The St. Joseph observer., 1921-06-18
SEN. REED PERTINENT
IN HIS REMARKS
{ Continued from Page Onel

acquainted with their capacities.
VIII Lead TO Socialism
1T was said the president fixed
the price of coal during the war per-
iod, but 1 recently heard a little man
testify, and when he was asked who
fixed the price of coal, he said he
fixed it. The government decided to
fix the price of coal, but it fell to
subordinates.
The so-called packer bill gives to
these employees the right to enter the
place of business of any man engaged
in handling meats, and, as 1 have
said, demand the production of his
books and papers. place him upon
his oath, compel him to testify and
TO exercise over him powers which
no court of justice has ever ventured
to exercise in an English speaking
country, save when man is called
to testify with reference to a matter
that is pending for trial and always
under the protection of the courts
and subject to the laws of the land.
'Let this system of espionage be
established over the business of this
country and we will have arrived at
a conditions, which in my judgment
will be somewhat worse than the
socialism advocated by Karl Marx,
for it, will possess all of the vices of
his policy with none of the redeem
ing features.
"'' Business Men Must Rouse
This scheme of legislation is be-
ing brodght forward but it appears
to be the reverse of the slogan, Less
government in business and more
business in government If the busi-
ness men of the country do not
arouse themselves, the entire scheme
of legislation will be forced through
congress. What fate it may meet at
the hands OF the president, / am un-
able to forecast, but 1 repeat that
business alone is not concerned, the
structure OF our government is i'm
periled and the result at the end will
be tremendous hardship to all of our
people"
THE packer bill is presented to
the public as a measure which only
affects the five great packing insti-
tutions. 1t is, howver, so drawn as
to embrace any business engaged in
the handling of meat products in in
terstate commerce.
1T undertakes by drastic provisions
of law to prohibit and penalize every
trust or monopolistic practice, This
far the bill is perhaps unobjection-
able."9 In common with nearly all
men in public life. 1 am entirely will
ing that by substantive provisions of
law every evil practice should be for
hidden and punished.
"But the bill now pending in the
senate goes further. 1t places in the
hands OF a single commissioner the
right to, make rules and regulations
for the complete government of busi-
ness. There appears TO be no limit to
the authority of the commissioner,
plus the secretary of agriculture, in
the matter of making rules, except
that they shall pertain to the subject
matter Of the bill. The representa-
tiyes of the commissioner can enter
any place of business where meats in
interstate commerce are handled,
and demand an immediate production
of all books, papers. letters and docu-
ments and compel answers. under
commands of this man, who does not
act under any order of court or by
authority OF any judicial officer, re-
fusal of which is made punishable by
Imprisonment in the penitentiary.
To Declare Coal Mines Also
"Bnls have been introduced and
proposed for passage which proposes
to declare coal mines of the country
TO be charged with a similar public
use and to place them under equally
drastic regulations.
Another bill is aimed at the alb
solute control Of boards of trade in
which grains ARE marketed. Still
other bills in process of formation
contemplate the control of the pro-
duction and marketing of oil and gas.
"These measures are based upon
the ideas that they all concern the
necessities of life and therefore are
chargeable with a public use and are
subject to government control. Mark
you, not the control of general laws
applicable to all business institutions
but to special control by a board or
individuals in whom is vested the
power to make rules and regulations
'disobedience to which Is punishable
as a high crime and misdemeanor
Thus is substituted for the rule OF
law, general in it's application, en-
forceable in our courts under the pro
] lection of the constitution and the