The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-17
A Simple Remedy for Trust Evils
XX ~ HOPE that every readrr
N Of The Tribune rrud care
fully the speech Of Attur-

M Of the tribune read care
fully the speech of Attur-
n-y General Knox on
trusts, in Wednesdays issue. The
strike. il j. true, has left the most Of
us little leisure for other subjects Of
reflections: but while ii il temporary
and now apparently solved. the prob
lem discussed by the chief OF th. fed
-ral department Of justice is likely to
remain with us for many years and to
affect the American people ut many
points Of contact. What h- said about
ii is. therefore,. Of more liiuu transient
interest.
EN this time We all know pretty we'll
what the evils of trusts are 1t does
not take much intelligence 10 enable Il
man to that gigantic stock water
ing The attempt TO add Two To Two so as
10 make tiv- six or ten. is Il business
wrong, the penalty of which may not
fall OH The promoter. hut sooner or
later is sure tu fall heavily upon The
public. Then, too. the ust. OF CONNER
rial power to hitcOnp-titors below the
belt; the srasping Of unfair udvan-
tag-s. either by rebates in transportu.
iiOn or through the corrupt manipula-
ton OF legislatures Or by other unrisht-
eous Ways: in short the neglect or de-
ianre rf public interest and public
equity--:ll these evils are apparent and
do not need 10 be argued.
The merit Of Attorney General iiuox's
speech was that he pointed out II very
simple and Immediately available rem-
edy--unr that can be put into operation
whenever majority In congress 50
elects. To state his remedy in the
simplest possible language without
technical ubscurilieS. it is this: con-
sress under the constitution has power
10 regulate commerce between Or
among the states Congress. for -X-
ample, now says that lottery tickets
shall not go through the mails or be
carried by an interstate carrier. Why?
Because they are deemed injurious 10
the public interest and contrary to pub
lie policy. 50 with poisuns aud -Nplo-
siveS. the carriage Of which Is either
prohibited Dr safesuurded Congress-
The attorney general claims, on the
same ground can pass :; law saying
that Whenever shipper shall br proved
10 have committed one or more of the
evils previously referred 10. lie must
SIOp ii and make amends or have the
door 10 Interstate commerce closed in
his face, In other words, congress can
say that no trust, corporation, uSSuriu-
llun firm or individual shall be- permit
ted 10 use the mails or the rails 10 do
an INJURY 10 the American people.
In the part ut Mr., knuX's spr-ch
which We printed IN yesterdays issue
there il II clear statement uf what the
present administration has done To en-
force existing laws on the subject Of
trusts. "Hy their fruits Ar shall know
them: AMI the fruits of Republican
administration, largely owing la Theu-
lurc Ruosrvrlt, are already a courage
uus enforcement NJ laW such us has
not been known before. with The prom
iSe of additional results when congress
shall cluthe the executive with in
this good work Is 10 eject ii Republican
congress. In this county the way Ia
show appreciation of President RouSr-
velt's course is 10 vote for Congress
man Connell and he entire Rrpubli-
can ticket.