El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-08
PERKINS CR|T|CZEs
CONGRESS FOR It's
MANY PROBES
Declares National Legisla-
ture Tries to Ruin Bust
ness Enterprise.

Houghton, Mich, Aug. B.-George
w. Perkins, of New York, was
to have delivered an address before
the Michigan college Of mines today
on the topic "Wanted-A Constructive
National Policy" Mr.. Perkins, however,
was called to testify before the STAN
ley steel investigation committee at
Washington and in his absence Presi-
dent McNair read the paper
TT is a matter of common knowl-
edge" said the address, that 20 years
ago, congress passed a law that was
intended to put barriers IN the way of
plans that business was undertaking.
for the further upbuilding and ex-
tension of trade and commerce in the
United States-p1ans that in The tudg-
ment of these men were essential ana
which would ultimately operate Tor
the greatest good Of the greatest num-
ber
ct is matter Of common knowledge
that the enforcement Of this law was
almost neglected for years. during
which business men were allowed 20
proceed with their plans. 1t is mat
ter of common knowledge that during
the last eight or 10 years some OF
our executives have endeav"red to en-
force this law and while doing SO,
studying its effect and seeing its opera
ton, have raised the question IS to
whether it should not be amended
"At last this question reached cur
supreme court, and that court las
held that a company is not necessarily
illegal because it is large"
Congress has steadily calle1 for the
destruction of our local business en-
terprises. It has appropriated money
to find out what crimes these con-
Germs have committed and what evil
practices they have indulge1 in, but
SO far as common knowledge goes, it
has not taken one step to ascertain
what good these concerns have accom-
plished and whether there is anything
of benefit and value in them that
should be preserved.
"a congressional committee might
find it Of advantage to the people TO
inquire:
First: Has the cost Of articles male
by the socalled trusts increased or de-
creased?
Second: Have wages Increased or
decreased?
Third: Has labor been more stead
lily employed and better housed-more
generally employed and better salts
fled?
Fourth: Have there been fewer
failures in the lines OF business in
volved?
Fifth: Have the socalled trusts
Increased or decreased our foreign
trade balances?
Sixth: Have the socalled trusts
devised ways and means and provided
the capital for saving and utilizing
waste products. which could not have
been done by smaller concerns?
Seventh: Is the tendency to have
the ownership Of the large companies
and the profits made by them enjoyed
by a few men or by many men? Is
the tendency to have these corporations
in the future create, by their profits,
large fortunes for a few men, as was
the case in partnerships under COM
petitive methods. or Is the tendency to
distribute such profits more generally
among the people?
Congress has ignored every sug-
gestion by Roosevelt by Taft 'by
Wickersham-yes, even by some or its
own members, looking toward any
method tnat would preserve any good
theories, any benefit or any advantage
there is to the people In a large bust
ness undertaking, and has seemed con-
tent to let the country drift toward
business chaos.