The chronicle=news., 1914-07-16
TRUSTS AND HORSE TH1vEsE.

Civilization has developed n very
practical method of protecting so
ciety against horse thieves. We do
not bring all the people before a
county inIuisition once n year and
ask them to confess whether they
steal horses; nor subject them to
any psychological tests for the Eur-
pose OF admonishing citizens who
show any tendency 10 covet neigh
bor's horse.
The practical way. universally
followed, is to start PROMPTLY at the
and follcw the trail until we find
the horse and the guilty man. Incl
ientally we do not worry about horse
thieves nor look suspiciously n: orr
ncighbors until horse has been
stolen somewhere. This is the demo-
cratic. Anglo-Saxon method OF deal
Ing with all offenscs against society.
and Is the opposite of the imperial
idea of keeping everybody under sus-
piciOn.
Strange to say, When VIC attempt
TO regulate the trusts" we forget
our efficient fAnglo-Saxon system,
and take up unconsciously the i'm
perial idea of putting everybody un-
der psychological regulation and in
Guisition. The house bill to regu-
late the trusts, which passed recent
ly and is now pending in the senate.
S,,,, Sn1 urn al
the senate has made but little prog
ress in bringing 1t back to demo-
cratic basis.
1t p>ovides that all our 100000
corporations shall go up TO Jerusa-
lem once year and submit to an
inquisition. and the publication OF
reports or confessions. II does not
specify what burnt offerings or peace
or thank offerings they shall take
with them. but is very explicit in
requiring them to confess everything.
1t is the most important step we
have ever taken towards establish
ing Imperial. centralized govern
ment.
The interstate commerce commits
sion has proved one of the most sue
cessful tribunals ever established by
legislation. II has always followed
the old, practical system of starting
at the time and place where wrong
has been done. Whenever some one
complains that he has been injured
by the rates or practices of the rail-
In I'M hnc hnan
done to the public. the commission
proceeds in very thorough manner
to Investigate the complaint. hear
all the parties interested. and after
careful consideration II issues an or
der to restore justice or correct the
wrong.
The interstate commerce commits
sion had been established nearly 20
years before congress gave it any
inquisitorial powers to examine the
books of railroads.: a measure that
was only justified because railroads
are public service corporations. This
power has only been used by the
commission to further Its original
purpose OF hearing and investigating
complaints.
CanaGa handles the trust "suues-
tion very successfully and with no
fuss or trouble. Ly sturtine mt the
time and place where a wrong has
been done. This is the same method
That has been proven by our inter-
statc commerce commission. but in
Canada special commission is APP
point ed by the court in each case
where a complaint is filed under the
antitrust laws.
Our friends at Washington seem to
be more Interested In the study OF
horse stealing than in
actual offcnses against society. They
seem to feel that the farmer may not
know It when his horse is stolen.
I hey must have a grand imperial
scheme for an annual inGnisition.
with reports to be published two or
three years after any wrong has been
done. like other government reports.
It would he too much like work" il
the primary nurpos" of a trade COM
was to investigate complaints
and give prompt relief. as Canada
does.
The business men OF the country
are justified in protecting against
b" inIuisition. The hu-
man race has struggled and battled
for thousands of years for the right
to work and carry on Legitimate en-
terprises without having the man
with the sword standing over them
with n perpetual inHuisition.
Printing OF every description neat