Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-06
The Trust Problem.

making a bad matter worse. The
hopeful phase Of the situation is that
the great thinkers of our time are get
ting at the matter. and getting at 1t III
a practical manner. Not all trusts are
bad and none are so bad as the dema-
gogues paint them: yet. on the other
hand. no intelligent citizen can De
blind to the danger that is latent IN
such combinations.
But how shall they be dealt with and
controlled? A bill is now before CON
gress providing for the amendment of
the constitution 50 that Congress shall
have full power to deal with trusts.
They cannot be effectively handled by
the state Legislatures and Congress
would not have power without con-
gressionai amendment. A few states
have passed laws against the abuses of
trusts. but most states have few or no
laws on she subject. Some states. like
Maine. have an antitrust law that has
not been heard Of since its enactment.
Uniformity Of legislation among the
states would accomplish much the same
end as national legislation, but uni
formity is as impossible in this as it is
reduce or abandon all tariffs on articles
that are the subject of monopolies.
This would be a blow u some of the
trusts, but it would fail to reach many
of them, and it would accomplish much
more evil than good. in other lines.
In his message to the NV York
cussed the trust problem in an illumi-
mating manner, pointing out that
war upon the abuse Of capital is re-
quired not war upon capital. He in
sisted that the first essential is more
knowledge Of the facts by the public
and less blind rant whenever the word
trust" is mentioned. He said:
The chief abuses alleged to arise
from trusts are probably the following:
Misrepresentation OF concealmcnt rc-
garding material facts connected with
the organization Of an enterprise; the
evils connected win unScrupuluus pro-
l,,,,,,i,i.,,, ,.,s,,Itin,, ~, t1,.. .,,,-J,i,,e
,.,.-,....;t.,,.. It'll .t,.-,.,....I,-,.. ii
,,,t Ill, t,,,,,,t...,.l,.. ,..,i.ir.. .'g ,,,.;c,.
,,t.,.| r.i, ,..,,,,,..,..;,.'. r....... rn..
,,.:.I5i,,e- IN i,,.,..,....i ,,,,.., n,.-r ANN
wa-,. oarucrs wa should know
autho"italiNely whether stock repre-
SCENTS actual Nalut M plants mi
,..ii. =. ,i,... ...,,,..1,,,.
if anythin. il is desirable. 10 know
HON much WAY actually bought how
much was ISSUED Tree. ana I" whom;
ai't = possi''lr III II ,',.
,,,bIir have - rigbt ia .vnac- IN III.
way of service and taxation Where a |
trust becomes monopoly the state
mas an lliiileuld'c i'S"' 10 iIltei i''' J.
ATS SHouIu -. 'dhtH h"' m S'I'ir III
tefpflSt 81 ulScl"Se any ldc'S ~ Z puSl-
ness lhdI are oS7'"''dilH Iil az p"'
ne Sldle' I"E tie Pi"leo I'll 81 lHt pun
H'' SIl"uld eAtI clS' I"t liIlt n lit
9petl' 10 fA"l'lIh' 'il'i '"9AlS an t"'
IhliSS ~ SIcdt ~ ~ 'li'iS' JUS =
II now zone Win pdilhS, aHp Wherever
the interests "i th' pu"Iic utilidHu H. |
II Sh"uld pupilSh tAe IeSul'S Oh lls eN-
ANIMATION. lheh' II lhere are lil"r-
dlnate prolltS competition OF punl'
sentiments VIII give the pupllc the |
benefit ~ lowered pfl'e; ana Il not thr
power OF taxation remains
Another recent utteranCe upon this |
.rtiac+ which il ,ttr.,,tina daeor,-ad |
at'ol'l'" - 'i' -" ''''''@9 ~
President Hadley Of Yale, on" OF IN" |
be st informed Of living men upon ths |
n,,t,.r tIo ,,,eii.r..d t,ust. in tb.ir
|
ii''i'i' f''i '''' ''
aspects. Ii" held that WhIl" personal
morality is higher in America than in |
E,naIona commercial ANA nnlitir1I |