted as an object les
son In scientific tariff-making and bust
ness cooperation, but II is doubtful 4
| everybody Is familiar enough with thu
inside facts to realize how closely thu
] government tried TO cooperate with thu
business world In framing this tariff
and, on the other side, how completed!
the high protectionist politicians OF tn