The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-22
Problems Of Legislation.

The country IL afiiicted with a class
OF loud-mouthed Statesmen out of
job" or with no responsibility for legis-
lation upon their shoulders. who glibiy
announce that II they, and the elements
they represent. held the reins Of gov
ernsnent they would not have the
slightest difficulty in providing at once
a plain, speedy and adequate remedy
for all trusts. What this remedy would
be. however, they carefully refrain from
STATING.
The fact that the drafting Of legisla-
ton against trusts requires the solu-
tion OF many intricate and delicate
problems is shown by a suit recently
Instituted in Tacoma under the present
anti. trust law against the Washington
Red Cedar Single Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION, One sabin A. Gibbs claims
that the association il trust within
the meaning of the federal statute. that
1t has dlscriminated against him. and
demands the statutory penalty, The as
ISOLATION IL a combination of small
manufacturers, whose product is ham
died entirely by large wholesalers, and
who have Joined forces frankly and
avowedly for the purpose Of keeping
prices up to living standard and pro-
duction down to the necessities of the
market Prior to their entering into
this agreement the competition be-
tween these small manufacturers was
severe. the price Of shingles was kept
down to point where there was
scarcely a wage margin for the owners
Of the plants, and wages Of employees
were at the lowest possible point. One
of the greatest natural resources of the
state was being gradually dissipated,
without any adequate return to the
community. Today the condition is diff
ferent. The manufacturers are receiv-
ing a good return for their investment.
their employees are we'll paid, and in
return for the loss of its standing tim
Der a constant stream of wealth from
the markets Of the East Is enriching
the state.
In Oregon the hop farmers. who also
sell their product to large wholesalers
and not to the individual consumers,
have been forced by the exceedingly low
1tro IN, 10 ttaf~ hy
the terms of which none of their crop
Ia to be sold In future below an agreed
price to be fixed by the governing body
Of the association. Strong attempts are
being made to extend the same combi-
nation to include the hop growers of
Washington, or to form one on parallel
lines in this state. In California, several
associations OF fruit raisers have been
formed having for their object the
maintenance Of fair prices. the limita-
ton Of production and the doing away
with middlemen in the handling Of their
crops. Some of them have been notably
successful, and have resulted In their
members receiving living profit from
their crops. which heretofore had been
raised and sold on a bare margin above
cost. Movements are ON foot among
those who have the interests of the fruit
growers Of this state at heart to dupli-
cate these associations here.
Now any one who cares to look at the
matter dispassionately can readily see
the difficulty that lies In the framing Of
a statute which would curb the powers
and check the growth Of great monopo-
listie trusts. In esse or in posse, without
at the same time crushing the innocu-
Gus and beneficial combinations out
lined above. A definition OF trusts could
hardly be framed by statute which