Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-23
Towner and Babcock Say Mer-
ger Decision Delighted the
People of the West
WILL STOP MANY COMBINES
MonopoIies in Process of Forming Will
Be More Wary of Their Proposed
Violation of the Sherman Antitrust
Act-steamship Combine May Be
Affected.

.tives Tawney of Minnesota and Bah
cock of Wisconsin, who came to the
capital today, both represent the west
ern people as well pleased with the de-
cision against the Northern Securities
company.
The people of the west said Mr..
ion of the court in the Northern Secur-
tiles case, and regard it as u substan-
tial victory of the law over the trusts.
Naturally President Roosevelt gets d
great deal of credit, because he initia-
ted the prosecution.
Il may add that the republican party
in for some of the credit. 1t
would appear, from the loud outcries
in trust quarters, that somebody is do
ing business, and that somebody is the
Republican party, as the people under
stand it.
THE west Is in good shape politically
industrially, and financially. Prosper
ity is still at high tide, and it looks as
if h crest has not yet been reached.
Representative Babcock said:
at means that while the country is
advancing commercially and industri-
ally the courts are keeping progress
with that growth. This is a healthful
development. 1t was necessary that
some restrictions and bounds need be
placed o the tendency to consolidate
everything, and this decision is the
first step in the right direction.
1T would only have been Il matter of
a very short time until all the steam
ship lines would have been brought I'M
der n management for the purpose of
controlling traffic and eliminating
healthful competition. AS / under
stand the decision, this steamship mer-
ger will not be allowable in the face OF
the recent decision. Undoubtedly
there are other phases of the law for
the regulation of interstate commerce
which have not been touched by the
present decision. but which may be
called into operation should an attempt
be made to reach the merger idea in
some other form.
Il can see nothing IN the decision
which, when its effect is fully demon
strated, will cause any injury what
ever to the proper development Of
industries in n way. but,
on the other hand, it strikes ME IT'S n
restriction to be placed at this
time on the seemingly prevalent idea
of combining for the purpose of making
money simply through the process of
to control and, eliminate
competition"
A report has been circulated that Mr..
Babcock came to Washington to use
his influence with Postmaster General
Payne to stop the p~ostoffice investiga-
ton. Mr.. Babcock a he has not
discussed that matter with Mr.. Payne
nor has he given any attention to the
investigation. having no constituents
in the diversion under investigation.
The report hal charges have been
preferred against First Assistant Post
General Wynne is denied. The
general has approved all
that Mr.. Wynne did while acting as
general, and he is not und,r
investigation.
Mr.. Bristow has called upon all the
of the country for reports
as to the amount of supplies furnished
them and the amount really needed.
This action has been taken in order
to get a clear idea as to the extravag-
ance in the supply division in purchas-
ing supplies not needed, and unloading
these on the postmasters regardless of
their acquisitions. This will involve a
great amount OF work and it will en-
able the department. to %reorganize the
divisions under investigation and es-
better methods to guard against
e-xtravagances# of that character.