Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-02-14
SATISFIED WITH OWN POSITION
Would Be Angel with Pretty Wings
Before Starting Steel Business.
NO CREPE FOR ORE LAND LEASES
Says He Has Already Done About
All His Hard Work.
GIVES ADVICE ON CORPORATIONS
Would Lay Down Law of Right and
Wrong, Limit Power of Com
panies and Prevent All
Watering of Stock.

WASHINGTON. Feb. iS.-James J. Hhl
told the Stanley steel investigating COM
mIttee today that he would be first
class angel with red and white wings
before he would go in the steel business
and predicted that competition would be
the rule long after the present laws were
wiped off the statute books.
Mr.. Hfrs last day Of testimony was re-
plete with the epigrams and sege expires
sions for which he is noted.
He said the stockholders Il the Great
Northern railroad were no. wearing any
crepe because the United states stee
corporation In its fight had cancelled
the Great Northern ore leases
You will be in a comfortable position
no matter whether the lease is cancelled
or not, won't your Chairman Stanley
suggested. You could start steel com
pany Of your own with 100000 tons oi
ore in the sround?'
No steel Business for Hiii.
Il will be a first-class angel with req
and white feathers In my wings long oe'
',re | ever consider going into the steel
hiness," Mr.. HIN replied. tn be a
ears old my next birthday, and don
mind telling you that I've done about all
the hard work intend to do In life.
But you did. at one time contemplate
going into the steel business, didn't yoH'
Chairman Stanley asked, intimatinS iha'
this was one Of the reasons that led 'he
steel corporation to insist upon leasing
the Hill ore lands.
II never did," Mr.. Hill said. Any
reports Of that kind were untrue"
Just before the railroad builder was
excused Representative Beall Of Texas
called his attention TO the assertions OF
f. II. Gary, chairman Of the board OF
the steel corporation, and other business
men to the effect that the day OF COM
petition had passed in this country and
that the time was at hand when the
government must regulate maximum and
minimum prices Of commodities.
says Competition win Live.
Il think that you will have to tame
human nature and eliminate all selfish
motives that rule human beings and
every other form o fife. before you will
eliminate eompetition?" Mr.. Hill re-
marked. There will be competition just
as long as the doctrine OF the survival
Of the fittest lasts, and that will be
operating long after all our present
statutes have been wiped off the books. %
DO YOU think then Il would be unwise
for the federal government o assume
control Of business?" Mr.. Beall asked.
II think when the federal government
does that 1t will be a short step until
there will be no federal government
You think that such a government
wouldn't be much like a republic?'
1T would be a monarchy"
Chairman Stanley asked IL Mr.. Hill
thought corporations, operating under a
new golden rule Of business, aided by the
government In fixing prices and pre-
venting them from hurting each other.
but not preventing them from crushing
labor. would aid in holding socie.y to-
gether.
How long do you think ts.s govern
ment would last under such 1onditions?'
Mr. Stanley asked.
oh. we might last a week." Mr.. ELL
smllngIy replied.
Then you don't believe that the United
States should undertake to regulate busi-
ness?" Mr.. Beall resumed.
Limit Corporations Powers.
Il would lay down the law Of right
and wrong" Mr. Hill said. Il would
limit the power of corporations.
Il would see that all corporations that