Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-12
''THE VICE OF THE TRUSTS. :

UNDER this heading the New
York Tribune has the following arti
Gle in illustration OF the evils Of q
dangerous and powerful sort OF com.
bination which is depressing the
people in many different States:
The owners OF property in trusts
feel intensely indignant when their
combinations are assailed bv the
courts. They reason that every
individual has natural right to buv
as many works Of particular sort as
he can, and to manage them in perfect
harmony, so as to make the most nos
7i''iv riivII'7y uut OF tnem. That natu-
raj right, these owners reason. belongs
equally 70 them as part owners in cor
porationS, and the Government has no
business whatever TO restrain their in
dividual liberty in owning and con-
trolling as many works as they please
and can, This reasoning overlooks the
fact that the corporation is 4 craa-
ture Of law. 1t has not the ma
tural rights OF the individuals COM
posing T. They are free to do busi-
ness each man for himself, but when
they ask the State TO give them larger
powers, perpetuity, and immensely
increased facilities for combination.
through a corporate charter or LEGAL
organization Of any kind, they voluu-
tarily become subject TO one restric-
uoni namely. that their powers shall
he used in harmony with, and no. in
hostility TO, the public interests. They
have a right, as individuals doing
business each for himself. 10 consider |
first their private advantage. Bnt
they have not a right, as a corporation
by the people with enor-
nously increased powers. to use those
powers against the interest aud wei.
are OF the people. The presumption
d the law i that corporations which
to control the manufacture
n sale Of a particular product do 80
or the purpose OF getting for it 4
higher price than could otherwise no
obtained. But it Is for the public in
eres, that the price Of every rro-
luct should be regulated by free
competition between the America,
PRODUCERS. Its contrary to the rpb.
.c welfare that men in one branch Of
reduction or another should b. on
bled to seize unnatural and exorbitapt
eturns for their capital and their skill
r to tax the public unreasonable for /
ne services they render. When any
idviduaI does that thing in the exer-
se Of his natural right Government Z
oes not interfere, because the harm
hich can be done by one person.witb h
IS limited powers and capital is a
resumed 10 be less than the harm Il
hich might result from restricting :
dIvidual freedom. But when cor o
'rlon or combination Of individuals y
nploying the law as n weapon against a.
cieiy, uses its legal powers against X
c welfare Of the public, the Govern Il
ent has reason to interfere. II is p
instantly argued tina: this or tina, ID
mbnation deserves consideration W
cause 1t has not unduly enhanced e.
ices, or has even reduced them. Ru, W
e decision Of the Michigan Supreme az
urt in regard to the Diamond Match h'
mPany is pertinent here, FOR it held
corporation as an unlawful con- Nv
racy Tor the reasons here stated: -
III the parties were active participants be
Perfectlng the combination known A. vi
Diamond Match Company, and the w
sent dispute Is the fruit Of this scheme mi
which all competition IN the nanutar. tvs
{ Oh natches vas 70 be stifed, and the eiI
ire business Of the country in tins I,pe ay
rossed by that company. Such a ,,s, ha
lb nation as this Is 4 menace IN So
nc IL is no answer 10 say that this I'm
nopo!y has, IN fact, reduced the prire n, as
'ehes' Tor that Pslicy may have bacp orr
essary TO crush competition. The a., w
80 AAAN u4efEGLNu Of I Etn
ipany at any time to raIse prices TO an fer
orbitant figure. tio
his IS precisely in harmony with mi
New York decision regarding the klr
ar rust, and with the recen; de- -;
On in Illinois regarding the Chicago Sw
trust. The latter, it is argued, has lib,
IN the people better and cheaper '
But the law, as laid down by the
MS, holds that the public should
be at the mercy Of such combina-
5; should not tolerate combinations I
ch obtain under the laws the AM
er to tax and wrong the public IL aas s
please. The combination TO con- mr.
the manufacture or sale is treared dea
he courts as in its very nature and fam
conspiracy agains. the piai
DC welfare, because the public my
est can only lie adequately de- LII c;
ed lfV frl.a .anunr,affss.-