Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-09

| ical and even beneficial results Of in
| dustrial evolution. In Germany espe-
| cially combination have fiourished, as
| the courts have held that agreements 10
| prevent undue competition and the cut
| ting Of prices to an unrenumeratlVe rate
are not Illegal as in restraint OF TRACE,
| but can be enforced thru the courts. In
| Austria popular feeling has been more
outspoken against combinations than
anywhere else in Europe, and Professor
jerks notes that the Austrian courts
have declared contracts among the diff
ferent parties to an industrial combina-
ton to be invalid. The state of popular
feeling In Austria has been such that
the ministry of trade and commerce re-
Gently appointed a special committee 10
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of legislation
on the general subject After year S
study the committee, in report which
Prof. jerks calls one Of the most I'M
portant ever issued on the subject. ex-
pressed the opinion that industrial
com binations are in the nature of per-
manent business organizations sulted
to the conditions Of the present day, ana
that, therefore. no attempt ought TO De
made to abolish them, but rather that
there should be given them legal recog-
milton and regulation" The recommen-
cations of the committee, summed up
briefly, are as follows;
81 The combinations to be recog-
nized as legal organizations and accord
ingly to be brought into legal form.
"2. Every combination to be obliged
to announce it's orga nization to Ou-
reau which is to be recognized as a 1u-
dicial body and which is to undertake
the registration of combinations.
20. The combination bureau, or court,
to act also as court of first instance
for the settlement of all disputes n the
field of private law which arise from
the existence and activity of the COM
binations.
"a. For the checking Of the moaopo-
listic tendencies arising from the iimi-
tation or destruction Of free competi-
ton. measures should be taken in the
field OF legislation on import duties. and
in connection with the rates OF freights
on government railroads. as we'll as by
the encouragement of associations (pre
sumably trade organizations OF various
kinds to oppose combinations.
"5. For the purpose of considering
and deciding upon the administrative
measures mentioned. there should be
created a monopoly and combination
council, which should be consultative
organ OF the ministry Of commerce.
&c. The government is formally
urged to work out bill IN accordance
with the principles suggested by the
committee on combinations, and to pre-
sent this to the committee for consider
alton"
Professor jerks commends the mod
GRAFTON Of these commentators,
which come, he says. from committee
which made more complete study OF
the subject than has been made by any
other body in the world, with the pos
slble exception of the United States IN
dustrial commission. In the countries
of Europe not mentioned by Professor
Jerks. there can be no doubt, ne pc
lieyes. that the appearance and devei-
opment OF the industrial combination
wait merely upon the growth OF the
manufacturing industry.
The London correspondent OF the New
YORK Commercial Advertiser, in an ar
ticle on trusts in Europe, agrees in the
main with the conclusions of Professor
Jenks. but he calls special attention TO
the fact that protective tariffs do not
seem to have been Of special signiti-
canoe in the formation Of Industrial
combinations in Europe, altho in many
cases the combination has been enabled
to take advantage Of the protective Tar
iff in the way OF securing hehef
prices' He says further:
I'm free-trade England the compina-
ton movement seems to have developed
considerably further than In protectloh-
list France; but, on the other mana, Tue
movement toward combination mas gone
much further in extent in Austria anu
Germany, both protectionist countries
than In England, altho In England the
form Of combination is generally more
complete.
The experience Of Europe in the mat
ter Of trade combinations, this writer
believes. would seem to justify the ioi-
lowing conclusions:
81 There, is relatively speaking, IT.
tie objection to combinations In europe,
and in some countries the government
and people seem to believe that tney
are needed to meet modern industrial
conditions. They do believe that they
should be carefully supervised by the
government and, II necessary, con-
trolled.
"2. There is little or no rellef that the
protective tariff is responsible for their
existence. 1t is known that they at
times use the tariff to keep their prices
higher than would otherwise be pos
sible. and that their export are OFTEN
lower than their domestic prices.
"3. Railroad Determinations nave
been practically abolished IN Europe,
and in consequence they have no enect
toward creating combinations.
a. The great degree Of publicity IN
the organization of corporations has
largely prevented the evils arising from
stock-watering, and has evidently hao
much effect in keeping prices steady
and reasonable and in keeping wages
steady and just.
80. There seems to be no inclination
toward the passage Of laws which shall
attempt to kill the combinations. That
ia believed to be impossible and unwise
Laws should attempt only to control,
and that apparently chiefly thru pub
licity. tho the government may be given
restrictive power in exceptional cases.
COUGHS AND COLDS IN CHILDREN
Recommendation Of Well Known Chi
! caqo Physician.