The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-06
THE LAW AS TO TRUSTS1THEY ARE NOT ALL DEAD
Is Limited by Constitution to Interstate
Commerce.
REPORT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL GRIGGS
lie Recommends nm Increase in SAL
AIRY of Federal Judges - Land
Claims in New Possessions.

Washington, December 5.-Attorney
General Griggs in his annual report To
congress, reviews the work OF the depart
ment of justice during the year, and he
says that application is occasionally made
to the department to have legal proceed
States againA corporations or comoina-
tions of companies that are alleged to be
engaged in forming or maintaining mo-
nopolies or agreements in restraint OF
trade or competition.
Such actions the attorney general
says, ''can be maintained only when the
offonsc comes within the scope of the Fed
eral courts. The only Federal legislation
against combinations in restraint of trade
is contained in the so-called Sherman act
of July ,, 1890. 1t will be observed that
this statute Is directed only at combina-
tons or monopolies In restraint OF COM
merce among the several States or with
foreign nations. 1t does not pretend to
so into other branches OF business or
commerce. or attempt in any way TO inter-
fere with those transactions which are
carried on exclusively within the confines
of n State, or which do not attempt to
do what, under the decisions of the United
States supreme court, Is understood by the
term interstate commerce. The Federal
government has no constitutional right to
supervise, direct or interfere with the
transaction of ordinary business by the
people of the several States unless such
business relates directly, and not incl
dentally, to interstate commerce. and such
has been the decision of the supreme court
of the United States"
The attorney general discusses this sub
ject at some length, quoting freely from
the decisions of the courts sustaining his
position, and in conclusion says: I'm all
cases where the facts presented to the at
torney general capable of legal proof
have established satisfactorily such an
agreement or combination in constraint of
interstate commerce, as is contemplated
by the Sherman act. legal proceedings
have been taken by the department in the
name of the United States either to dis
solve the combination or TO punish the
Offenders by Indictment
The attorney general also refers ITO the
man" important questions which have
arisen in the administration of the gov
eminent and afterward of our new insular
possessions, and appends copies of opin
ions rendered by him on the same. Re
ferr'ng to the work of the court of private
claims the attorney general recommends
the creation OF similar tribunal 20 dis
pose of claims of this character in Porto
Rico and the Philippine islands. The at
torney general expresses the opinion that
the judges Of the United States supreme
court and of the circuit courts are made
quately compensated and requests an in
crease of the salary of the chief Justice
and associate justice of the supreme court
TO $4,000 year, of the circuit court
judges to $4,000 and the district judges
TO $500 year. The attorney general
asks for additional judicial officers 10
handle the largely increased business in
Alaska