The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-05


and with Its rank among the nations
Of the earth. The past year has re-
corded exceptional activity in our ship
yards. and the promises Of continual
prosperity in shipbuilding are abund-
ant. Advanced legislation for the pro-
lection OF our seamen has been en-
acted. Our coast trade, under regula-
tons wisely framed at the beginning
OF the government and since, shows re-
suits for the past fiscal year unequal
ed In our records Of those Of any other
power. We shall fail to realize our
opportunities, however, II we COM
PLEASANTLY regard only matters at
home and blind ourselves to the neces-
sity OF securing our share In the val
liable carrying trade of the world.
A Chapter on Trusts.
Combinations of capital organized
into trusts to control the conditions of
trade among our citizens. to stiile COM
petition, limit production and deter
mine the prices of products used and
consumed by the people are Justly
provoking public discussion, and
should early claim the attention of
the congress.
i nv Ahuuotti 0i NONIutcSlOi, ClcutCu
by the act Of the congress OF June IS,
1888. has been engaged in extended
! hearings upon the disputed questions
involved in the subject of combina-
lions In restraint OF trade and com.
petition. They have not yet completed
their Investigation of this subject and
the conclusions and recommendations
at which they may arrive are unde-
| termined.
It is universally conceded that COM
| binations which engross or control the
| market OF any particular kind of mer-
chandise or commodity necessary to
the general community by suppress
Ing 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
remedy for the evils evolved In such
| organizations. II the present law can
be extended more certainly to con-
troll or check these monopolies or
trusts 1t should be done without delay.
Whatever power the congress pos
sesses over this most important sub
iect should be promptly ascertained
and asserted.
President Harrison's message Of
Dec 3, 1889, is then quoted, and Presi-
dent Mckinley proceeds:
An act to protect trade and COM
merce against unlawful restraints and
monopolies was passed by congress on
the I'd of July 1890. The provisions
OF this statute are comprehensive and
stringent. 1t declares every contract
0t, tnn d. ~ o.. -
or otherwise. OF conspiracy in the re-
straint of trade or commerce among
the several states or with foreign ma
tions to be unlawful. 1t denominates
as a criminal every person who makes
any such contract or engages in any
such combination or conspiracy, and
provides punishment by fine or i'm
prisonment. 1t further confers upon
any person who shall be injured in his
business or property by any other per-
son or corporation by reason of any,
thing forbidden or declared to be UNI
lawful by the act the power to sue
therefor in any circuit court Of the
United States without respect to the
amount in controversy, and to recover
threefold the damages by him sus-
tanned and the costs OF the suit, includ-
ing reasonable attorney fees. 1t will
be perceived that the act is aimed at
every kind of combination in the ma
ture of trust or monopoly in re-
straint Of interstate or International
commerce.
The chapter on trusts closes with
quotation from the message of Pres
ident Cleveland Of Dec. Z, 1896. declar-
ing the laws passed for their suppress
sion ineffective. President Mckinley
then urges uniformity of legislation on
the part Of the several states. The
message proceeds:
Our Foreign Relations.
A review of our relations with for
eign states is presented with such rec
concentrations as are deemed appropri-
ate.
The long pending boundary dispute
between the Argentine Republic and
Chile was settled In March last by tn
award of an arbitral commission. on
which the United States minister at
Buenos Ayres served as umpire.
Progress has been made toward the
conclusion of convention Of extradi-
ton with the Argentine Republic Hav-
ing been advised and consented to by
the United States senate and ratified by
Argentina, it only awaits the adjust
ment of some slight changes in the
text before exchange.
1t is gratifying to be able to an
nounce that the Belgian government
has mitigated the restrictions on the
importation of cattle from the United
States, to which referred in my last
annual message.
Having been invited by Belgium to
participate in congress held at Brus
sells to revise the provisions OF the gen.
eral act of July 2, 1890, for the repres.
sion of the African slave trade, to
which the United States was sigma
tory party, this government preferred
not to be represented by a plen!poten-
tiary, but reserved the right of Access
sion to the result. Notable changes
were made. those especially concern
Ing this country being in the line of
the increased restriction of the dele
FERROUS trade in spirituous liquors with
the native tribes, which this govern |
ment has from the outset urgently ad-
Vocated. The amended general act
will be laid before the senate, with a
view to its advice and consent.
Early III the yeaT the peace OF bOilVla
was disturbed by successful insur-
lection. The United States minister |
remained at his post, attending to the
American interests in that quarter and |
using besides his good Offices for the |
protection of the interests of British
subjects In the absence of their ma
tional representatives.
Our representative has been instruct
ed to use all permissible friendly en-
deavors to induce the government OF |
Bolivia to amend its marriage laws SO
as to give legal status to the non
Catholic and civil marriages Of aliens |
within its jurisdiction, and strong
hopes are entertained that the Bolivian
law In this regard will be brought as
was that Of Peru some years ago, into
harmony with the general practice Of
modern states.
Ertraditinn Treuty with Braxil.
A convention Of oxtradition with
Brazil, signed May a. 1897, has been
ratified by the Brazilian legislature.
The claim growing ont of the SELF
pf tho American nupl1