Evening star., 1897-03-23

ticular article in the market and by such
control dictate the price at which the ar
out Of business all the small dealers In the
commodity and to render the public SUBJ
3ect to the decision of the combination as
to what price shall be paid for the article
In this light 1t Is not material that the
price of an article may be lowered. 1t Is
in the power of the combination to raise
1t. and the result in any event is unfor-
tunate for the country by depriving 1t Of
the services of a larger number of small
but Independent dealers who were familiar
with the business and who had spent their
lives in 1t and who supported themselves
and their families from the small profits
realized therein.
Whether they be able to find other ave-
nues to earn their livelihood Is not so
material, because 1t is not for the real
prosperity of any country that such
changes should occur which result in trans
ferr1ng an Independent business man. the
head of his establishment, small though it
might be. into a mere servant OF agent of
a corporation for selling the commodities
which he once manufactured or dealt in,
having no voice in shaping the business
policy Of the company and bound to obey
orders issued by others.
Against Their Power.
Nor Is 1t for the substantial interests
of the country that any one commodity
should be within the sole power and sub
]ect to the sole will of any one powerful
combination of capital.
congress has so far as its Jurisdiction
extends, prohibited all contracts or combi-
nations in the form of trusts entered into
for the purpose of restraining trade and
commerce. The results naturally following
from d contract or com binatioa in restraint
OF trade or commerce, when entered into
by a manufacturing or trading company
such as above stated, while differing some
what from those which may follow con-
tract to keep up transportation rates by
raliroads, are nevertheless of the same
nature and kind, and the contracts them
selves do not so far differ in their nature
that they may not all be treated alike
and be condemned in common
~ Is entirely appropriate generally to
SUBJECT corporations or persons engaged
in trading or manufacturing to different
rules from those applicable to railroads in
their transportation business, but when
the evil to be remedied Is similar in both
KINDS OF corporations, such as contracts
which are uEquestionably in restraint of
trade. we see no reason why similar rules
should not be promulgated in regard to
both, and both be covered in the same
statute by general language sufficiently
broad to include them both"
Whnt May BE Included,
AT the Department Of Justice 1t is re-
garded as not improbable that under the
decision of the Supreme Court all traffic
agreements will be required to be submit
TED to the interstate commerce commission.
The belief is also expressed that 1t means
a reversal Of the opinion delivered in the
Circuit Court of Appeals for the second
circuit last week in the case of the Joint
Traffic Association, the opinion in that
instance being favorable to the railroad
combination
Another important view considered is
that all telegraph, express and telephone
companies which combine to regulate and
mold up rates can be compelled under this
decision to submit their joint agreements
TO the interstate commerce commission
Associations Affected.
Judge William R. Morrison, chairman Of
the Interstate commerce commission, in an
interview. says:
TIE decision Of the Supreme Court today
in the Trans-Missouri Freight Association
affects freight and passenger traffic asso-
cations of every character. The provisions
of the antitrust law as well as the inter
state commerce acts, can now be invoked
in the case of every traffic association ex-
listing for the purpose of pooling interests
and maintain ing rates.
The great associations thus affected are
the Joint Traffic Association. covering all
the territory east CT the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio; the Southern Railway
and Steamship associa tons, covering the
territory east of the Mississippi, south of
the Ohio and west of the Potomac; the
Western Traffic Association, embracing the
section between the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, rivers and lines between Chicago and
ST. Louis: the Southwestern Traffic Asso-
citation, somewhat subordinate to the West
ern, operating in Missouri. Texas and the
southwest and the Trans-Continental Traf-
fc Association. including the TRANSMITS
Curl Association, operating west Of the
Missouri, throughout the far west and
northwest, hut with ramifications INTO the
territory Of the Western and Southwestern
associations.
th1
throughout the country come within the
scope of the decision, and are liable to be
arraigned in the courts by the United
States district attorneys for violations of