The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-09
WAR OF THE PRESIDENT.
Against Discrimination in Fa-
vOr of Monopolfes.


In one of the earlier symposiums in |
which those who professed to know all |
about trusts exchanged misinforma
ton one man, who was conspicuous for
speaking with caution, remarked that |
the determinations of railroads in ia
vor of one competitor against others |
was one of the most prolific promoters
of harmful combina tons to control |
trade, says the Indianapolis Journal.
His observation did not attract much |
attention because he was not so IA
nous as other speakers. This was said
at time when railroad managers were
asserting that the rates which they
advertised were paid by all customers
shipping the same quality of goods.
AT the same time the interstate com
merce commission insisted that dis
elimination was practiced. The COM
mission complained of a lack of power
to stop it, and did very little else than
complain. Soon after Mr.. Roosevelt
became president the commission be-
gan to take testimony to prove that
| discrimination had been practiced.
Railroad managers We're called to Chi
cago to give testimony. To the sur
prise of the country, most of the man
ayers declared they had given rebates
| to large packing companies in Chi
cage, Kansas City and Omaha. 1t was
stated at the time that the increasing
exactions of the large packing compa-
| MES had become so burdensome that
{1,,
lation of the law in order t o put an end
/ to them. 1t seems from the evidence
| that several lines had been refunding
to the packing companies between Is
and 20 per cent. Of the amount paid
as freight. Even if the rebate were
/ half those figures a competitor which
did not have it could not do business.
Therefore it was an arrangement in
restraint of trade.
When this information was made
public President Roosevelt caused
suits to be begun to enioin the rail
roads from carrying freight for any
/ person for less than their advertised
rates and from making rebates to ship
pers. The railroads against which
such actions We're begun seem not to-
have made any opposition. This is fur
Their evidence that the railroads are
satisfied with any action which will
enable them to refuse the further ex-
actions of the packers. 1t is not too
much to claim that this important step
to break up the most effective form of
conspiracy would not have been taken
without the positive direction of the
president. Therefore. to President
Roosevelt is due the credit for putting
an end to the abuse of rebates in viola
ton of the interstate commerce law
The practice of discriminating in ia
vor of large shippers having been
stopped by the enforcement of the pro-
visions of the interstate commerce act.
the attention of the president was
called to the alleged beef trust, or
combination of packers. by the rise in
the prices of meats. Before dema-
gogues in congress had offered their
inadequate remedies President Roose-
welt caused the machinery Of the de-
partment of justice to be set in mo-
ton to investigate the policy pursued
by the large packing companies to as
certain if they We're violating the
Sherman antitrust law. Such evil
dence has been found and suits will be
instituted. The suits may not be sue
cessful. but the information which
they will give the public will throw
light upon what has been hidden for
years. If the packing companies have
conspired to stifle competition and to
control prices the people will know it.
and they also know that the penalties
of the law will be enforced If it shall
appear that there is no such combina-
ton the people will also know it,
Whatever those who rail against trusts
may say. and whatever remedies they
may advocate. the country knows that
the president is resolutely enforcing
the laws to prevent the restraint of
trade and that he has already accom-
plished much.