The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-08-07

and the general public. 1t should have
power TO compel the unsparing pub
licity OF all the acts OF any corpora
uo1 which goes wrong. The regu-
lation should be primarily under the
administrative branch OF the govern
ment. and not by lawsuit IL should
prohibit and effectually punish monop-
oily achieved through wrong. and also
actual wrongs done by Industrial cor
pora tions which are not monopoIies.
such az the artificial raising OF prices,
the artificial restriction on productive
lily. the elimination OF competition by
unfair or predatory practices, and the
like; leaving Industrial organizations
Tree within the limits of fair and hon
est dealing TO promote through the
inherent efficiency OF Organization the
power OF the United States as a COM
petitive nation among nations. and the
greater abundance at home that will
come TO our people from that power
wisely exercised. Any corporation
Voluntarily coming under the commas
sion should not be prosecuted under
the antitrust law as long as IL obeys
In good faith the orders OF the COM
mission. The commission would be
able to interpret in advance, to any
honest man asking the Interpretation.
what he may do and what he may
not do In carrying on legitimate
business. Any corporation not COM
ing under the commission should be
expo Sed TO prosecution under the anti
trust law, and any corporation vio-
lating the orders of the commission
should also at once become exposed to
such prosecution; and when such a
prosecution Is successful, II should be
the duty OF the commission to see that
the decree OF the court is put into eff
feet completely and In good faith, so
that the combination is absolutely
broken up. and Is not allowed TO come
together again, nor the constituent
parts thereof permitted TO do business
he al
by the commission. This last provision
would prevent the repetition or such
grCss scandals as those attendant upon
tho present administrations prosecu-
tion OF the Standard OIL and the to-
bdcco trusts. The supreme court OF
the United States in condemning these
two trusts to dissolution. used Ian
Suage OF unsparing severity concern
ing their actions. But the decree was
carried out In such a manner as To
turn into a farce this bitter condem-
nation OF the criminals by the highest
court In the country. Not one particle
OF benefit to the community at large
was gained; on the contrary, the prices
went up TO consumers, independent
competitors were placed in greater
jeopardy than ever before. and the pos
sessions OF the wrong doors greatly
appreciated In value. There never was
more Migrant travesty of justice.
never an instance In which wealthy
" rong- doors benefited more conspicu-
Gully by Il law which was supposed to
be aimed at them, and which undoubt-
odly would have brought about severe
punishment OF less wealthy wrong.
doors.
The Tariff
believe In protective tariff but
l believe In Ii as "A principle, approach
ell from the standpoint OF the inter
ests OF the whole people, and not as
y bundle OF preferences TO be given 10
favored individuals, In my opinion, tue
American people favor the principle OF
a protective tariff, but they desire SUCH
& tariff To be established primarily in
the Interests of the wageworker and
the consumer The CHIEF opposition 10
our tariff at the present moment come
from the general conviction that GER
tain interests have been improperly
favored by over-protection. agree
with this view The commercial and
Industrial experience OF this country
has demonstrated the wisdom OF the
protective poliC-, but II has also dem
ohstrated that In the application Of
that policy certain clearly recognized
abuses have developed. II is not merely
the tarif that should be revised bur
the methou Of tarifr making and OF
tariff administration. Wherever now
sdays an Industry Is to be protected IL
should be on the theory that such pro-
lection will serve 10 keep up the wages
and the standard or living Of the wage
worker in that industry with fun re-
gard for the interest OF the consumer.
To accomplish this the tarin to be lev
led should as nearly as Is scientifically
possible approximate the dinerential
home and abroad. This difrerential IL
chiefly. II not wholly, In labor cost. No
duty should be permitted to stand as
regards Pny Industry unless the work
ers receive their full share Of the bonc-
fits Of that duty. In other words, there
lie no warrant for protection unless
legitimate share Of the benefits gets
into the pay envelope OF the wage
worker.
The practice Of undertaking n gem
eral revision of all the schedules at one
time and Of securing Information az
to conditions In the different indus
tries and as to rates OF duty desired
chiefly from those engaged Ia the In
dustries, who themselves beneht d.
rcctly from the rates they propose.
has been demonstrated TO be not onlv
iniquitous but futile. II has afforded
opportunity for practically all Of tn.
a abuses which have crept. into our tariff
making and our tariff administration.
The day OF the log rolling tariff must
end. The progressive thought OF the
country has recognized this fact for
several years. and the time has come
when all genuine prOgressives should
insist upon thorough and radical
change in the method OF tariff making
The first step should be the creation
of . permanent commission Of nom
partisan experts whose business shall
be to study scientifically all phases OF
tarih-making and OF tariff effects. This
commission should be large enough to
cover all the different and widely
varying branches Of American indus
Try. IL should have ample powers TO
enable IL 10 secure exact and reliable
formation. II should have authority 20
examine closely all correlated subjects.
such as the effect OF any given duty