Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-06
KNOX WRITES A LETTER
Identical Notes on Trust Ques-
ton Addressed to the Sen
ate and House
GIVE SMALL FRY FAIR FIELD
GIVE SMALL FRY FAIR FIELE
He Believes That Start Only Should
Be Tried at This session-With a
Fair Field and No Favors tndepend-
ents Will Thrive Because of Personal
Management.

Washington, Jan. 6.-Attorney Gen
leral Knox has addressed identical let
ters to Senator Hoar, chairman of the
senate Judiciary committee. and Repre-
sentative Littlefield, chairman of the
sub committee of the house judiciary
committee giving his views on the sub
|ject of trusts. These letters, in reply to
communications sent him by Hoar and
|Littlefield, asking his views, embrace
three subjects, questions which have
been decided by the courts. questions
which are pending in the courts and
suggestions respecting further leg ,sa-
ton. Knox suggested legislation d.
rected against those who give and re-
|ceive advantages enabling discrimina-
tion in prices as competitor. This is
to take the form of psnalizing the inn
portation of goods Federal courts
Should be given power to restrain such
transportation. He says the present
law is not sufficient TO meet existing
conditions. The operation and law on
the subjects. he thinks, should be linz
tied to common carriers subject to the
act to regulate commerce. An addi-
tional provision should be made to
reach corporations, combinations and
associations which produce and manu-
facture wholly within the state, but
whose products or sales enter inter-
state commerce. It should relate, first,
to such concerns as fatten on rebates
in transportation; second, to concerns
which sell below the general price of
the commodity, or want only to seek to
destroy competition. A comprehensive
plan should be framed to enable the
government to get at all the facts bear
ing upon the organization and practices
of concerns engaged in interstate and
foreign commerce essential to full
understanding and to compel observa-
tion fsthe law. He recommends a COM
mission TO aid in carrying cut the act Of
July 2, 1890, which shall make an in
vestigation into the operations of cor
porations and combinations, with au-
thority to make such inquiries and have
power to require reports from them and
their officers No person should be ex-
etc., In courts. Continuing Knox says:
Legislation to correct the trust
abuses should be developed with great
care, for it is not nearly so important
to act quickly as to act wisely"
He recommends legislation to hu-ry
final decision in the cases now pending
and which may be raised under the
trust law.
The attorney general proffered sug-
gestions. with his reasons upon which
they are based. Under the head of fur
ther Legislation Knox says: SIN view
of the wide experience d the committee
In dealing legislatively with legal and
economic questions / venture upon
line Of suggestion with much hesita-
ton and feeling that the utmost the
committee desires in this respect is
that some concrete thing be set down
that may be considered, in connection
with other views that may be presented.
as towhat might be done within the
short period allowed for consideration
during the life Of this present con-
gress."
The end desired by an overwhelming
majority OF the ppple of all sections
of the country is that combinations OF
capital should be regulated and not de-
stroyed, that measures should be taken
to correct their tendency towards mo-
nopolization of the Industrial business
of the country. TN my judgment, mo-
nopoly in any industry would be I'M
possible in this country, where money
is abundant and cheap and in the hands
or within the reach of keen and capable
men, IL competition were assured fair
and open field and protected against
unfair, artificial and discriminating
practices"
If the law will guarantee to the
smaller producer protection against
piratical methods in competition and
keep the highways to the market open
and available to him for the same tolls
charged to his powerful competitor he
will manage to live and thrive to an
astonishing degree. "Individualism in
production has it's advantages as well
as combination. The small individual
enterprises not uncommoniy spring up
and thrive within the shadow of larger
ones, tho enjoying none of their sup
,,osed advantages of control or the
sources of raw material, fuel and trans
rortation facilities, yet realizing large
r,rofit per ton of output because OIL
close economies possible thru direct,
narsonal and interested management.