Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-14
PRESIDENT ON TRUSTS.


Statement by Roosevelt Points Out
Some Evils and Remedies.
President Roosevelt has made known
the attitude of his administration regard
ing trusts and combinations. \ state
ment which follows closely the recon-
mendations made by Attorney General
Knox to the judiciary committees Of the
Senate aud the House was given out at
the White House and is as follows:
The people do not desire the business Of
the country 10 be interfered with beyond
the regulation necessary to control combt-
nations where they act Improperly and TO
correct any tendency toward monopoly. In
this country, where money IS cheap and
abundant and within The reach of keen and
capable men. monopoly viii be impossible
If competition Is kept free
Small enterprises have certain ndvGu
tages over large combinations and will i ge
and thrive if assured Of an open and fair
field. Rebates and discriminatory rates con
stltute one of the chief restrictions ON com
petition. They unJustly swell the earnings
Of favored concerns and. supporting vast
volume Of capital stock which represents
nothing Int unfair advantage over rivals,
contribute largely to the upbuilding OF mo
nopOly.
The administration recommends immedi-
ate legislation:
That ali discriminatory practices affecting
interstate trade bc made offenses to ne en-
joined and punished.
Such legislation to he directed alike
against those who give and those who re-
ceive Illegal advantages and to cover dis
elimination In prices rs against competitors
In particular localities res0rtrd TO for the
purpose of destroying competition.
In order to reach producers guilty OF
these offenses who are as producers merely
beyond national control penalty should
be imposed upon the interstate and foreign
transportation Of goods produced by them.
and federal courts should he given power
TO restrain such transu rtation at the gov
ernment's suit.
Such legislation is necessary because the
existing interstate commerce law does not
give au effective remedy In this class of
cases against either shipper or carrier.
The casuS omissus In the Interstate com
merce act should now be supplied by i'm
posing penalty upon carrier and benehci-
arg alike and by giving Ia the courts the
right to restrain all such lnfraetiOns of the
law.
The prohibition against carriers should
be limited to those subject to the act to
regulate commerce Only carriers operating
line Of railroad or rail and water line
as one line are required to publish their
rates and adhere 10 them. 1t is irprac-
tlcable to control lines operating wholly by
water. Rates uf water transportation are
necessarily open 20 the frPest competition
are Invariably low by comparison and thus
naturally furnish he standard of reason
.hleness without express regulation.
II should be made unlawful Ia transport
traffic by carriers subject Ia the Interstate
commerce act nj a less rate than the pub
lishcd rate and all whn participate in VIC
latng the law shoUd hr punished.
Provision should also he made to reach
corporations and combinations which pro
luce wholly within state but whose prod
ucts enter Ia -ersiate commerce. This pro-
vision should rlate. first. to concerns which
fatten ON rehates. Second to concerns which
sell commodities below the general plice
in particular localities or la any other guy
in particular localities seek to destroy com