The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-12-26
HARRISBURG, W. VA, DEC. 20, 1908.
THE EDK1Ns LAW INDICATED.

1t must be gratifying to West vir.
ginia to realize that, through its senior
senator, there has been put upon the
statute books of the United States a
law which has accomplished more rem
edy the evil of trusts and monopolies
than any other statute enacted up to
the present time by congress. During
the Fifty-seyenth congress more so-called
antitrust bills were introduced than in
any period Of the nations history. Many
of these bills received the endorsement
OF the leading journals OF the country,
even the president and his cabinet be.
came sponsors for some of the meas.
ures introduced.
Senator Elkins, after carefully survey.
ing the field, with an intimate knowl.
edge of business relationship, the rights
of corporations and the rights Of the
people, carefully studied the chief meth.
DDS by which it was proposed to cure the
evils that had grown up. His study re-.
suited in the writing of the so.caled
Blkins bill, designed to make illegal the
giving and taking of rebates and the
practicing of determinations by railroads
and transportation companies. The bill
effected alike with its penalties the rail
roads and their officials and the ship.
pers.
When the bill was completed and
shown to the president and his advisors
it was decided that it was so complete
and world reach SO effectively the inius
tice Practiced. This view became 50 pre-
valent that all other legislation in this
direction was set aside and the Elkins
bill was agreed upon as being all that
was necessary, and ample under exist.
ing conditions. This measure has been
in operation barely nine months and the
interstate commerce commission, in its
report Just published, states that next
to the fundamental law, upon which the
commission itself is based, this Elkim,
law is the most important on the stat.
ute books in connection with the rcyu.
aHtion of commerce and the restraint of
trusts.
The New York Sun, in its editorial col.
umns of the 22nd of December. speaks Of
this law as follows:
"rhe power of congress to legislate is
fully exercised in the interstate commerce
law as now enlarged and strengthened
by the Elkins bill. This is an nppro.
pirate exercise of the federal authority
and affords ample protection against any
discrimination by the railroads or any
violation of the public's rights in inter.
state commerce, no matter whether the
shares of the railroads are held by one or
by a Thousand different owners"
Even in such case as the celebrated
Northern Pacific merger suit, the Elkins
law is considered by the highest author
titles to provide ample protection to ship.
ping interests. 1t compeis the railroad
to publish a tariff of rights and TO en-.
force the same without discrimination
or change.
1t is absurd to suppose that any two
railroads running to the same points
would publish a tariff that differed as
regards rates. The competition would
come in when the business of large
shipper was solicited. Then the rates
would naturally be cut to secure it.
The Elkms law effcctually prevents
this being done. This being the case.
what sense is there in the suit against
the Northern Securities company, because
it has the power to prevent competition,
when the government, by the Elkins law,
has already brought about this resultY
This brief review of the effect Of the
Elkins law is sufficient TO indiacte the
Craftsmanship Of our senior senator.
Nothing has been accomplished through
congressional action in the past ten years
which sarPasses the beneficial effects OF