THE DAY
.B. M li XTk m
TinXcliraskn IMi < Turin.
The Democracy of Thomas Jefl'erson ,
> * vhich would support the Slaie goveni-
'im'nts in : ill the rights and powers re-
servcd to them by the Constitution , and
preserve the general government in its
whole corsliJutional vig-.r as the sheet
anchor of cr joie nf Jnrue and
uhroml. ish'arly voi'-e-.l in UK * pii- !
fonn on which tin.Di'm > cr.us of NJ-
l raska have indorsed V\"iiliam Jennings
liryau for the Democratic' nomination
for fie presidency by the Denver con-
venJion.
There is nothing of the theorist or
the doctrinaire in thi tariff plank
which demands inmeliate reduction of
rlbe monstrous import duties by which
one class of industries in ibis country
Is e : > : ible.l to levy tribute upon all oth
ers. It is exactly in line with the tra
ditional Democratic maxim that there
shall be equal rights for all. spsv-ial
privileges for none. Its demand that
t ,
-articles entering into competition with
.articlos produced by a trust or monopoly
ely created by Hie tariff be admitted
free of duty would place only a rea
sonable restraint ipm ; the giveil of
cnweuns which would take advantage
of the revenue laws to make unjust ex
actions upon consumers.
True Democracy meaning individual
m.'Uihcod , and manhood riti/enship. the
Nebraska Democrats spen-k the lau-
girg < > ( if true Americanism when they
demand that corporations be forbidden
l > y effective laws to meddle with poli
tics to the ex ton t of giving money to
promote the success of one political
party or another.
It is in accord with the Democratic
principle of State rights that a foreign
corporation licensed in any State shall
nbid" by the conditions of its license.
Jf a domestic < rj w rat ion has no spe
cial privilege in the matter i > f remov
ing its litigation from the State to the
Federal cnurts. ihe foreign corpora
tion should have no higher privilege.
"Tho Nebraska plank on this subject
-will meet with general Democratic ap
proval.
This being a government of law
.created by the people , for the people ,
the Nebraska Democrats have the ap
proval of Democrats throughout the
country ji their demand for stricter
Jaws against the admission to the priv
ileges of American institutions of per
sons who avowedly prefer anarchy to
lav.P.ut the National Democracy can
not go with the Nebraskans in the de
mand that the States surrender to the.
Federal government the right to tax
inheritances in order to restrict inor-
tliuaie fortunes or for any other puf-
pose.
pose.The
The prohibition of railroad passes
nrnl of rebates is part of the Democrat
ic policy for securing the square deal
and the equal chance for all. The de
mand that favoritism be not shown by
ihe treasury in distributing its deposits
aniniig the banks of different parts of
the country is of the same principle.
The Nebraskans are to be congratu
lated upon proposing the best solution
pet advanced of the Philippines prob
lem. We cannot abandon those islands
tintif there is stable government there ,
and we would be false to u trust if we
gave them up before their neutrality is
secured by treaties with other Powers.
Of course , we must keep our naval sta
tions there.
The Nebraska convention has not
written the platform for the Democrat
ic national convention to be held in
I > enver in July. That convention will
.assuredly add to and subtract from the
(
declarations put forth at Omaha. P.ut
the Denver gathering will be irlad to
draw from the Nebraska platform
much that will help the Democracy of
the nation in its fight for tho-re-estab
lishment of Jeffersonian government in
this country. St. Louis Kopublif.
The TnrilT Coimni.s.Niori.
The specific tariff measure which the
sati < Hial Association of Manufacturers
favor is the P.everidge-Steenersou bill ,
which provides for a non-parti sail tariff
commission to gather information ,
tnako suggestions , and guide Congress
Jn revising the Dingley schedules. This
wonderful commission i. > to be appoiut-
\ .cd by the President , ji Republican , with
.n view to carrying out bis own Repub
lican policies. The people who are
urging it say that they are Republi
cans and protectionists , but assume
that the poor , tleeced , abused , insulted ,
racked and ruined multitude will re
gard them as non-partisan and entirely
disinterested , in spite of their confes
sions to the contrary. We assume- that
1 , t their proposition is both uncqustitution-
4ll and inexpedient. It is umnmsfitu-
tional because "all bills for raising rev
enue shall originate in tlie House of
.Representatives. . " while the bill in qucs-
tion originated in the Senate : and because -
cause it would have the effect of put
ting the initiation of tariff bills in the
bunds of a commission "appointrd by
the President with the advice and con
sent of the Senate. " and thereby de
prive t'he HoiKe of its prerogative in
-this vital matter.
This shceme is an attempt to take
away from Hie representatives of the
people the power of taxation sectired
to them by the Constitution ofthe United -
-ed States.
It is ; cot only an unconstitutional
Measure , but a deceptive , hypocritical
monsure. Its authors and backers
know that a 113 * commission appointed
by a Republican President and confirm
ed by a Republican Senate would be a
Republican and partisan commission.
They know that the -question of high
tariff and low tariff the question of
protection and monopoly is a party
qusricii. . They know that the Demo
cratic doctrine is to take away artificial
props and supports from monopolies ,
to remove the legal obstacles to whole
some competition now existing , and to
got down as soon as possible to a sys
tem in which every tub shall stand on
its own Iwt.tom , In manufacturing and
commerce. They know that the Re
publican doctrine is the antithesis of
this. They know that it is impossible
to find any honest man who can be nonpartisan -
partisan on this question. And , there
fore , tiiny know that they are engaged
in a huge bunco game.
Even if the bill should pass , the
courts will refuse to'give it the effect
designed by its advocates.
I'eople.
The Republican leaders have the tar
iff revision issue all fixed up to their
satisfaction with the evident Intention
of fooling the people again. No such
dangerous method as a tariff commis
sion is to be attempted , but the whole
matter is to lx > within the keeping of
the standpatters of the Committee on
Ways and Moans of the House of Rep
resentatives and the Finance Commit
tee of the Senate. According to the
New York Tribune , which is undoubt
edly in the confidence of the Republi
can leaders , the tariff program is to be
carried put by Congress giving those
committees authority to "hold sessions
in the recess and conduct such examin
ation into the tariff schedules as may
be deemed wise in view of the approaching
preaching revision. " This is the way
the Washington correspondent of the
Tribune understands the pins have been
sot up. President Roosevelt is to "con
tribute bis share * ' of this Republican
conspiracy for revising the tariff high
er by detailing a committee of apprais
ers , collectors and "other treasury ex
perts" to supply statistics and "sugges
tions. "
That will be what the Republicans
call revising the tariff by the friends
of protection , and we have the assur
ance of Secretary Root and the other
Republican leaders that the intention
is to add to the present schedules , max
imum rates to be imposed on the prod
ucts of those countries with whom no
reciprocity treaties exist. What is the
t' e of promises of tariff reduction if
the , revision is to be in the hands of
those who would revise the tariff
higher ?
\
y for tlie Feiv.
Iii spite of the panic and the pro
longed business depression there xare
three institutions that have been re
markably prosperous during the past
year. The First National Bank , con
trolled by J. Pierpont Morgan , pro
poses to declare a special dividend of
100 per cent. The undivided profits of
the bank are reported to the Comp
troller of the Currency to be $19,553-
1)00. ) while the capital of the bank is
* 10,000OQC.
The Delaware , Lackawanna and
Western Railroad reports the most
prosperous year in the history of the
company ; the net earnings after pay
ing all charges were $10,089,128. The
surplus was equal to 38.4 per cent on
the common stock and after payment
of 20 per cent in dividends1 still left
$4.8-10.328 surplus.
Another corporation , the Standard
Oil Trust , has paid dividends for the
year of 40 per cent and still has a vast
surplus.
So here wo have a bank , a railroad
and a trust making millions for those
who control them , while ordinary busi
ness men have found difficulty In se
curing the necessary funds to carry on
their business and numbers have fail
ed to keep their heads above the trou
bled business water. Such prosperity
for the few at the expense of the many
is the boasted Republican prosperity.
Republican Indict * III * Party.
When you come to analyze It and
think about it. Governor Black's In
dictment of bis party Is as severe as It
is true. Governor Black nominated
Roosevelt for Vice President at Phila
delphia in 1900. He has been one of
the national leaders of the Republican
party for many years. Therefore , when
be expresses an opinion of his own par
ty that opinion may justly be regarded
as a just and fair statement. Now Gov
ernor Bla k recently said : "We have
seen * * * the independence of the
courts , the fixed and salutary bound
aries of co-ordinate functions , the guar
antee of fair piny , the scrupulous re
gard for the limitations of official pow
er , all staggering under blowjs iufilcted
in the party name. " And since all the
blows under which these things are
staggering have been rendered effective
only because the Republican party has
by a vast majority made them effective
by Its unqualified approval , surely the
party is as rotten and reckless as Its
leader.
Why shouldn't our war vessels be
constructed at government nary yards ?
ROOSEVELT AGAIN
PETITIONS GOHOBESS I
]
President Sends Special Mas
sage to Congress , Urging
Legislation.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS 1
i
j
j
On This and Other Important Matters , !
Executive Renews His Recommen
dations For Permanent
Waterways Commission.
I Washington , Muich5. . Emphatically
urging action on the important legisla
tive matters before it , including tariff
icvision. the Sherman anti-trust la\v ,
the currency measures and the labor
problems. President Koosevelt today
sent to congress another special mes
sage.
The president devotes most of his at
tention to the proposed amendment of
the Sherman anti-trust law. making
some important suggestions as to its
revision.
The message in full follows :
To the Senate and House of Representa
tives :
I call your attention to certain measures
as to which 1 think there should be action
by the congress before the close of the
present session. There is ample lime for
their consideration. As regards inorit if
not all of the mutters , bills have been
Introduced into one or the other of the
two houses , and it is not too much to
hope that action will be taken one way or
the other on these bills at the present tes-
sion. In my niestage at tlu- opening of the
present session , and , indeed , in various
messages to previous congresses , 1 have
repeatedly suggested action on most of
these measures.
Child labor should be prohibited through
out the nation. At least a model child-
labor bill should be passed for the Distrir-t
of ( Columbia. It is unfortunate that In the
one place .solely dependent upon congress
for its legislation there should be no law
whatever to protect children by forbid
ding or regulating their labor.
I renew my recommendation for the im
mediate ro-cnactmc-nt of an employers'
liab.lity law , drawn to conform to the re
cent deciti.on of the supreme court. YVith-
lii the limits indicated by the court , the
law should be made thorough and com
prehensive , and the protection it affords I
should embrace every class of employe to j
which the power of the congress can ex
tend.
In addition to a liability law protecting
the employes of common carriers , the gov
ernment should show It.s good faith by ( Mi-
acting a further law giving compensation
to its own employes for injury or death
incurred in its service. It is a reproach
to us ah a nation that in both federal and
Btate legislation we have afforded less pro
tection to public and private employes
than any other industrial country of the
world.
As to Injunctions.
I also urge that action be taken along
the line of the recommendations 1 have al
ready made concerning -injunctions in la
bor disputes. Xo temporary restraining
order should be issued by any court with
out notice : and the petition for a perma
nent injunction upon which such temporary
ary restraining order has been issued
should be heard by the court Issuingthe
same \\ithin a reasonable time say. not
to exceed a week or thereabouts from tin-
date when the order was issued. It is
worth considering whether it would not
give greater popular confidence in the im
partiality of sentences for contempt if it
was required that the issue should be de-
c.ded by another judge than the one is
suing the Injunction , except whore ihe
contempt is committed in the presence of
the court , or in other case of urgency.
I again call attention to the urgent nerd
of amending the interstate commerce law
and especially th * anti-trust law along
the Alines indicated in my la.st message.
The interstate commerce law .should be
amended so as to Rive railroads the right
I to make traffic agreements , subject to
these agreement : ? being approved by the
Interstate ( * ornincco commission and pub
lished in all of their-details. The com
mission should also be given the power to
make public and to pass upon the issu
ance of all securities hereafter issued by
railroads doing an interstate commerce
business.
A law should be passed providing in effect -
fect that when a federal court determines
to place a common carrier or otlioj- public
utility concern under the control of a re
ceivership , the attoni'-y general should
have the right to nominate at least one
of the recovers ; or else in some other
way the interests of the stockholders
chould be consulted , so that the manage
ment may not be wholly redc-livored'
the man or men the failure of whose policy
may have necessitated the creation of the
receiverships. Receiverships should be
used , not to operate roads , but as speedily
as possible to pay their debts and return
them to the proper o\yners.
Amend Anti-Trust Law.
In addition to the reasons I have alreadv
urged on your attention , it has now be
come important that there should be an
amendment of the anti-trust law , because
of the uncertainty as to how this law al >
| fects combinations among labor men and
I farmers , if the combination has any tend
ency to restrict interstate commerce. All
! of these combinations , if and while oxfst-
j Ing for and engaged in the promotion of
Innocent and proper purposes , should be
1 recognized as legal. As I have repeatedly
, pointed out , this anti-trust law was a
most unwisely drawn statute. It was per
haps inevitable that in feeling after the
right remedy the first attempts to provide
Buch should be crude ; and it was absolute
ly imperative4Jiat forne legislation should
be passed to control , in the.interest of the
public , the business use of the enormous
aggregations of corporate wealth that are
BO marked a feature of the modern indus
trial world. But the present anti-trust
law , in its construction and working , has
exemplified only too well the kind of legis
lation which , under the guise of being
thoroughly going , is drawn up in such
sweeping form a.s to become either inef
fective or else mischievous. . '
In the modern industrial world combin
ations are absolutely necessary ; they are
necessary among business men , they are
necessary among laboring men. they are
becoming more and more necessary among
farmers. Some of these comb-nations are
among the most powerful of all instru
ments -wrongdoing. . Others offer the
only effective way of meeting actual busi
ness nt-eds. It is mischievous and un
wholesome to keep upon the statute books
unmodified a law , like the anti-trust law ,
which , while in practice oniy part.ally ef
fective against vicious combinations , has
nevertheless in theory been construed seas
as sweepingly to prohibit every combina
tion for the transaction of modern busi
ness. Some real good has resulted from
th.s law. But the ilrne has come when it
Is Imperative to modify it.Such modifica
tion is urgently needed for the sak of the
business men of th country , for Lne sake
of the wagewokers. and for the sake of
the farmers. The congress can not afford
to lra.vc it on the statute books in its
present shape.
Suggests Changes.
It has now become uncertain how far
this law may involve all labor organiza
tion tmd tanners' orgamzat.ous. as well
as aH business organ.zaiions. in conflict
with the law : or , it we secure literal com
pliance with the law. how far it , may re
sult .n the "estrucuon of the organizations
ntcci ary ror the transaction ot modern
business , as well as of ail .labor organiza-
t.ons and farrneih' organizations , com
pletely check the wise movement for f-e-
curii-.g business co-operat.ou among farm
ers , and put back half a qc-niury tne prog
ress ol the movement for the betterment
ol labor. A bill has been presented in the
eonjjresa to icrnedy this situation. Some
such measure as tills bill is needed In the
interest of all engaged in the industiie-s
which are essential to the country's weil-
being. 1 do not pretend to say the ercact
shape that the b.ll should take , and the
suggestions 1 have to offer are tentative ;
ami my viewa would apply squally to any
other measure v/nich would achieve th
desired en ( I. Bearing this In mind. I would
suggest , merely tentatively , the following
changes in the law :
The substantive part of the anti-trust
law should remain as at present ; that Is ,
t every contract In restraint of trade or
commerce among the several states or
w.th fore.gn nations should continue to
Uu- declared illegal : pro\-lded , however ,
Liiat some proper government authority
( .such as the commissioner of corporations
acting under the secretary of commerce
and labor ) be allowed to pass on any such
contracts. Probably the best method of
providing for this would be to enact that
any contract , subject to the prohibition
contained in the anti-trust law , into which
.t was des.rpd to enter , might be riled
with the bureau of corporations or other
appropriate executive body. This would
provide publicity. Within , say. CO days of
the tiling which period could be extended
by order of the department whenever for
any reason it did not give the department
sufficient time for a thorough examina
tion the executive department having
power might forbid the contract , which
would then become nubject to the pro
visions of the anti-trust law , If at all in
les-tra.nt of trade.
-If no sm h prohibition was Issued , the
contract - . \ on Id th .i only be liable to at
tack oil th < ground that it constituted
an unreasonable restraint of trade. When
ever tlie period of tiling had passed with
out any such prohibition , the contracts
or combinations could be disapproved or
forbidden only after notice and hearing
with a reasonable provision for summary
review on appeal by the courts. Labor
organizations , farmer- ' organizations , and
other organizations not organized for pur
poses of profit , should be allowed to reg
ister under the law by giving the location
of the head office , the charter and bylaws ,
and the names and addresses of their
principal officers. In the interest of all
these organizations business , labor , and
farmers' organizations alike the present
provision permitting the recovery of three
fold damages should be abolished , and as
a substitute therefor the right of recovery
allowed for should be only the damages
sustained by the plaintiff and the cost
of suit , including a reasonable attorney's
fee.
fee.The
The law should not affect pending suits ;
a short statute of limitations should be
provided , so far as the past is concerned ,
not to exceed a year. Moreover , and even
more in the Interest of labor than of
business combinations , all such suits
brought for causes of action heretofore
occurred should be brought only If the
contract or combination complained of
was unfair or unreasonable. It may be
well to remember that all of the suits
hitherto brought by the government under
the anti-trust law have been in cases
where tlie combination or contract was
in fact unfair , unreasonable , and against
the public interest.
Strikes Legal.
It is Important that we should encour
age trade agreements between employer
and employe where they are just and fair.
A strike is a clumsy weapon for righting
wrongs done to labor , and we should ex
tend , so far as possible , the process of
conciliation and arbitration as a substitute
for strikes. Moreover , violence , disorder ,
and coercion , when committed in connec
tion with strikes , should be as promptly
and as sternly repressed as when com
mitted in any other connection. But
strikes themselves are , and should be , rec
ognized to be entirely legal. Combina
tions of workingmen have a peculiar rea
son for their existence. The very wealthy
individual employer , and still more the
very wealthy corporation , stand at an
enormous advantage when compared to
the individual workingman ; and while
there are many cases where it may not
be necessary for laborers to form a union ,
in many other cases it is indispensable ,
for otherwise the thousands of small units ,
the thousands of individual workingmen ,
will be left helpless in their dealings with
the one big unit , the big individual or
corporate employer.
Twenty-two years ago , by the act of
June 29 , 1SS6 , trades unions we/re recog
nized by law , and the right of laboring
people to combine for all lawful purposes
was formerly recognized , this right in
cluding combination for mutual protection'
and benefits , the regulation of wages ,
hours and conditions of labor , and the
protection of the individual rights of the
workmen in the prosecution of their trade
or trades ; and in the act of June 1 , 1S98 ,
strikes were recognized as legal in the
same provision that forbade participation
in or instigation of force or violence
against persons or property , or the at
tempt to prevent others from working ,
by violence , threat , or intimidation. The
business man must be protected in person
and property , and so must the farmer
and the wagcuorker ; and as regards all
alike , the right of peaceful combination
for all lawful purposes should be explicitly
recognized.
The right of employers to combine and
contract with one another and with their
e mployes should be explicitly recognized ;
and so should the right of the employes
to combine and to contract wrth one an
other and with the employers , arid to seek
peaceably to persuade others to accept
their views , and to strike for the purpose
of peaceably obtaining from employers
satisfactory terms for their labor. Noth
ing should be done to lesjulize either a
blacklist or a boycott that would be Il
legal at common law ; this being the type
of boycott defined and condemned by tlie
anthracite strike commission.
Establish Postal Banks.
The question of financial legislation Is
now receiving such attention in both
houses' that we have a right to expect
action before the close of the session. It
is urgently necessary that there should
be such action. Moreover , action should
be taken to establish postal savings banks.
Those postal savings banks are Impera
tively needed for the benefit of the wage-
workers and men of small means , and
will be a valuable adjunct to our whole
financial system.
Revise Tariff.
The time has come when we should pre
pare for a revision of the tariff. This
should be. and indf ? d must be , preceded
by careful investigation. It is peculiarly
the province of the congress and not of
the president , and indeed peculiarly the
province of the House of Representatives ,
to originate a tariff bill and to determine
upon Us terms ; and this I fully realize.
Yet it seems to me that before the close
of this session provision should be made
for collecting full material which will en
able the congress elected next fall to act
immediately after It comes Into existence.
This would necessitate some action by
the congress at its present session , per
haps in the shape of directing the proper
' ommlttee to gather the necessary In
formation , both through the committee It-
: elf and through government agents who
should report to the committee and should
lay before it the facts which would per
mit it to act with prompt and Intelligent
fairness. These government agents , if It
is not deemed wise to appoint individuals
from outside the public service , might
with advantage be members of the execu
tive departments , designated by the presi
dent , on his own motion or on the request
of the committee , to act with It.
I am of the opinion , hoirover , that one
change In the tariff could with advantage
be' made forthwith. Our forests need ev
ery protection , and one method of pro
tecting them would be to put upon the
free list 'Rood pulp , with a corresponding
reduction upon paper made from wood
pulp , when they come from any country
that does not put an export duty upon
them.
Waterways Commission.
Ample provision should be made for a
permanent waterways commission , with ;
whatever power is required to make It !
effectix-e. The reasonable expectation of
I the people will not be met unless the
1 congress provides at this session for the
beginning nnd prosecution of the actual
work of waterway improvement and con
trol. Tlie congress should recognize In
fullest fashion the fact that the subject
of tt > 2 conservation of our natural re
sources , with which this commission deals ,
i3 literally vital for the future of the
nation.
Numerous bill granting water power
rights on navigable streams have been
j introduced. None of them give the gov
ernment the right to make a reasonable
charge for the valuable privileges so
granted. Ir spite of the fact that these
water power privileges are equivalent to
many thousands of acres of the best coal
lands for their production of power. Nor
is any tleflnUe time limit set , as should
always be done In such cases. I sha.11
he obliged hereafter. In accordance with
the policy stated in a rect-nt message , tr
veto any water power bill which doe * no ;
provide for a. time limit and for the rlghl
of the president or of the secretary con
cerned to fix a.nd collect such a charg *
as he may find to be Just and reaH nable
In each case. Theodore Roosevelt.
The White House , March 25 , 1208.
CHICAGO.
Trade conditions in Chicago for tb ,
week are summarized by R. G. Dun St
Co. as follows :
"Seasonable conditions have imparted
a more hopeful tone to industry , and new
demands make an improving exhibit in
iron , stool , metal and woodworking , thera
being also steady additions to the ma
chinery and ham's employed , Building
operations rnd i r-avy construction open
promptly , ihe \\orl : in siuht assuring a
busy year , \xith heavy capital investment ,
and the outlook strengthens the buying
of structural needs. lumber and quarry
product * . Navigation between near-by
lake ports is effected , thereby widening
the prnoral movement of freight , which
aggregates heavier tonnage by rail than
a month ago. although marketing of grain
has slackened. Farm reports indicate
widespread preparatory work and im
provements.
"A healthy indication of the improve
ment under w.iy is a bettor offering of
commercial paper and an easier tendency
in the cost of money. Currency ship
ments to the inferior have fallen behind
those at this time last year , but larger
sums are being reserved for use in man
ufacturing and other property extensions ,
while savings doj > osits are on the upturn.
Few' commodities disclose any significant
decline in prices.
" .Mercantile collections 5011 orally reflect
increasing promptness , and credits ara
loss disturbed by the lower commercial
mortality this week. Retail trade pro
gresses encouragingly , and is relatively
very good at outside points , whore higher
temperatures have prevailed. Wholesale
dealings in the principal staples Include
a very satisfactory gain in the cumber
of now accounts , and the aggregate sales
of textiles , footwear , mon and women's
woar. food products and hardware compare -
pare favorably with a year ago. although
many buyers anticipated forward require
ments more conservatively.
"Failures reported in the Chicago dis
trict number 32. against 30 last week
and 20 a year ago. Those with liabili
ties over $ . > .000 number 10 , against 11
last week and U in 11)07. ) "
NEW YORK.
Improvement in sentiment and in ao
tnal demand continues , but it proceed !
under the chock rein of conservatism ,
which limits buying to st .I ! lots of
staple goods. Spring jobbing trade has
apparently passed its zenith with a- total
trade larger perhaps than' was expected
some months ago. but smaller by far than
a year ago. Fall trade is fou-r to six
weeks late in opening up. As hitherto ,
the chief activity has boon in dry goods
and allied lines , especially millinery ,
which , so far as spring trade prepara
tions are concerned , makes relatively one
of the best showings. In industrial lines
there is a good deal of irregularity. About
80,000 mill hands in New England have
had wages reduced in the past ten days ,
and production is only tJ5 to 75 per cent
of the full possible output. The reduc
tion in output in all te-xtilc lines has
boon so great as to cause question as to
its being overdone. As regards the fu
ture , it might bo said that while the out
look is hopoful. prospects seem to indi
cate a fluctuating trade in forthcoming
months , or at least until probable crop
yields can be pretty well measured.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending March 10 number
208 , against 27S last week , 137 in the
like week of 1007. 170 in 100G. 20-1 in
100- ) and 21. in 1001. Canadian fail
ures for the week number 39. as against
ol last week and 32 in this week a year
ago. Bra (1st root's Commercial Report.
Chicago Cattle , common to
54.00 to SG.IM ; hogs , prime heavy. S-i.OC
to ? "i.OO : shoep. fair to choice. $3.00
to $0.2i : wheat. No. 2. IMc to ! ) Gc ;
corn. No. 2. ( Me to ( j. ic : oats , standard ,
f)3c to r > 4c : rye. No. 2 , SOc to Sic ; hay ,
timothy. $1J. . > 0 to $1(5.00 ; prairio. $8.00
to $12.00 ; button choice creamery. 25c
to 29c ; eggs , fresh. 14c to 17c ; potatoes ,
per bushel , ( J3e to 74c.
Indianapolis Cattle , shipping , $3.00
to $0.2r : hoes , good to choice heavy ,
$3. . > 0 to $ i.fl. : sheop. common to prime ,
$3.00 to $ . " . .00 : wheat , No. 2. OGo to
! > 7c ; corn. No. 2 white , G2c to G3c ; oats ,
No. 2 white , 53c to 54c.
St. LouisCattle. . $4.0 ; to $0.40 : hogs ,
$ { .00 to $4.00 : sheep , $3.00 to $ . " ) .50 ;
wheat , No. 2. $1.00 to $1.02 : corn , No. 2 ,
( ; . " , < to G4c ; oats. No. 2 , . " 2c to Me ; rye ,
No. 2 , S3c to S4c.
Cincinnati Cattle. $4.00 to $ . " 5.S5 ;
hogs. $ kOO to $ .1.0. > : sheep. $3.00 to
$ . " . .rilioat. ) . No. 2 , $1.01 to $1.02 ; corn ,
No. 2 mixed. ( "ic to ( > Gc ; o'ats. No. 2
mixed. , " > 3c to .14c ; rye. No. 2. SGc to S7c.
Detroit Cattle. $4.00 to $3.00 ; ; hogs ,
$4.00 to $4.0. , : sheep. $2.)0 to $ o.OO ;
whoat. No. 2 , llGc to 9Sc ; corn. No. 3
yellow. ( . c to ( J7c ; oats. No. 3 white ,
"j3c to or > c : rye , No. 2 , 84c to Soe.
Miwaii'-re ! Wheat , No. 2 northern ,
1.07 to $1.00 ; corn. No. 3 , G3c to G4c ;
oats , -standard. 53c to . > 4e ; rye , No. 1 ,
> ( ) c to Sic : barley. No. 2 , SDc to 90c ;
nrk. mess , $11.90.
Buffalo Cattle , choice shipping steers ,
' - ! . ' * to ? ( j.10 : hogs'fair to choice , $3.30
< $ . .35 : sheep , common to good mixed ,
UK ) to $ r > . . " > 0 : lambs , fair to choice ,
> , " . < ; 0 ro $ S.3. .
Now York Cattle. $4.00 to $ .VJ5 ;
logs. $3./ ) to $ H.OO ; sheep , $3.00 to
< - " , . . - ( ) ; wheat. No. 2 red. OOc to $1.01 ;
nrn. Xo. 2. ' Sc to 70c : oats , natural
, -Iiite. . i7c to G' ) < * : butter , creamery , 25a
> 27c ; eg.vs. western , 13c to loc.
Toledo Wheat. No. 2 mixed , 95c to
7c : corn. No. 2 mixed , < 3Bc to Goc ;
nts. No. 1. mixed. "KC ! tovoc ; rye , No.
2 , Ntc to S3v : , clover seed , t > rimc ,
Rate Laws of Minnesota and North
Carolina Knocked Out by
Supreme Tribunal.
FEDERAL CONTROL WIDENED ,
Justice Harlan , Alone Dissenting
Predicts "Disaster from Sweep
ing Decision ; /
A smashing blow at Stato's rights
was delivered by the Supreme Court
of tiie United States Monday when the
tribunal knocked out the railway rate
laws of two commomveilths. Dividing
eight to one. the court , in a derision ,
rendered by Justice I'eckham , sustains
the federal side absolutely in the Min
nesota and the North Carolina cases , in ,
which the clash between the authority
of the United States and "the State
courts formed an issue that was nation ,
wide in the interest attracted.
Justice Ifarlan was the dissenting
iuetul > er of the court in each case , ex
pressing the opinion that the decisions
rendered marked u new era in the rela
tionship between the States and the
federal government .and between the
federal and the State courts , and pre
dicting that the result would be disas
trous.
The Minnesota freight and passenger
rate laws are declared-unconstitutional
on their face by reason of tlie excessive
penalties imposed. The opinion in the
Minnesota case was declared to apply
also to the North Carolina case , al
though the processes by which the two-
cases were brought before the Supreme
Court were different.
The right of railroad corporations oc
stockholders in such corporations to ap
peal to the federal courts to test the
constitutionality of rate laws enacted
by a State Legislature is clearly set
forth. Beyond that the essential thins
laid down is that when such test Is
made the right of injunction lies with
the federal court to restrain adminis
trative State oilicers from proceeding
to enforce the provisions of the laws
through the machinery of the State
courts , until the constitutional question
Las been finally determined.
In short , the federal courts are given
what really amounts to the power to
pass upon the reasonableness of rail
road rates fixed by a State for inter
state traflic. The decisions greatly min
imize the power of the States to deal
with the logulution of railroads even
within their 'own borders. The ques
tion of tl e constitutional right of the
States to legislate at all on this subject
was not brought directly before the Su
preme Court , but. in view of the decis
ion rendered , there is a strong poSvSt- ,
biliry that ouce this question is raised
it may solve the problem completely
by denying absolutely the State's power
to regulate rates in any degree.
Justice Harlan deemed the cases of
sufficient importance to justify .a 12- ,
000-word dissenting opinion , taking
strong ground in support of the theory
that the proceeding in the Minnesota
case was a suit against tlie State and
therefore not permissible under tua
constitution.
HURT LITTLE BY PANIC.
Railroads' Net Income Larger in Last
Half of 1907 than 1906.
Every indication points to an im
provement * generally in the railroad andi
industgul situation of the country ac
cording to reports made by the great
railway systems of America to the in
terstate commerce commission. These
reports are to the effect that , while
the railroads suffered to some extent
by what has come to be referred to as
the "October panic. * ' the loss was by no
means so serious as generally has i > een
supposed.
It appears from the reports that the
effect was felt particularly by the east
ern Hues and by the lines in the south
eastern part of the country , while west
ern and transcontinental roads have
not suffered materially. The figures
available to the interstate commerce
commission indicate also that the gen
eral condition in the country Is im
proving materially , with a prospecfc
that it soon will be normal or better.
NOHTHWE3T NUGGETS.
The Millc Lacs Chippewa Indian
most of whom live on the White , Earth
reservation in Minnesota , will soon shara
in a division of $ G.oOO received from tha
government.
The commission which has charge of
the awarding of the Carnegie hero med
als is investigating a rescue by a South
Dakota young man named Earl Vauscot-
ter , who saved the life of John Flock-
hart , a companion , while the two were
skating on the Missouri river , near Green
wood.
Disregarding the shrieks of warning
from the locomotive whistle , and refus
ing to leave the track upon which he was
walking , an unidentified lumberjack delib
erately permitted hims'-lf to be struck by
a switch engine at the junction near
Tower , Minn. , and wvs instantly killed.
The farm home of John Donthitt , neap
We > tboro. Wis. . was destroyed by fire
while the mother was outside. The stove
exploded and her three small children ,
one four years old , one two years old
and a baby , were burned to death. Tha
father was away from home tvorfcing ia.
a lumber camp.
