Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-09


the public mind, wheu the public servant,
whether Legislative, Judiciary or Execu-
tive, holds the laws of his country in one
hand aud a railroad pass in the other.
81 most heartily recommend the enact
mept of law to prohibit the delivery Of
such passes to any and every officer within
this Stste; and that the penalties be sufii'
cient TO put an end TO the abuse. l."
TRUSTS, COMBINATIONS AND CoNsPIRAcIRs
To oPPREss THE PEOPLE AND ENRICH
THE FEW.
Oar ancestors brought with them the
common law of Eogland, and rejoiced IN
its wise ard humane provisions for the pro
tecliOn OF the toiling and consuming masses
against the hesrtless and avariciOus cupid
ity of the monopOlisiic vultures Of society.
The remedies were ample to meet the Ne
csssities Of a more primitive and simple
condition of business and commercial rela-
tions.
Under the common law, the open and
fixed market place was encouraged, and
''the life of trade"-open competition
secured both for seller and purchaser.
FOIestalling was defined TO be the "bny-
ing OF contracting for any merchandise or
victusl in the way to market; or dissusding
persons from bringing their goods or pro-
visions there; or pe:suading them to Gu
hapcs the price when there
Regraiing: THE buying Of corn or other
dead victuals in any market, ard selling it
again in the same Market
Engrossipg: The getting into one S pos
session, or buying mp large quantities Of
corn or other dead vic,uais, with intent TO
sell them again"
Ard so, ''the total engrossing Of any
other commodity, with intent TO sell 1t at
an unreasons BILE price
One of our criminal law writers has said:
"EngrOssiug with us must doubtless be
deemed of kin TO lorestalling, as 1t was in
the English common law. Aud whenever
a man, TO put things, as it were, out OF
Joint. and obtain an undue profit, pur-
chase large quantities Of an article Of mer-
chandise, holding il, not for fair rise.
but to compel buyers TO pay what he
knows to he much more than can be regu-
larly sustained in the market, he may, on
principle, be deemed, with us, TO be
guilty of the common law oifense Of en-
crossing"
All these offanses, together with
conspiracy 10 commit them, were, at
common law, indicisble; but they float out
before the vision rs mere baubles when We
come, now, 20 deal with the stupsndous
crimes against the public.
The legitimate channels of wealth move
with tardY aud reluctant flow for the mod
ern mOnopolistic mOney-getter. With
fevered brain and cillOus heart, TIE cries Of
Lazsrns would fall upon unwilling can.
The rascalities OF speculation have been
reduced TO a science, and the millionaire
gamblers in the necesssries and comforts Of
life are reyeling in the possession Of their
in gotten gains. Great manufacturing
corporations, abusing their franchises and
abdicating the purposes tor which they
were created, enter iuto combinations, sur
render the control of their respective estab-
lishments into the hands OF common set
of trustees, with the open, ayowed and
stipulated purpose TO destroy Comp;tiiiOn,
limit the product of the combined estab-
lishments, and thereby increase the demand
and enhance the price Of the manufactured
article.
BY speculative manipulatiOps the price
of farm products is advanced, bat Il is after
the farmer has parted with possession.
The supply of manufactured articles is
limited, the price increased, labor curtailed
and the people burdened with enormous
tribute to trusts and mOnopoliss.
As there is no provision Of the Consti-
tuition of the United States comforting up
on Congress jurisdiction over these sub
jects, excepting the clause concerning the
regulation of co nmeIce among the several
States, ample relief cannot be had without
State legislation.
recommend that every trust. c0mbina-
tiol or conspiracy enttred into by individ-
uals, natural or corporate, for the purpose
OF destroying or limiting competition in
the production, or OF advancing the price
of any Of the commercial necessaries OF
comforts of life, be declared unlawful; and
that every person violating any of the pro
visions Of the law, or cjunssling OF direct
ing the same to be done, or acting as an
officer, agent or attorney Of any corpora
tion in the violation thereof, be deemed
guilty OF felony; and in case OF cOrpo-
ration, that its franchises shall be for
feited to the State, and proceedings at once
bs taken for that purpose.
IMMIGRATION.
IL is especially desirable that some
effective plan be adopted TO encourage i'm
migration into the State. It's resOu rcts
are 90 extensive and varied as TO meet the
wants of every class. Oar immense
stretches of timber lands, and
wonderful coal and other mineral
deposits, have already attracted the at
tentiOn OF capital, both at home and
abroad
We want especially the agriculturist.
He will find here cheap, productive lands,
an tquable climate and a favorable geo
graphical position.
Fully third Of the State is level and
slightly rolling, and equal in productive
ness 10 any Of the United States, while
there is hardly a portion but will yield
abuDdantly 10 the hand of industry. The
thrift and prosperity Of our Swiss and
German settlements but indicate how GER
tainly our mountain lands here will re-
spOnd TO the touch Of intelligent industry.
Our present law upon this subject has
remained dead letter in the absence OF
appropriations to carry il into effect
1 recommend the enactment Of such a
law, and the appropriation Of such sum
as in your wisdom, will best accomplish
the eud in view.
May the wisdom Of your work assure
the promotion of the general welfare.
L. w. WILSON.