The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-01-15

WELD the oppression may become un-
bearable. This tendency has become 80
marked. and the evils resulting there
from 80 patent, that II has led to much
national and State legislation on the
subject. but In most instances TO no
avail. Combinations csa stii! forming
and those already In existence are be-
coming more powerful. The tendency
towards GENERALIZATION OF. wealth is be-
coming more marked every day. The
trust Is seeking 70 control every line
of Industry and capitalistic monopolies
are becoming too powerful.
II Is only recently. however that the
trust has Invaded the borders OF this
State. but at present II is active in
seeking to gain control OF the supply
OF those commodities In which 1t deals
In 1897 the general assembly Of South
Carolina passed an net 30 prohibit
trusts and combinations and to pro-
vide penalties and at your last ses-
sion joint resolution was passed d.
rectinS that the attorney general Of the
state be required to forthwith insti-
tute an investigation to determine by
what authority the Virginia Carolina
Chemical company is doing business in
this State" and whether said COM
pany or any person or corporation who
may be engaged in any business with
In this State has violated tor is vio-
lating the provisions Of the laws Of
this State prohibiting trusts and COM
binations." and directing him to In
stitute such proceedings as might be
necessary to punish violatOrs OF said
laws against trusts and combina tons
Proceeding under these Instructions
given him by you, the attorney general
instituted thorough Investigation to
determine whether this company Is en-
titled to do business In this State under
these laws Of tho State prohibiting
trusts and combinations" a full and
elaborate report, showing the work he
has done and his plans, will be submit
ted to you, In the beginning he calls
attention to the difficulties he had to
encounter. The antitrust laws have
only recently been enacted in this
country. and especially In this State.
and are not fully developed. On the
other hand they are as yet embryonic
and chaotic in some parts being too
sweeping and In others not covering
the entire ground. These combinations
are organized secretly, and 1t is a most
difficult matter to obtain definite infor-
nation in regard to their formation
and the purposes for which they are
organised. and definite information
tion in the Courts. II an unlawful
omoination exist 1.-The proof of the
facts tending to establish it's existence
is locked up in the RECORDS OF the par
ticipating corporations AS you will
see from the attorney generals report.
difficulties of this kind are the ones
that confronted him in his every move.
Especial attention Is called to the de-
fects in laws of this State regulating
corporations. 1t has been the tendency
In this State to give corporations al
most unlimited powers, such as the
estate" "the power to acquire and
transfer shares of stock in other cor
pOra tions," "the power to place under
mortgage or deed of trust its fran
chises, as we'll as all or any of its
property, When foreign corporation
requirements, which provisions and
requirements amount to little or noth-
ing, it shall enjoy the rights of do
nestle corporations" In short. the
tendency in this State has been to
give corporaAaons the same power to
TO the private individual. This prin-
ciple Is wrong. Corporations are crea-
lures Of the State, created by the State
mot as concession Of a right, but as
a favor bestowed and as such crea-
lures the State has a right to inquire
acting business, and when 1t is Salts
fed their methods are such as are not
conducive to the welfare Of q majOrity
Of the people,. then that State which
created them has the right to put them
out of existence. E
The attorney general suggests several
amendments to our existing antitrust
laws and the enactment OF several new
laws. He has made a. thorough in
vestiga tion of this question os cOntroll-
ing the trusts and his excellent report
shows much study and care In It's
preparation: It is worthy your most
careful and thoughtful consideration
and my purpose is simply to direct your
attention ito that report,
RAILROAD COMMISSION
The ANNUAL report Of the board of
railroad, commissioners for the year
just closed is one of the most COM
plete that has been issued from this
department. Thirty-nine (39) miles of
new mileage have been built and
opened for traffic during the year. The
commission has had many important
and. difficult problems with which to
deal. offecting both the. railroads and
the people. The solution of these prob
lens, as well as the condition ;of the
railroads in the State, Is fully stated
in the report Of the board. and your
attention is directed to this report for
, Information cCncerning this depart
ment of the State government.
STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE IN
SANE.
The constant accumulation of the In
sane in asylums has been one OF the
most startling features In the history
Of the great charities of the acentury
just closed, these great asylums being
at once the pride of the humanitarian
and a stumbling block to the legisla-
tive economist.
In origin our State hospital dates
among the very first. and 1t is. now
entering upon the S0th year of its ex-
istence. Although unfortunately To-
Gated within a city. when 1t should
have been long since removed to the
country. It has fulfilled Its important
mission in our commonwealth sand
given shelter to over 10000 inmates.
During the past year the admission OF
469 patients has been the largest In the
history Of the institution.
The growth of the hospital during the
lest quarter Of O century. and especial
ly during the last decade has been q