Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-17
Trust LEGISLATION Next

With the return of President Wilson this week
from his short vacation in the south, there will be in
augurated in Washington the third section of the
administrations sweeping program OF financial and
industrial reforms. Having secured a new tariff law
and started the reorganization of the currency sys-
TEN on its way, the administrative forces now face
clean decks for the consideration of the trust prob
lem" In a recent report from Washington there is
an inkling of the procedure that will be adopted. A
number of bills have been drafted having to do with
various phases of the proposed reform, as it is the
opinion of the house judiciary committee that the
amendments to the Sherman law should be offered
in separate bills, rather than in omnibus form.
1t was hoped, not only by business men generally,
but by some of the presidents closest friends and
advisers that he would not attempt to bring about
any further disturbance of business until the country
had had opportunity to adjust itself in a measure to
the changes already made. 1t was felt that few, il
any, amendments to the Sherman law were needed
at present, as there is a general disposition among
business interests to come within the judicial inter
probation of the law. The trust problem is being
solved automatically as new cases are taken up by
the department of justice and new rulings made
which establish the metes and bounds Of lawful bust
ness activity. There is little indication anywhere
that resistance is to be met with. Instead, business
is only asking for such information as is necessary
to carry on operations within the law and in con-
formity with the requirements of the government.
The President himself has expressed unfeigned salts
faction with the disposition Of organized industry
towards new policies of the administration.
Clearly, where there is no resistance or expecta-
ton of resistance there is no need for drastic pro-
cedure. There is no need for any more autOcratic
commissions and bureaus. Already the railroads are
in the hands of the government; banks are being
brought under presidential control and general bust.
ness, at least, should be left some freedom from the
domination of men clothed with judicial and execu>
tive authority. Should there. be such a thing as. q
commission to supervise general business. it will
mean that suddenly the financial, railroad and general
business interests of the country will be in the hands
OF the less than q score of men under the supreme
direction Of the president. No such trust of trusts
was ever before conceived, nor such dangers ever
imagined as might result from such an arrangement.
With so tremendously vital fundamental changes
projected or under way, can Presidednt Wilson won
der why business revival lags? The patient under
the surgeons knife can stand just 50 much drain
upon his vitality. 10 20 beyond this point is fatal.
He needs rest and u restoration Of strength before
the point of final exhaustion is Reached. Whether
these desperate operations We're actually needd by
tn United States or not is not in argument now.
Since the operations are under way it is necessary
for the master surgeon to exercise sound Judgment
If the patient is to recover from the shocks. and the
patient should be given some opportunity for recu-
peration before the ardent wielder Of the knife goes
too far.