The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-08
THE TRUST QUESTION.
e ress Should Thoroughly Invests.
gate and Apply Remsdies.

Congress should Thoroughly Invssti-
gate and Apply Remedies.
Combinations of capital organized
to control the conditions Of trade among
citizens, to stifle competition, limit
production and determine the price OF
products used and consumed by the peo-
pie, are justly provking public discussion,
and should early claim the attention of
the congress.
The industrial commission, created by
the act of the congress of June 10, 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 investigation of this
subject, and the conclusions and recon.
m%endations at which they may arrive are
undetermined.
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 concentrating more or less
numerous enterprises Il establishments.
which previously to the formation of the
combination were carried on separately.
1t is universally conceded that combin
ations which engross or control the mar
ket of any particular kind Of merchandise
or commodity necessary to the general
community, by suppressing natural and
ordinary competition, 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 a remedy for the evils involved in
such organizations. If the present law
can be extended more certainly to control
or check those m%onopolies or trusts, 1T
should be done without delay. Whatever
power the congress possesses over this most
important subject should be promptly
ascertained and asserted.
Quotations are made from the annual
message Of President Harrison Dec. 8,
1889, and that of President Cleveland Dec.
z, 1895, the former recommending a law
for the better control Of such combina-
lions, and the latter, commenting upon
che law enacted in 1890, questioning
whether the Federal jurisdiction In the
matter Is sufficient, Continuing the
president says:
The state legislation to which Presi-
dent Cleveland looked for relief from the
evils Of trusts has failed to accomplish
fully that object. This Is probably due
to a great extent to the fact that different
states take different views as to the proper
way to discriminate between evil and in
furious combinations and those associ-
atoms which are beneficial and necessary
to the business prosperity Of the country.
The great diversity Of treatment in differ
emit states arising from this cause and the
intimate relations of all parts Of the coun-
try to each other without regarding state
lines in the conduct of business have made
the enforcement of state laws difficult.
1t is apparent that uniformity Of legis-
lation 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 discrimination between
what is injurious and what Is useful and
necessary in business operations, may be
obtained, and that means may be found
for the congress within the limitations Of
its constitutional power SO to supplement
an effective code Of state legislation as to
make a complete system of laws through.
out the United States adequate to compel
q general observance Of the salutary rules
to which I have referred.