Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-12-16
QUESTION OF TRUSTS.
Combinations Which Suppress Com
petition Menace Public Welfare.

petition Menace Public Welfare.
Combinations of capital organized
into trusts to control the conditions of
trade among our citizens, to stitle
competition, limit production and de-
/ terminc the prices Of products used
and consumed by the people, are just
ly provoking public discussion, and
( should early claim the attantion Of
! the congress.
The industrial commission, created
by the act Of the congress Of June Is,
| 1898, has been engaged in extended
hearings upon the disputed questions
( involved In the subject of combinations
/ in restraint OF trade and competition.
/ They have not yet completed their in
! vestigaton of this subject, and the
conclusions and recommendations at
which they may arrive are undeter-
mined.
The subject is one giving rise to
many divergent views as to the nature
and variety, or cause and extent, of
the injuries to the public which may
result from large combinations con-
/ centrating more or less numerous en-
tcrprises and establishments, which
/ previously to the formation OF the
combination were carried OH separ-
ntely.
IL is universally conceded that COM
binations which engross or control
the market Of any particular kind OF
merchandise or commodity necessary
to the general community, by sup
pressing natural and ordinary COM
petition, whereby prices are unduly
enhanced to the general consumer, are
obnoxious not only to the common
law, but also to the public welfare.
There must be remedy for the evils
involved in such organizations. II
the present law can he extended more
certainly to control or check these
monopoies or trusts il should be done
without delay. Whatever power the
congress possesses over this most i'm
portant subject should be promptly
ascertained and asserted.
Uniform State Legislation Needed
The state legislation to which Pres
eident Cleveland looked for relief from
the evils of trusts has failed to accom-
pish fully that object This is prob
ably due TO great extent to the fact
that different states take different
views as to the proper way to discrim-
mate between evil and injurious com
binations and those associations which
are beneficial and necessary to the
business prosperity of the country.
The great diversity of treatment in
different states arising from this cause
and the intimate relations of all parts
of the country to each other without
regarding state lines in the conduct
of business have made the enforce
ment of state laws difficult.
IL is apparent that uniformity of
legislation upon this subject in the
several states is much to be desired. 1T
: is to be hoped that such uniformity
founded in a wise and just discrimina-
ton between what is injurious and
what is useful and necessary in bust
ness operations may be obtained and
that means may be found for the con-
gress within the limitations of it's con-
stitutional power so to supplement an
effective code of state legislation as
to make a complete system of laws
throughout the United Stats adequate
to compel general observance of the
salutary rules to which l have re-
ferred.
The whole question is so important
and far reaching that | am sure no
part of it will be lightly considered.
but every phase of it will have the
studied deliberation of the congress,
resulting in wise and judicions action.