Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-02-09
INTERSTATE BUSINESS.
The Really Big Question for
Government to Settle.
By S. M. Ladd.

The relation of the government to
interstate business, involving the
future development of big business is
conceded to be the most important
economic question before Congress.
While parties may play with the
tariff and use it as "talking stuff" in
the campaign. the question of big
business and it's regulation is of much
greater Importance than the tariff. 1t
is conceded to be the one big issue"
before the American people about
which there is such diversity Of
opinion that it has not reached the
stage where either party can intelli-
gently define its position with refer
ence to it. Progressives, regulars,
reactionaries. of both parties are all
at sea as to the trust question, and
the proper way to handle it. The
hearings now in progress before the
committee on interstate commerce, of
which Senator Clapp of Minnesota is
the chairman, will undoubtedly result
in legislation which, it is hoped. will
clear the atmosphere and straighten
on the industrial tangle in which we
are now involved The present in
vestigation is through. going and get
ting down to bedrock. It is probably
the most exhaustive investigation of
its kind ever conducted by Congress
sional committee.
Senator Clapp, in discussing the
hearings, had this to say:
"The hearings before the Senator
Committee on Interstate Commerce
are approaching close. They have
covered wide range of inquiry and
men of all shades of opinion and al.
most every calling have appeared be-
fore the Committee. The hearings
were held primarily for the purpose
of getting the views of different peo.
pie as to what legislation, if any,
was desirable as amendatory or sup.
lplemental to the Sherman antitrust
/ law While great deal of the testi.
imony has dealt with abstract prop.
POSITIONS, the views of those who have
iappeared might be grouped under
! three or four heads. M
/. First, those who believe that the
government should simply enact legis.
lation defining what is prohibited and
tprovide for the violation of the same.
This plan centers upon a bill intro.
: duced by Senator LaFollette at the
close of the last session and supported
by Mr.. Brandeis.
Second. the plan of a commission
which shall have some supervisory
power over its engaging in interstate
commerce along industrial lines,
which finds its principal champion
Senator Newlands. of Nevada.
Third. a Federal incorporation law
or law authorizing licenses to issue t.
corporations engaged in interstate
commerce along industrial lines.
The committee has large numbe
OF bills along these various lines anc
will now take up the consideration O.
the subject with reference to tn,
framing of proposed legislation. 1t i:
hardly expected that the Committe,
will agree upon any form or plan, il
fact, probably several diff erent plan
will be reported"
The interstate trade commission
plan fnds its principle advocate il
Senator Newlands, of Nevada. Thi
body would be somewhat similar tt
the Interstate Commerce Commission
which regulates the rates of common
carriers. 1t provides for an admin
lstrative tribunal for the regulation o
corporations engaged in interstat,
trade. This plans holds to the viev
that the courts are not the prope
9 medium for determining what is o
what is not reasonable restraint O
trade. The proposed commission
would consist of FIVE members.
George w. Perkins of New Yor]
advocates the commission plan, H
n would create in the Department O
d Commerce and labor business cour
E or controlling commission, compose
: largely of experienced business men
: This body would have power to Iicens
K corporations doing interstate business
n the issuing of license depending up
8 on the ability of the applicant t
s comply with certain conditions lai
down by Congress. Publicity is
prominent feature of this plan.
8 Mr.. Louis d. Brandeis, the Bosto
: attorney, who achieved conside rabI
d prominence in the Ballinger. Pinchc
! controversy. is a staunch supporter q
q the LaFollette bill, which makes tn
q present Sherman ANTITRUST law NOR
! drastic. The LaFollette bill strength
!, ems the antitrust law. Right her