The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-08
ANNUAL MESSAGE,
Continued from First Page.)

the genera community, by suppressine
natural and ordinary competition.
whereby prices are unduly enhanced
to the general consumer, are obnox-
ious not only to the common law but
also to the public welfare. There must
be a remedy for the evils involved in
such organizations. If the present
law can be extended more certainly
to control or check these monopolies
or trusts, it should be done without de-
lay. Whatever power the congress pos
sesses over this most important SUBJ
5ect should be promptly as~certained and
asserted"
The president quotes from President
Harrlson's message of December 3rd,
1889, On this subject and adds:
AN act to protect trade and COM
merce against unlawful restraints and
monopolies was passed by congress on
July 2, 1890. The provisions of this
statute are comprehensive and strin-
gent. 1t declares every contract or
combination, in the form Of a trust or
otherwise, or conspiracy in the re-
Straint Of trade or among
the several states or with foreign ma
lions, 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 a punishment by fine or i'm
p~risonment. 1t invests the several cir
cult courts of the United States with
Jurisdiction to prevent and restrain
violations of the act, and makes it the
duty of the several United States dis
! trfct attorneys, under the direction Of
, the attorney general, to institute pro-
ceedings In equity to prevent and re-
strain such violations. 1t further con-
fers upon any person who shall be in
| jured in his business or property by
any other person or corporation by
reason of anything forbidden or de-
clared to be unlawful by the act the
power to sue therefor in any circuit
court Of the United States without re-
spect to the amount in controversy,
and to recover three-fold the damages
by him sustained and the costs of the
suit, including reasonable attorney
fees. 1t win be perceived that the act
is aimed at every kim of combination
In the nature of a trust or monopoly
IN restraint of interstate or Internal
tiOnal commerce.
The prosecution by the United States
OF O~ffenses under the act of 1890 has
been frequently restorted to in the fed
eral courts, and notable efforts in the
restraint of Interstate commerce, such
as the trans Missouri Freight Associa-
ton, and the Joint Traffic Association
have been successfully opposed and sup
pressed.
TT is apparent that uniformity Of
legislation upon this subject in the sew
eral states is much to be desired. 1t Is
ID Uc IIODCu IlCI oNNll 1IlLo ~ CN'N
ed in a wise and just discrimination
between wha is injurious and what is
useful and necessary in business OPP
e~rations may be obtained and that
means may be found for the congress
within the limitations Of its constitu-
tional power SO to supplement an eff
fective code of state legislation as to
make a complete system of laws
roughou the United States adequate
TO compel a general observance or the
salutary Jules to which I have referred.
''The whole question is so important
and f~ar-reaching that I am sure no part
of it will be lightly considered, but
Avery phase of it will nave the STUDIED
10aiberation of the congress, resulting
n wise and judicious action
49, OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Passing to our relations with foreign
states the work of the state depart
ment for the past year is tnorougnLy
reviewed. Among the SUBJECTS touch-
ed upon are the settlement OF the long
nending boundary dispute between the
Argentine republic n Chilli; progress
that has been toward the CONCLUSION
of a convention of extradition WIN the
Argentine republic, which only aWalls
the adjustment of some Sllght changes
in the text before exchanges; tine re-
f,sa1 of this government to assume
liability for the killing of certain AUS
trian and Hungarian subjects py tire
authorities of Pennsylvania at Ldtt-
mer. while suppressing an unlaWIul u
multi of miners, September lo, 1881 me
mitigation by the Belgian government
oe raetrictions on the Importation OF
att1a from the United States. Inc
attempt ON the part of our go~vernnlenl
to induce the government OH bolVta
to amend it's marriage laws SO as ~
give legal status to the hon-H ithin its
and civil marriages of aliens Wltnlh is
Jurisdiction: the settlement OF Tue
Saim for the seizure of the AMERICAN
owned Thu Panama osdl
and Herald, by the authorities OF ~ ~
lombia, that government agreeins =.
pay 100000 indamages. s aation ~
tbe ouestion raised by the actlon VI
denmark in imposing .restrlctlons On
the importa tfon of American meas
has continued without SUBSTANTIAL &c
suit in OUR favor. .-,r,
receiving two American Warsh1ps an.
that Of Colombia by the extension VI
faciIities to the Nicaraguan canai com
Anission in their ~roach lnv We.
'Aation of the Panama canai anu oi
protected routes across the IstIniuo -
DaEien is mentioned. Inc conlro|cts'
grdwing out OF the coilec'W y1Iar
tain public dues by the Nlcarasuai
government during the lnsurreclio!,
ery movement last February Is SUI
unsettled.
qruE TTHMIAN\ CANAL COMMITS
SION.
Tho sthmian canal commission
which was organized unoer IL 81,
of the act approved Marcn 81 lo'', ~.
the purpose of examining the America
isthmus with a view to determin,ns
the most practicable and feasible rou; !;
for a ship canal across than stimulus !.
at work and has made gooo ploSa ~
Regarding this matter the preslu1h
says: +b;s vor,
cannot be too often or 100 suonen
pressed upon the attention o1>cohgr ax
In my message of a year ago l. =
pressed my views OF the necesaio graa
canal which would link the TWO slea
oceans to which I again invite you