Imperial Valley press., 1913-11-26
Chasing the Trust
Hunting Solution
BY Congressman Clyde II. Tavenner

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-Under
the Wilson administration the bureau
of corporations is being given a new
function in national life. Heretofore
the bureau has been investigating and
in it's report describing the growth
and existence of trusts. Now it's at
tention is being turned toward in
vestigating to find the best possible
solution of the trust question.
Some of the more ardent Democrats
in congress have taken umbrage be-.
cause the president is not content to
base his trust program on the re-
suits of congressional Investigations
Of trusts previously made 1t has been
pointed out that these Investigations
have cost the people thousands of
dollars, and that the findings of the
various investigating committees
ought to give congress enough data
to work upon.
These men, who are sincere and
honest, overlook the thoroughness
which is a chief characteristic of Mr..
Wilson. A noted educator, he natur-
ally turns to the scientific practice of
finding out all the facts before draw
ing any conclusions. Congress has
made three important Investigations
Of trusts---that of the steel trust, the
sugar trust and the study of the
money trust The steel trust hear
ings brought out the story of condi-
tions in that monopoly. The money
trust investigation was very thorough
and undoubtedly brought out enough
facts on which to base the legislation
which will pertain to this phase of
the trust question.
But it will not hurt for congress to
have all the information possible
when proceeding to enact legislation.
There are doubtless many conditions
of monopoly which require curbing
laws, but which did not appear in the
life of the steel 4rnst It Is to find
out these and other conditions that
the investigators of the bureau of cor
poratiOns are to be sent into the field
These Investigations will look at ali
phases of the trust question-whether
monopoly is more efficient than eff
cheney and whether it is better to per-
init monopoly under federal regula-
tion or to prohibit monopoly alto
gether
Lest any Democrats become fright
ened because the, administration will
study the possibilities Of regulation
for monopolies, it may be stated that
neither the president nor any Of his
advisers believe that the time has
come when the American people will
reject competition for any form of
regulated but permitted monopoly.
The president and his advisers not
only believe in competition, but they
believe in Jail sentences for those who
destroy competition. 1t is not re-
garded as likely that any study of
regulation of trusts, either here or in
Europe, will shake the administra-
tion's faith in the belief that industry
can exist in state of competition
All sides of the question will be stud
led, however, and out of the legisla-
ton ought to come a great deal of
public enlightenment on the trust
question.
Direct Government Popular.
The recent elections showed that
the people do use the instruments of
direct government"-the initiative
and referendum-when these instru-
ments are given to the people to use,
according to figures which have Just
been compiled by Judson King, sec
retary of the National Popular Gov
ernment League.
According to these figures, the ini-
tiative and referendum were in op-
GRAFTON in 10 states during the cleo
sions. The returns show that ~ per
cent of those who voted at all voted
on all the "a propositions submitted
for popular expression. On the most
important propositions 82 per cent of
the voters cast ballots. OF the "a
propositions, SO were rejected and Al
adopted, showing popular discrimina-
ton. These figures seem to quiet the
fears of former President Taft and
others that popular government
means government by the minority.
Business Uncertain
Nv, Nov D..u.s