The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-10
In the business World.

The business world has gone ten days
into the new year, without the develop
ment of any important new factor bearing
upon the prospect for the period to come.
The year opens as many good year has
opened, without anything especially graft
flying in the results of the first week. We
are near the end Of the breathing spell,
the period of quiet and dullness that usu-
ally follows the close OF year. In a few
days we shall break out of this and start
in again with renewed vigor, and the COM
mercial reports will show general bust
ness more active and of increasing VOL
une.
But if the first few days of the year
have developed no adverse feature it does
not follow that there are no uncertain
elements in the view. Three great ques-
lions came over from the old year.
The commission Of inquiry into the an
thracite strike has not yet reached any
conclusion.
The great principles involved in the
suits against the Northern Securities COM
pany remain unsettled.
The trust question is in the foreground
and tn the field Of national politics the
subject Of the regulation Of trusts has as
sumed position of the greatest promin-
ence. To anyone who followed the chang
ing tenor Of public sentiment during the
old year, it must have been evident that
the trust question would enter more into
affairs in 1908 than ever before. 1t has
been argued that any move against the
trusts means general business disturbance,
This may be so, but it is probably not true
to the extent that the opponents Of the
more passive policy would have the public
believe. The administration is manifestly
determined that there shall be action
conservative but effective-which shall
put some curb upon the encroachment of
giant corporations upon the rights Of the
people, and is willing to put the country
to the inconvenience of the accompanying
nodicum of business disturbances, if any
progress can be made in the penetration
of the mystery that shrouds the opera
lions of many of the great industrial in
corporations. At this writing there ap-
pears the possibility that the trust regula
ton bills now before congress may be held
up indefinitely, and that the first move
for a, remedy for trust evils may take the
form Of commission Of inquiry to report
to the fifty eighth congress Should this
happen the trust question AS a possible
adverse influence will be put over an.
other year.
We find with us also the two great dis.
turbors. the car shortage and the fue
shortage. The railroads are In little bet.
ter shape perhaps than at the worst time
OF last year, but shippers Of grain an6
lumber are complaining of the inadeouac,
Of the SERVICE. - z
The fuel situation, too, so far from i'm
proving. has reached a very serious stage
and during the week it has been broueh1
home to Minneapolis that her grea,
manufacturing interests may be serio,1sl;
crippled if conditions do not improve
later on.
We are in a period of seasonable ath
er and there Is no complaint heard from
the retailers The old stories of bad con
ditions for numbering operations that wer,
heard through succession OF open win
tiers. are missing this year. The broa,
field of the worlds finance presents on
very important influence. 1t is found tina
in 1902. the worlds production Of col,
amounted to $500, GOO, 900, notwithstanding
conditions in the, early part that seeme
to make new record improbable. Thi
production of gold exceeds that of the pre-
yious year by $4,000. 900. and if this rati