The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-19
WAR ON TRUSTS!
Gen. Monnet Wants an Inquiry.
Resolutions Presented i'm the LegiS-
Iature for
Searching Investigation of Trusts
and Their Violations
of Law.

Resolutions were introduced in the
Ohio House of Representatives, Tues
day, that provide for the appointment
of a special committee to investigate
Trusts, their workings, their violations
of law, their corruption of officers or
courts, or whatever will give the Leg
islature light and be the basis for legis-
lation against the great evil.
The Committee is named in the reso-
lutions, and is one that will not cover
things up. They will investigate.
The resolutions were prepared by the
late Attorney General Monnett, and it
is said enough votes are already prom
ised, to secure its passage.
1t is understood that Mr.. Monnett
will be the attorney of the committee.
A full discussion of the resolutions
will be allowed before they are put to
a vote.
This movement gives promise of de.
cided action, and the people will watch
the course of the debate, and the action
of the Legislature, with much interest
The resolutions are as follows:
Whereas, The Valentine-Stewart an.
| thrust act was passed April 10, 1898
to take effect July 1, 1898, notwith
standing the provisions of the act pro
viding for penalties against corpora
| tions entering into trusts, yet it is
charged that many of such combinations
have not only continued but increased
wholly in defiance of the executive anG
judicial officers of the State; and,
Whereas, The common law power:
vested in the various courts of the
State of Ohio have not apparently beer
invoked by the executive officers of the
court to protect the small producers
and the general consumers of the State
of Ohio; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this branch of the
General Assembly select committee
of seven, to be composed of the Hon
Charles P. Griffin, of Lucas county; Pc
ter A. Mckenzie, of CuyahOga county
2. G. Russell, of Meigs county; ReubeI
Rankin, of Fayette county; John A. Nc
ICurdy, of Miami county; II. G. DeRan
of Sandusky county; J. c. Adams, o
lCoshocton county; Chas. A. Atherton
of Montgomery county, and D. 0. Cas-
tie, of Crawford county, with full pow
er and authority to choose its own off
GERS, send for persons and papers AM
to subpoena witnesses in any part of tn
State, to be and appear before sucl
committee at such time and place a
may be designated in the subpoena, t.
testify touching matters of inquir,
committed to such committee, and t.
cause the production of books, paper
and records by such witnesses, and en-
ploy the necessary stenOgraphers an
counsel and report its proceedings an
evidence within reasonable time afte
it's appointment.
1t shall be among the duties of thi
commission to determine whether tn
methods adopted by the transpOrtatio
companies have been in accordanc
with the provisions of the Revised Sta
utes and the other provisions of statut
relating to the rights exercised b
common carriers of freight, passenger
express, telephone and telegraph
messengers and pipe line charges of 0
and gas; also, to thoroughly determin
whether the charges of the trusts
the State have been commensurate wit
the capital actually invested and tn
expenses incurred in constructing ar
operating such corporations, and to a
! certain the relationship existing b'
; tween such companies, whether thel
is any common ownership or manage
ment.