Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-12-13
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Presidents Message.
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duly enhanced to the general consumer,
are obnoxious not only to the commen
law, but also TO the public welfare. There
must be a remedy for the evils involved
in such organizations Whatever power
the Congress possesses crsr this most
important subject should be promptly as
cerfained and asserted.
An ACT to protect trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and monopo-
lies was passed by Congress the I'd of
July, 1890 The provisions of this stat
ute are comprehensive and stringent. lii
declares every contract on combination in
the form of a trust or otherwise, or con-
spiracy IN the restraint of trade or COM
meree among the several States or with
foreign nations, to be unlawful. 1t de-
nominates as a criminal every person who
makes any such contract or engages in
any such combination or conspiracy, and
provides punishment by fine or impris-
onment. Ii invests the several Circuit
Courts of the United States with jurisdic-
ton to prevent aud restrain violations of
the act, and makes it the duty of the
several United States district attorneys.
under the direction of the Attorney Gen
eral, to institute proceedings in equity to
prevent and restrain such violations. 1t
further confers upon any person who
shall be injured in his business or prop
erty by any other person or corporation
by reason of anything forbidden or de-
clared to be unlawful by the act the pow
er to sue therefor in any Circuit Court of
the United States, without respect to the
amount In controversy, and to recover
threshold the damages by him sustained
and the costs of the suit, including rea-
sonable attorney fees. 1t will be perceiv-
ed that the act is aimed at every kind of
combination in The nature of trust or
monopoly in restraint of interstate or in
Iernational commerce.
The prosecution by the United States
of offenses under the act of 1880 has been
frequently resorted to in the federal
courts, and notable efforts in the restraint
of interstate commerce, such as the
Transmissouri Freight Association and
the Joint Traffic Association, have been
successfully opposed and suppressed.
State legislation 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 the diff
ferent States take different views as to
the proper way to discriminate between
evil and Injurious combinations and those
associations which are beneficial and nee
essary to the business prosperity OF the
country. 1t is apparent that uniformity
VI upOH subject III the sew
eral States is much to be desired. 1t is to
be hoped that such uniformity may be OBJ
tanned 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 complete system of laws
throughout the United States adequate to
compel general observance of the salu-
tary rules to which l ha e referred.
: ID
A review of our relations with foreign
states is presented with such recommend
ations as are deemed appropriate. In
my last annual message | adverted to
the claim of the Austro- Hungarian Gov
ernment for indemnity for the killing of
certain Austrian and Hungarian subjects
by the authorities of the State of Penn
sylvania, at Lattimer, while suppressing
an unlawful tumult of miners, Sept. 1O,
1897. In view of the verdict of acquit-
tai rendered by the court before which
murder, and following the established
doctrine that the Government may not
be held accountable for injuries suffered
by individuals at the hands of the public
authorities while acting in the line of
duty in suppressing disturbances of the
public peace, this Government was CON
strained to decline liability to indemnify
the sufferers.
The Belgian Government has mitigated
the restrictions on the importation of cat
tie from the United States, to which re-
ferred in my last annual message.
A convention of extradition with Brazil,
signed May IA, 1897, has been ratified by
the Brazilian Legislature.
The claim growing out of the seizure of
the American-owned newspaper, the Pan
anna Star and Herald, by the authorities
of Colombia has been settled, after con-
troversy of several years.
The good will of Colombia toward our
country has been testified anew by the
cordial extension of facilities to tho Mic
araguan canal commission in their APP
preaching investigation of the Panama
canal and other projected routes across
the Isthmus of Darien.
Nicaragua Ship Canal.
The contract of the Maritime Canal
Company of Nicaragua was declared for
feited by the Nicaraguan Government the
10th of October, on the ground of nom
fultillment within the ten years term stip-
ulated in the contract. The Maritime
Canal Company has lodged protest
against this action, alleging rights in the
premises which appear worthy of consid-
Grafton. This Government expects that
Nicaragua will afford the protestants a
full and fair hearing upon the merits of
the case.
The Nicaraguan canal commission,
which had been engaged upon the work of
examination and survey, for ship canal
route across Nicaragua, having complet-
cd its labors and made its report, was
dissolved May 81, and June 10 new
commission, known as the isthmian canal
commission, was organized under the
terms of the act approved March ). 1899,
for the purpose of examining the Ameri-
can isthmus with view to determining
the most practicable and feasible route
for a ship canal across that isthmus.
! with its probable cost and other essential
details.
This commission, under the presidency
of Rear Admiral John G.. Walker, u. :.
N (retiredl, entered promptly upon the
work intrusted to it, and is now carrying
on examinations in Nicaragua along the
route of the Panama canal, and in Da-
rien from the Atlantic, in the neighbor-
hood of the Atrlto river to the Bay OF
Panama, on the Pacific side. The great
Importance of this work cannot be too
often or too strongly pressed upon the at
tention of the Congress.
Chilli Shows Friendship.
A pleasing incident in the relations of
this Government with that of Chilli oc-
cured in the generous assistance given
in Chlian waters. Not alone in this way
has the friendly disposition of Chill found
expression. That country has aeceded to
the convention for the establishment of
the bureau of the American republics, in
which organization every independent
state of the continent now shares.
American interests in china.
The interests of our citizens in that
vast empire have not been neglected dur
ing the last year Adequate protection
has beer secured for our missionaries and
sc.sc injuries to their property have been
redressed. In my message TO Congress
of Dec. >, 1898, urged that the recon-
mendation which had been made to thu
Speaker oe the House of Representatives
BIZ the Secretary Of the Treasury the
I4th of June. 1898, for an appropriation
for commission to study the commercial
and industrial conditions in the Chinese
Empire and report as to the opportunities
for, and obstacles to. the enlargement of
maYkets in China for the raw products
and manufactures of tie United States,
should receive at your hands the consid-
Grafton which its Importance and time
illness merited, but the Congress failed to
take action. | now renew this recon-
mendation.
Paris Exposition of 1900.
Preparations for the representation OF
the Industries, arts and products of the
/ United States. at the worlds exposition
to be held in Paris next year continue
1.l an elaborate and comprehensive scale
thanks. to the generous appropriation pro-
vided by Congress and to the friendly IN
ferest the French Government has shown
! in furthe.lng a typical exhibit of Ameri'
| can progress. There has been allotted to
the United States a considerable addition