The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-12-15
NJ kINLEY'S
MESSAGE
Observation-Disclosures With
Congress on Subjects Of
National Interest.
WAR, TRUSTS AND MONEY


For the Monopoly Evil-Gold Stand
ard Favored-Partition OF Samoa.
Hobart's Death, E:c.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The president
today transmitted to congress his an
Eual message, as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatiyes:
At tho threshold OF your deliberations
you are called to mourn with your coun.
frymen the death of Vice President Ho-
bart, who passed from this life on the
morning OF November 2lst, last. His
great soul now rests in eternal peace.
His private life was pure and elevated,
whiio his public career was ever distin.
gu!shed by largo capacity, stainless in
tegrlty anu exalted motives. He has
been removed from the high office which
he hOnorod and digriied, but his lofty
character, his devotion to duty, his hon
esty of purpose and noble virtues re.
main with US as priceless legacy and
Example.
The Fifty congress couvenes in
Its hrSt regular session with the country
IN condition of unusual prosperity, of
universal good will among the people at
home ami IN relations of peace and
friendship with every government OF
tho world. Our foreign commerce has
shown great increase in volume and
value. The combined in ports aud ex.
ports for the year are the largest ever
shown by single year i'll all orr his
tory. Our exports for 1899 alone ex
Cceded by more than 8! OO0 Coo, 600 our
Imports and exports com Dined in 1870.
"a
less than III 1870, while tho exports por
capita arc JS per cent more than in 1870,
SHOWING the enlarged caDaclty OF tho
United States TO satisfy the wants ofits
own increasing population, as we'll as to
contribute to those OF the peoples OF
Ctner nations.
Question Of Trusts.
Combinations Of capital organized
into trusts to control the conditions Of
trade among our citlzors, 20 stifie COM
petition, limit production and determine
the prices Of products used aud con.
sumod by the people, are justly prosok.
lag public discussion and should early
claim tho attention OF the congress.
The industrial commission created by
the act of congress of Juno IS, 1895, has
heen engaged il extended hearings upon
tho disputed questions involved in the
subject or combinations in restraint of
trade and cOmDetltion. They have not
yet completed their lnvc Srigations Of
this subject and the conclusion and
recommendations at which they NAV
arrive are undetermined. The subject
Is one giving rise to many divergent
views eg 20 the nature and variety or
cause and extent of the injuries to the
pubic which may result from large
combinations concentrating more or
less numerous enterprises and establish.
ments which previously to the forma.
tiOu of the combination were carried
Sc separatsly.
II is universally conceded that comb
nations which cngross or control the
market OF any particular kind of mer-
chaDGise or commodity necessary to tho
geEera! community. by suppressing nat
hrai and ordinary competition, whereby
prices are urduly enhanced to the gen
eral consumer, are obnoxious not only
to the common law, but also to the pub.
lie welfare. There must be q remedy
for the evils involved i'll such organiza.
tlons. II the present law can be ex-
tended more certainly 30 control or
check these monopolies or trusts. it
should be done without delay. What.
ever power the congress possesses over
this most important su vjoct should be
promptly asceraincd and asserted.
. It is apparent that uniformity of leg.
islation upon this subject in the several
states is much TO Ire desired. 1t is to be
hoped that such uniformity founded in
a wise and just discrimination between
what is injurious and what is useful
ami necessary IL business operations
may 20 Obtained GuI mat means may
be iCund lor tho conSroEs within the
limitations OF its constitutional power
50 as to supplement- an effective code Of
state legislation So to make complete
system OF laws throughout the United
States adequate to compel general OBJ
SarGauce Of Tho Salutary rules to which
] have referred.
The whole question is SO i'm portant
and .arreachlng that am sure no part
OF 1t will bo lightly considered, but
overy phase OF IL will have the studied
GchDrratlon OF congress resulting in
wise and iudicious action.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The Nicaragua canal commission,
which had been engaged upon the work
o! examination and survey for route
across Nicaragua, having completed its
iaGOrs ana mado It's rep0r'S, was dis
solved Oh May 81, and on juno 10 q new
commission, known as the isthmian
canal commission, was organized under
ire terms o. the act approved March 8,
1899. for tho purpose OF examining the
American isthmus with u view to de-
tormining the most practicable and
feasible route for ship canal across
that isIhmus, with its probable cost and
other essential details.
This commission. under the p-esi.
Gencv OF Rear Admiral John G.. Wal
Eer, u. 5. n. retired, entered promptly
upon the work intrusted to it and Is
now carrying on examinations in Mica
ragua along the route of the Panama
canal and in Darien from the Atlantic,
from the neghborhood of the Atralto
river to the bay of Panama on the Pa.
cific side. Good progress has been