The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-11
RECOMMENDATIONS OF INDUS
TRIAL COMMISSION.

The Industrial Commission has made
Its report and its recommendations may
thus be summed rp
l. Federal prosecution for violation OF
the anti-trust laws.
=. Uniform State legislation against
trusts and combinations in restraint OF
trade
3. Stringent Federal and State laws
n aking penal aud criminal rate discrim-
nation TO destroy local competition.
4. State legislation to prevent over
capitalization.
5. Publicity for corporations.
II these recommendations could bo car
ried out. there would be mighty rat
Ting Of dry bones among the monopoitsts.
but rs the monopolists control major
ity OF Congress they do not fear any
prosecution of present antitrust laws or
any stringent laws that will reach their
unlaVful practices. They have no fear
as long as men Like Hanna, who handles
their contributions. is in power in the
dominant national party and the Federal
Judiciary Is packed with men named by
them.
The most important thing about the
report OF the Industrial Commission,
however. is the minority report prepared
by Mr. Thomas W. Phillips. of New Cas-
tie, Pa. a former member Of Congress,
minority report. which is admirably
summed up by the Baltimore Sun. Mr..
illina concurs in the general recon-
: hsIt - 9"r''sai0n, but de-
oIarcs that 49, f is not sufficiently
specified to serve as a guide for Con-
gless and the State Legislatures. He
says that no fault can be found with
any combination OF capital intended to
secure the advantages which come from
perfect division of abor and the eco
nomical management OF business and
which do not aim at monopoly. These
arc necessary 10 industries growth. But
The vice and danger lie in the monopoly.
Mr.. Phillips makes this startling dccla-
ration
american railroads, whose monopoly
character Is daily becoming mere appar-
ent. are stocked and bonded for about
S-i,5J0,000 600. ard had ne earnings from
operation after paying taxes, 1900 1901, OF
$5Q7, 96e,710. This means that these Sc
rurities are today worth in the market
ever $4,000 ,000. 900. If we add TO this
the $1,000 9G0. 900 of water. gas, electric
light. street railway and telephone secur-
tiles, probably worth that much in the
riartet and the s.. 600. GEO 600 OF securities
Of our largest so-called trusts. 20 say
nothing of the tex graph. there looms up
a valuation of Industries moret OF. less
r,onopolistic in character Of $1,000, 900
600. or probably e-ffth Of what the
present census will find to be The esti-
mated true value of all property in this
country This mcpopolistic growth has
comc about almost entirely since 1850
Mr.. Phillips proceeds to convict ont Of
thoir own mouths the heads Of many
mcnopcles in the United States who
gave testimony before tho commission.
he adds
''Fror the investigation of the COM
mission, il is apparent that the most
Iotent factor in establishing and main
tanning monopoles has been preferen
tal or discriminating rates of freight bs
common carriers given by rebates or
otherwise. One of the oldest monopolies,
though not nomirally in the hands of a
single corporation or trust, is that which
controls anthracite coal. This business
furnishes p conclusive proof of the power
Of tho railroads through discriminating
rates to establish monopoly. Tie facts
with respect 10 his have been very clear
t. brought out in the report OF the COM
mission Mr. H. G. Brooks. an ip1epepG-
ont coal operator OF Pennsylvania. testi-
fos thar AZ O00. 600 tons CT anthracite coal
are Yearly carried by rail to market
81 tnree-fourths cent rer ton per mile
in excess Of the rates charged for car
ryinr hitutrinous coal. This is 32c,50o
Per milo Of excess charge for the year.
Ifoluct or 1852 500 annually for the
average haul of Ia miles 10 the general
market or bver 81 q ton. This over
charge. which is greater every year than
the interest on our national debt. is made
Possible By The railroad monopoly. now
trphonously called community of inter
cfts. ard by the limited area OF the
iarJ-coal supply. ~ discriminating
against independent operators the rail-
roads haze forced them 10 SCI, their
property. until at the present time more
than nirc-tenths of the anthracite coal
drpoeifs Is owned and more than three
fourths Of be entire yearly proinct Is
mined by eight lines Of railroad thai
arc SUBSTANTIALLY IN entire union OF In
terest'
Mr.. Phillips quotes from a report made
by Senator'S Cullo'n. Miller. Q. II. Plat,
.Corman and Harris to the Forty ninth
Congress to show that the practice OF
discriminating rates prcTails e generally
that Il has rome to be tlnierstood
among business men tibet the published