Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-05

our own, but from necessity, the de-
partments of the government
charged with military and naval oper-
ations in the east and West Indies
had to obtain from foreign flags mer-
chant vessels essential for these oper-
ations.
The other great nations have not
hesitated to adopt the required means
to develop their shipping as a fac
tor in national defense and as one Of
the surest and speediest means of OBJ
tanning for their producers a share
in foreign markets. Like vigilance
and effort on our part cannot fail to
Improve our situation, which is re-
garded with humiliation at home and
with surprise abroad. Even the seem
ing sacrifices, which at the beginning
may be involved, will be offset later
by more than equivalent gains.
The expense is as nothing COM
pared to the advantage to be achieved
The establishment of our merchant
marine involves in large measure
our continued industrial progress ard
| the extension of our commercial tri-
umphs. | am satisfied the judgm ent
of the country favors the policy OF aid
to our merchant marine. which will
broaden our commerce and markets
and upbuild our sea carrying capaci
I ty for the products of agriculture aud
manufacture; which, with the in.
crease of our navy, mean more woi n
| and wages to our countrymen, as well
as a safeguard to American interests
in every part of the world.
ON THE TRUSTS.
Combinations of capital organized
into trusts to control the conditions
of trade among our citizens, to stIic
competition limit production, aud
| determine the prices of products used
and consumed by the people, are just.
ly provoking public discussions and
should early claim the attention ci
| 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 com5ina
| tions in common restraint of trade
and competition. They have not
yet completed their. investi CATION Of
this subject and the conclusions and
recommendation at which they may
arrive are undetermined.
The subject is one giving rise to
many divergent views as to the ma
ture and variety or cause and extent
of the injuries to the public which
may result from large combinations
concentrating more or less numerous
enterprises and Establishments, which
previous to the formation of the com
plnation were carried on separately.
1t is universally conceded that COM
| binations which engross or control
tie market of any particular kind of
| merchandise or commodity necessary
| to the general community, by sup
pressing natural and ordinary compe-
tition, whereby products are unduly
enhanced to the general consumers,
are obnoxious not only to the common
law but also to the public welfare.
mere must be remedy for the evils
involved in such organizations. If
the present law can be extended more
certainly to control or check these
monopoIes. or. trusts, it shouldl lie
done without delay. Whatever pow
er the congress possesses over this
most important subject should be
promptly acertained and asserted.
| President Harrison in his. annual
message of December 3, 1889, says:
Earnest attention should be given
by congress to consideration of the
question how far the restraint OF
those combinations of capital com
monty CALLED trusts, is matter of fed
eral jurisdiction, when organized, ~as
they often are, to crush out all
healthy competition, and to monopo
lize the production or sale, of an ar
ticle of commerce and general neces
sity they are dangerous conspiracies
against the public good, and should be
made the subject of prohibitory ant
even penal legislation"
An act to protect trade and com
merce against unlawful restraints
and monopolies was passed by con
gress on the End, of July, 1890. The
provisions of this statute are com
fprehensive and stringent. 1t declares
, every contract or combination, in the
i
spiracy in the restraint of trade Of
commerce among the several states
or with foreign nations, to be unlaw
, full 1t denominates as a crimina
| every such person who makes an,
! such contract or engaged in any sucl
! combination or conspiracy, and pro
Ivides a punishment by fine or impris
onment. 1t invites the several cir
cult courts of the United States will
violations of the act, and makes
the duty of the several United State
r district attorneys, under the direC
3 tion of the encouragement to inst
p tute proceedings in equity to preven
3 and restrain such violations. It ful
g ther confers upon any person VIII
|; shall be injured in his business o
e property by any other person or COZ
' poration by reason of anything fol
! hidden or declared to be unlawful b
d the act the power to sue therefor j
any circuit court of the United State
!. without respect to the amount in cor
d troversy, and to recover three-fol
t the damages by him sustained an
e the costs of the ssuit, including re;
1 sonable attorney fees. 1t win be pc
! Iceived that the act is aimed at ever
kind of combination in the nature {
trust or monopoly in restraint OF il
terstate or international commerce.
Fl The prosecution of the Unite
: States of offenses under the act {
1890 has been frequently resorted I
in the federal courts, and notabl
/, efforts in the restraint of intersta;
commerce, such as the Trans-Misso
Z Z ri freight association and the JoiI
u Traffic association, have been su