Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-17

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SENATOR JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS,
Who addressed the National Board Of
Trade today.
The corporation problem in this coun-
try, the proper means of controlling cor
porations and at the same time not in
juring business. are the topics which are
engaging the interest of the National
Board of Trade, in session at the New
Willard Hotel today. 1t is the aim of
the organization to formulate. if possible.
a plan advocated by business men of the
country for the solution Of the problems
involved and urge that legislation along
these lines be enacted.
Senator John Sharp Williams of Missis-
sippi, Charles A. Prouty. chairman of the
interstate commerce commission: William
S. Harvey of Philadelphia and Senator
Charles +. Townsend of Michigan were
among those who addressed the c0nven-
ton at the morning and afternoon ses-
sions. and each had his plan for solving
the corporation problem.
Senator Williams View.
Senator Williams declared himself UNI
alterably- opposed to the plan for federal
incorporation as a means for the proper
control of the corporations of the country.
which has the approval of President Taft.
Senator Williams advocated the con-
troll of corporations through the pow
ers conferred upon Congress to regu-
late interstate commerce. he advo-
Gated the enactment of a law which
xo A.
ton to engage in interstate commerce
which did not conform to proper regu-
lations in its business as laid down by
Congress. The courts were to be the
tribunal of last resort to determine
whether the corporations were disobey-
ing the law.
Commissioner Prouty. on the other
hand. advocated the creation OF a trade
commission" empowered to investigate
all corporations and to report upon them.
and also with the power of passing first
upon the proposed plans and methods Of
business of corporations seeking incor-
poration.
In his address Senator Williams said:
Right government. spelling the high
est exposition Of civilization, Is gov
eminent of law. and not a government
of persons: a government carried on by
prescribed rule. for all the people, under
all conditions and circumstances. rather
than a government Of today. for today
and by today.
Special privileges are the root of all
the evils existing in the United States
today. The power to indulge in these
special privileges has been derived
through law, has been conferred or per-
mitted under state charters. Trusts have
been built up by this means"
Competition and Trade.
Senator Williams discussed the restraint
nf n n
trade. declaring that restraint of compe-
tition might be reasonable, but that re-
straint of trade was always evil.
He referred to the plans of the present
administration to control corporations
through concentration of power in the
federal government, to new national
ism as suggested by former President
Roosevelt. whose expressions. declared
Senator Williams. were SO often ''obscure
in their sensationalism."
Il want to appeal to new statism," said
Senator Williams. Il wish to reviSify
the states. l want the federal govern
ment so far as it is able. TO persuade the
as to essentials, and to the greatest free
dom in non-essentials. ] want to divorce
big business from the government. and
the government from big business.
want less law by more law.
'The trouble lies in the fact that the
government has already laid its hand on
business. has through it's laws, permitted
the existing evils. The trust question is
not one of magnitude or status, but Of
authorized by law.
Means Another Bureau.
a remedy, by means of federal in
or license has been suggested.
government bureau, and bureaucracy will
of bug 0nd
there is too much Capitalization of BUSH
ness already.
1.-The remedy is to decentralize. 1t is
absurd to give a man who has drunk too
much liquor another drink in order to
cure him. That is what you would be
doing if you were to further centralize
business. The way to prevent the pres
eral government to control Interstate COM
merce by refusing to permit corporations
conducting their business through evil
methods to engage in interstate trade.
Let the states which have granted these
evil corporations their charters have the
full benefit Of the evil which they are
doing.
Dangerous to the Republic.
1T would be dangerous to the Ameri-
can republic to attempt to control cor
porations through federal licenses issued
by a bureau, for the bureau would neces-
sarily be subject to a political admins
tration, whether republican or democrat
II ask you, who wants federal incor-
poration? Does the desire not come from
those who begin to feel the halter drawn
Senator Williams criticised Mr.. Roose-
welt for permitting an infringement Of
the antitrust law when he allowed the
absorption by the steel trust Of the Ten
nessee Coal and Iron Corporation.
Stands by Mr.. Taft.
Il am glad to say that the present
President of the United States-though
hope we will beat him at the polls-feels
that he has no right to displace the law.
said Senator Williams.
The session last night was devoted to
the reading of he reports Of the va
rious committees of the board. What
was of chief interest was the report
on Panama Canal tolls. The organiza-
ton; after considerable debate and dis
CUSTOM adopted resolution favoring