The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-21

question ln0Se VINO arc cnleIlY TO-
sponsible for the actual manage
ment and operation of the rail
roads have spoken very plainly and
very earnestly, with q purpose we
ought to be quick to accept, It
will be one step, and very im-
portant one, toward the scpara-
tion of the business of production
from the business Of .transporta-
tion.
Awaiting Definite Policy.
The business Of the country
awaits also. has long awaited and
has suffered because 1t could not
obtain further and more explicit
legislative definition of the poll
cy and meaning Of the existing an
thrust law, Nothing hampers
business like uncertainty. Moth
ing daunts or discourages it like
the necessity to take chances, to
run the risk Of falling under the
condemnation of the law before il
can make sure just what the law
is, Surely we are sufficiently ia
miliar with tho actual processes
and methods of monopoly and of
the many hurtful restraints Of
trade to make definition possible,
at any rate up to the limits Of
what experience has disclosed,
These practices, being now
abundantly disclosed, can be
explicitly and item by item
forbidden by statute in such terms
as will practically eliminate uncer-
tainty. the law itself and the pen
atty being made equally plain.
And the business men of the
country desire something more
than that the menace of legal
process in the matters be made
explicit and intelligible They de-
sire the advice, the definite guid-
ance and information which can be
supplied by an administrative
body, an interstate trade commits
sion.
Country Would Approve.
Tho opinion of the country
would instantly approve of such a
commission. 1t would not wish to
see 1t empowered to mako terms
with monopoly or in any sort to
assume control of business, rs if
the government made itself re.
sponsible.
1t demands such a commission
only as an indispensable instru-
mcnt Of information and publicity,
as a clearing house for the facts
by which both the public mind and
the managers Of great business
undertakings should be guided and
as an iustrumentality for doing
justice to business where the pro-
cesses OF the courts or the natural
forces of correction outside the
courts are inadequate 10 adjust
the remedy to the wrong in a way
that will meet all the equities and
circumstances Of the case.
Producing industries, for exam
pie, which have passed the point
up to which combination may be
consistent with the public interest
and the freedom of trade, cannot
always be dissected into their
component units as readily as rail
road companies or similar organi-
cations can be. Their dissolution
by ordinary legal process may
ofentimes involve financial conse-
queuces likely to overwheIm the
security market and bring on its
breakdown and confusion. There
ought 10 be an administrative com
mission capable of directing and
shaping such corrective processes,
not only in aid of the courts, but
also by independent suggestion il
necessary.
To Meet Half Way.
lnasmuch as our object and the
spirit of our action in these mat.
ters is to meet business half way
In its processes of self-correction
and disturb its legitimate course
as little as possible. we ought to
see to it, and tho Judgment of
practical and sagacious mon of af-
fairs everywhere would applaud us
II we did see to it, that penalties
and punishments should fall, not