Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-04

and cured meat industry of the country.
Those fusions, though contrary to law, had
prevailed unchecked for so many years
that they had become intrenched in and
interviewer with the commercial life OF GER
tain large distributing localities; although
this was. of course. at the expense of the
vast body of law-abiding merchants, the
general public and particularly Of unfavored
localities.
under those circumstances 1t was a
serious problem TO determine the wise
course TO follow in vitalizing a law which
had In part become obsolete or proved in
capable OF enforcement. OF what the at
torney general did in inforcing it l shall
speak later. The decisions of the courts
upon the law had betrayed weaknesses and
imperfections, some of them so serious as
to render abortive efforts to apply any eff
fective remedy for the existing evils.
Congress, having its attention drawn to
the matter, enacted a most important
anti-rebate law, which greatly strengthens
the interstate commerce law. This new law
prohibits under adequate penalties the CIV
ing, the demanding or receiving of such
preferences and provides the preventive
remedy of injunction. The vigorous ad-
ministratlon of this law, and 1t will be en-.
forced, viii, 1t is hoped, afford a substantial
remedy for certain trust evils which have
|, attracted public attention and nave created
public unrest.
This law represents a noteworthy and
important advance toward just and effect
i've regulation Of transportation. More
over, its passage has been supplemented by
the enactment OF a law to expedite the
hearing of actions OF public moment under
the antitrust act, known as the Sherman
law. and under the act to regulate com
merce. at the request Of the attorney gem
eral; and furthermore, additional funds
have been appropriated to be expended I'M
der the direction OF the attorney general in
the enforcement OF these laws.
administration All Important.
"All Of this represents a great and sub
stantial advance in legislation. But more
important even than legislation is the ad-
ministration OF the law, and l ask your at
tention for a moment to the way in which
the law has been administered by the pro-
found jurist and fearless public servant
who now occupies the position OF attorney
general. Mr., Knox.
The first step taken was the prosecution
OF fourteen suits against the principal rail,
roads OF the middle west, restraining then
by injunction from further violations Of
either of the laws in question.
About the same time the case against
the Northern Securities company was in
itiated. This was a corporation organized
under the laws Of New Jersey With a cap
ital OF $500, 600, 900, the alleged purpose be-
ing to control the Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific Railroad companies, two
parallel and competing lines extending
across the northern tier OF states from the
| AE4--g--4.z4 -. ~ DaaNA, NWkaNav4aH 49,
purpose its contamination would have re-
suited in the control Of the two great rail
way systems upon which the people OF the
northwestern states we're so largely de-
pendent for their supplies and TO get
their products TO market being practically
merged into the New Jersey corporation,
The proposition that these independent
systems OF railroad should be merged IN
der a single control alarmed the people
OF the states concerned. lest they be sub
| iected to what thay deemed q mnnnpolY ei