Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-03-21

binatiOns, the most conservative state
ment Of their capital being given:
Carnegie Steel company ny............. Sl6O 600 00O
federal Steel company. ............... S9.1i5.000
American Steel and Wire COMPANY. 9j,OJJ,OjO
National Tube company ............... eO,OJO,BJO
American Bridge company ............. 5O,G0J,G)0
National Steel company ............... 50 000,OO0
American Sheet Steel company y........ 40 OOO, 900
American Tin Plate company .......... 1926, 600
American Steel Hoop company........ 33,0OO,0G0
The combination of these concerns
iron and steel industry of the United
States. 1t need have no fear of sue
cessful rivalry, since it possesses ex-
traordinary facilities for crushing COM
petition. Its Ctganizers are the men
whose names are identified with recent
operations of magnitude in the railroad
world by which community of in
terest" has been established between
important transportation lines. These
gentlemen are also extensively engaged
in the coal business and, besides, con-
troll vast deposits of iron ore. They
hold in their hands the raw materials,
the facilities of manufacture and trans
portation and the control Of the mar
kets. If in their capacity as railroad
men they should kindly accord to them
selves in their capacity as producers Of
iron and steel the favor of discriminate
ing rates or if through their control Of
coal production they should lend to
their iron and steel business helping
hand, any attempt at competition
would be futile. Probably the worst
capitalistic abuse Of the present time is
the secret rebate, and it is matter of
public concern to know whether the
organizers of the United States Steel
company feel just adherence Of that
illegitimate and pernicious practice.
Since legislation has been quite unable
to check it in lesser and comparatively
insignificant corporations it will be diff
ficult indeed to reach this colossus if it
chooses to use its vast opportunities to
the public detriment. If it be content
to do a legitimate business in n legiti-
mate way, giving labor, which is the
most important factor in its opera.
tions, a just and equitable reward and
selling its products to the consumer at
q fair and reasonable margin of profit
above the cost of production and trans
portation the public can have no spe-
cial reason for quarrel with this great
est of all industrial combinations,
though there are many who will decry
as harmful to the public interests the
Capitalization in a single corporate
body of such vast elements Of power
and influences as are embodied in the
United States Steel company.
Testimony of Handwriting Experts.
The refusal of Justice Fursman to
permit handwriting expert to give to
the jury his opinion as to the author
ship of certain papers submitted by
the prosecution in the Kennedy MUIR
der trial in his court in New York
raises an important point in criminal
Jurisprudence and bears upon the
whole question of expert testimony as
we'll as the particular form Of testi-
mony covered by the ruling.
In the present instance it was sought
by the prosecuting attorney to identify
the defendant as the murderer by prov
ing by comparisons that he was the
writer of certain signatures found on
the person Of the murdered woman.
This method has heretofore been gen
orally permitted by the courts. JUS
tice Fursman, however, held the writ
ings offered for comparison were not
disputed writings, that they were not
In issue, not in controversy and that
expert testimony as to their authorship
could not be admitted unless they were
in dispute.
The effect of this ruling, If it should
be sustained by the court Of appeals,
will be to place much narrower limits
on expert testimony in New York state
courts than now surround it, Indeed
1t would practically eliminate the testi-
mony of handwriting experts from the
majority of cases in which they have
been a considerable factor, at least in
the matter of occupying the courts
time and the expenditure of the pub
lies money. In so many cases have
these experts, apparently possessing
equal qualifications, been found to flat
ly contradict each other regarding any
given exhibit of penmanship that the
public and even the courts themselves
come to look with more or less dscred-
it upon this sort Of testimony. Ere
Quently the expert witnesses, whether
in the matter of handwriting, chenis-
try medicine or surgery, are inclined to
give purely eX parte testimony In be-
half of the party by whom they are
employed. Unquestionably there are
times in criminal cases when the opin-
ion of men trained In specialties Is
vital, but it would seem that in the
interest of justice and public econ
omy some change or limitation might
be put upon the prevailing system of
ex parte employment of experts. AS
Justice Fursman apparently brought
up the matter for the purpose Of hav-
ing the court of appeals pass upon IT
the final decree of that tribunal will be
awaited with interest
Delaware does not seem disposed TO
part with her unique mode of punish,
ment, the whipping post ana pillory
Early in the present session of the
state legislature a movement was made
to reduce the scope of their use. and
certain bills looking to that end were