The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-25
OPINION OF TIE PRESS
MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE
DESTRUCTION OF TRUSTS.
JUDGE SHIRAS SCORED Agate

ne new OTk ''S'~
to the Income Tax Decision
The Circuit Court VIII
Take Notice.
Below we give the opinions of some OF
the lending papers in the country on the
Srnrame court decision that seems to give
tho daatb- knell to railroad and other COM
h;nat;ons in restraint of trade.
Columbia State:
oThe antitrust act Of 1890 applies to
and covers common carriers. 1t forbids
railroad traffic agreements to maintain
rates. That is the decision of the United
States Supreme court, and it seems to be
the beginning of the end of the trusts
There is no apparent difference between
this Western railroad traffic ASSOCIATION
and the other associations of the kind,
South and North. The evident conclu-
sion is that all these combinations must
go to smash. The direct Importance OF
the decision can hardly be exaggerated,
and its indirect significance is greater
still. By parity OF reasoning the oppres-
siye insurance trust known as the South
eastern Tariff association is illegal; and
it is difficult to see how the manufactur-
ing trusts can escape their DOOM
Philadelphia Times:
1.-THE Supreme court of the United
States, by a bare majority, has sustained
the Sherman antitrust law in a case a
gainst a traffic association which was
dissolved long before the decision was
rendered. The decision is to the effect
that the defunct Freight Association
agreement to maintain rates within hm-
tied territory was in restraint of trade
and must be abandoned.
"As it had already been abandoned, the
decision. so far as that particular asso-
citation was concerned, was a shot fired
into the air. Its application to any exist
ing traffic or trust association is yet to
be shown. If it applies to all associa-
tions of this nature it is a very important
decision. If it applies only to one whose
agreement had not been drawn by
skilful lawyer it will prove of small ac-
count"
Atlanta Journal:
IF Joint traffic agreements among
railroads are in violation of the anti
trust law of 1890. then those agreements
among manufacturers which nix prices,
limit production and adopt the other ex-
pedients of trusts certainly can be reach
ed under the same law.
-
"Just after the Federal judges have
declared some State antitrust laws I'M
constitutional and several efforts to IN
terfere by law with some of the most
notorious trusts in the country have fail
ed the Supreme court gives living force
and effect to the Federal antitrust law
which had very generally come to be
considered dead letter.
ssThe decision is one of the most impor-
tant the Supreme court has handed down
in long time"
New York World:
The Supreme Court of the United
States yesterday made the most import
ant decision since the overthrow Of the
income tax 1t cut through all the tech
nicalities and evasions Of the railway
monopolists and their lawyers. 1t de-
clared that an association OF railways
for the purpose of "equalizing freight
rates is an unlawful combination In re-
straint of trade and competition ana
comes within the prohibition of the anti
trust laws Of the United States.
This decision oyerrules the famous de-
cision of Justice Shiras approving and
unfolding such combinations. 1t upsets
the decisions of Judges Lacombe and
Wallace last Friday, which held that the
antitrust laws did not apply to railroads.
1t begins a new era in the history of the
relations of railways to the people. 1t
opens the way to a mortal blow at those
great trusts and monopolies, such as the
Standard Oil Company, the Dressed
Beef Trust, the Grain Elevator Trust
that rob the people and grow fat on ex-
tortion by means of the railway associa-
tons.
This decision declares that the men who
form the three great railway combina-
tions-the Joint Traffic Association, the
Western Freight Association and the
Southern Trafice Association-are law
breakers 1t compels them as good citi-
zens to disband. 1t brands them Grim.
inals if they do not disband.
When the income-tax decision was an
nounced these defiant law breakers were
loudest in urging obedience and submis
sion to the decision of the final tribuna
in this nation They denounced as an
archists all who murmured. The people
were deeply, keenly disappointed by thai
decision, but they upheld at the polls the
inviolability Of the Supreme Court, ever
though one of its Judges had changed
his mind under circumstances that were
never satisfactorily explained.
Now it is the turn Of these eminently
respectable persons who have been shut
fling and evading the law so loag. Will
they obey, or will they continue to fight
4uibble and evade?
Are they law-abiding citizens or arr
they anarchists?
fHH LAWYER MIGHT REFORM
christian Advocate.)