| Show THE TRUST CONFERENCE In a way the National Civic Federa Federation Federation tion Honis Is one of the most powerful forces for the education of public opinion in inthis this country Composed of men from every department of public and private activity representatives of every class classmen classmen classmen men of Intelligence and strength its discussions of great economic problems go far to provide a solutions solutions solutions are found eventually for the grav gray gravest gravest est eat national problems An instance In point Is the confer conference conference conference ence on trusts which w has Just closed In Chicago After the discussion of va various varIous various rious phases of the question by b the del delegates delegates delegates a committee of pro proposed proposed proposed posed resolutions which were unanimously unanimously unanimously adopted setting forth the con conclusions conclusions conclusions of the conferees Naturally in n a gathering of such diverse Interests and divergent forces the resolutions were a compromise se but they commend themselves to the Judgment of con conservative conservative conservative men and point the way vay to re reform reform form tonn In trust rust abuses without tating an industrial war in which in innocent innocent InnOcent and guilty would suffer alike The resolutions are brief and worth re reproducing r producing In full tull First Immediate legislation permitting agreements between railroad corporations on oIl reasonable freight and passenger rates subject In all respects respect to the approval supervision and action of or the interstate commerce commission Second Congress urged to pass pas without delay legislation n providing for tor a nonpar nonpartisan than commission to consider the entire subject of business and Industrial combi combinations combinations combinations nations and to report such proposals as aso asto asto to o the formation capitalization manage management management management ment and regulation reg so far as the same game may b hI he subject to federal Jurisdiction as shall preserve individual initiative competitions competition and the free exercise of or a aree afree afree free ree contract in all alt business and Indus industrial industrial trial rial relations This commission to make a thorough Inquiry Into the advisability of Inaugurating a system of or federal li 11 license l cense cease or incorporation as a condition for tor forthe the he entrance of or certain classes of or corpo corporations rations upon Interstate commerce and also alBa Into the relation to the public In interest interest terest erest of ot the purchase by one corpora corporation Ion tion ton of ot the franchises or corporate stock of ot another Third To extend the examination In Inspection Inspection and supervision of great geat pro producing and ad manufacturing corporations by y the department of or commerce and la ha labor labor habar bor bar HO so that complete publicity in the capitalization accounts operations trans transportation transportation charges paid and selling prices may ma be obtained Fourth To leave leae to the United States supreme court the settlement of or the con met filet between states and federal federl author authority ty ity Iy raised In many man states over oer railroad rates rt l The proposal to permit railroad a agreements on freight and passenger rates subject to the approval of the Interstate commerce commission has come to be recognized as a necessity The prohibition of such agreements a has been responsible In large measure for forthe forthe forthe the era of consolidation and for the corporation of stocks In com corn competing corporations On that point such men as s Mr Ir Harriman and President President President dent Roosevelt Roos el representing opposing forces drees fores are ar entirely agreed If a commission such as is proposed to o investigate and report on corpora corora corporation Ion tion ton inspection and federal reder license car carries carries ries out Its is purpose it ought to con contribute contribute tribute materially to the solution of a serious question queston Probably the com corn commission mission would follow the same general tines lines as the commission which studied municipal ownership for the federation and made an nn extremely interesting and valuable report Publicity as to capi capitalization operations and selling prices of trusts tru ts which is the third resolutions lons tons object could not help but restrict the he criminal trusts and ad aid the legitimate legitimate mate nate combinations of capital The relegation of the states rights Issue e to resolution by th supreme court courtis courts is s only another way of ot accepting the only solution possible possible All Al the aca academic academic demic discussion all al the resolutions could not effect the courts decision decision or prevent the questions appearance in inthe into inthe the to courts As the only final authority V V VV V V V Vj N V j the supreme bench will wU decide the con controversies controversies controversies and Its Is decision will wU be ac accepted accepted accepted by b the ration nation as final Altogether the conference has ha done well wel not only in its Is conclusions but in InIs its Is example of wise moderation and nonpartisan desire to achieve good gooc without inflicting injury V |
