The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-06
trust or monopoly in restraint of interstate

trust or monopoly in restraint Of interstate
or international commerce.
The prosecution by the United States of
offenses under the act of 1890 has been fire.
quently resorted to IN the Federal courts.
and notable efforts in the restraint OF inter-
state commerce, such as the TRANSMITS
Traffic Association have been success
fully opposed and suppressed.
President Cleveland, In his annual mes
yesss to 81 s
law-After stating the evils OF these trust
combinations, says:
Though congress has attempted TO deal
with this matter by legislation, the laws
proved Ineffective, not because Of any lack
or disposition or attempt to enforce them.
but simply because the laws themselves
as interpreted by the courts do not reach
the difficulty. If the insufficiency OF the
existing laws can be remedied by further
legislation It should. be done. The fact
Federal legislation on this subject may fall
short OF its purpose, because of inherent
obstacles and also because OF the complex
which, while making the Federal author
ity supreme within its sphere, has care
fully limited that sphere by metes and
bounds which cannot be transgressed. The
decision of our highest court on this pre-
else question renders 1t quite doubtful
whether the evils of trusts and monopolies
can be adequately treated through Fed
purposely to include in their objects trans
portation or intercourse between states or
between the United States and foreign
countries.
1T does not follow, however, that this Is
the limit of the remedy that may be ap-
Piled Even though 1t may be found that
Federal authority is not broad enough to
fully reach the case, there can be no doubt
of the power Of the several states to act
effectively In the premises, and there
should be no reason to doubt their willing
ness to judiciously exercise such power"
The state legislation to which President
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 associa-
lions which are beneficial and necessary to
the business prosperity Of the country The
great diversity of treatment in different
states arising from this cause, and the in
innate relations Of all parts of the country
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 Legs
lation upon this subject in the several
states is much to he desired. 1t Is to be
hoped. that such uniformity, founded n
wise and just Discrimination between wha.
is injurious and what Is useful and neces-
sary In business operations. may be OBJ
tanned and that means may be found for
the congress. within the limitations of It's
constitutional power, so to supplement an
effective code of state legislation as to
make a complete system of law through
out the United States to compel general
observance of the salutary rules TO which
I have referred.
The whole question is so important and
far-reaching that I am sure no part Of 1t
will be lightly considered. but every phase
OF It will have the studied elaboration Of
the congress. resulting In wise and judi
cious action.