Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-23

DAILY KEN
not become confiscatory. and thus
stifle individual incentive and enort.
In addition, believe that every
individual should pay his proportion.
no matter how small 1t may be-. 1t
will inspire in him a feeling OF citi-
zenship and make him an integral
part Of our nation"
OPINIONS AND SUG-
TIONS, A. B. GARRETSON
Chicago, Aug. % -Commissioner A. B.
Garretson, in supplemental opinions. ap-
proved by Commissioners Walsh. Len
non and OConnell. suggested the IDEA
that the usury laws might be applied TO
curb the rate Of returns on investments.
His Supplemental Opinions and Sug-
gestions' follow:
MY signature is appended to the Re-
port Of Mr.. Basil NJ. Manly. Director OF
Research and Investigation OF the Unit
ed States Commission On Industrial Re-
lations, submitted to the Commission
and transmitted herewith. as to the f1nd-
ings of fact contained therein.
II am in general agreement with the
recommendations contained in that Re-
port except as to the formation Of the
system of State and Federal Commissions
and a Federal Industrial Council.
ION this recommendation neither ap-
prove nor condemn. But out Of regard
for the opinion of the great body Of intra-
state labor most directly affected I dis
sent.
II am also in accord with the state
ment of fact contained in the report OF
George P. West on the Colorado situa-
ton.
II am favorable to the extension Of the
provisions of the Newlands Act to all
classes Of interstate employees who can
constitutionally be brought under its pro-
visions and would favor the enlargement
of the body administering 1t to meet the
added responsibilities which would there
by be placed upon 1t. but limiting the
powers thereof to the settlement OF In
dustrial disagreements and to the gath
ering of information germane to their
mission.
II favor the creation Of State Commits
sons, similarly constituted and acting
in correlation and understanding with
the Federal Board.
IT heartily concur with the report Of
Commissioners Lennon and OConnell ex-
cept on those points where disagreement
is herein noted. and I render individual
opinion and suggestion only on causes
underlying industrial unrest.
ANY student who accepts and applies
the belief that the proper study of man
kind is man cannot fail to trace certain
fundamental causes, general in their
character, which underlie industrial I'M
rest, which will continue to grow until
either the causes are peacefully removed
or revolution ensues.
ITO me, there appears to be four Of
these basic causes.
1.-THE first lies In the inequitable dis
tribution Of the fruits of industry.
Our industrial system makes it posi-
BILE for one man, in only portion of the
span of human productive life, to take
unto himself and claim as his own for
tune of slOO, 100000 or more, while mil
lions of deserving men, availing them
selves Of every opportunity for unremit-
ting toll. are only able to secure a grave
in the potter's field or else burden their
families with an installment debt for
the cost of interment.
1.-The creation Of such colossal fortune
naturally breeds In the mind Of the pos
SCISSOR the sentiment, belief and practice
that he is superior to society and not
subj to 1ox., he V,aSooceinn
thereof makes him unregardful Of the
opinions of society or of the mandates
Of the law, incites him to disregard. and
hold himself independent of, the moral
precepts and beliefs of society and tends
toward the effort to prostitute the admin
istration of justice, and, under the pres
ent system, renders him practically I'M
mune from the penalties prescribed by
the law.
THE transmission to heirs or trustees,
degenerate or otherwise, Of fortunes SO
vast or of business interests so far
reaching makes them the virtual arbiters
Of the destiny of hundreds Of thou
sands of their fellow beings, in regard
to whom they have neither sympathetic
feeling. intelligent interest nor humani-
tartan desire, and the testimony before
this Commission has made it evident that
in some instances these heirs or repre-
sentatives even resent the imputation
that any obligation whatever can rest up
on them for the welfare Of the said
fellow beings or that even intelligent
knowledge as to what would constitute
we'll being should be required Of them.
Second, the methods Of the formation
and administration OF law would. in
themselves. justify undying, righteous
unrest from the fact that they create.
encourage and demonstrate knowledge
and belief that there is no equality before
the law as between the man who has
and the man who has not.
primarily. there is the trend through
legislation to exalt the property right at
the expense Of the personal right. Next.
the tendency of a great majority of our
courts to extend and amplify this trend.
This appears in the declaring unconsti-
tutional of a great portion Of the legisla-
ton that in later years is appearing II 1t
in any way restricts the rights of proper
ty, while at the same time any legisla-
tive act which tends to make effective
the constitutional, personal right Of the
individual is nullified upon the same
ground.
I'm other words. to exalt money above