Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-01-10
PRESIDENT ON TRUSTS.
Statement by Roosevelt Points On
Some Evils and Remedies

Statement by Roosevelt Points Out
Some Evils and Remedies.
President Roosevelt has made known
the attitude of his administration regard
ing trusts and combinations. A state
ment which follows closely the recon-
mendations made by Attorney General
Knox to the judiciary committees of the
Senate and the House was given out at
the White House and is as follows:
The people do not desire the business of
the country to be interfered with beyond
the regulation necessary to control combl-
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
If competition is kept free.
Small enterprises have certain advan-
tages over large combinations and will live
and thrive If assured of an open and fair
field. Rebates and discriminatory rates con-
stitute one of the chief restrictions on COM
petition. They unjustly swell the earnings
Of favored concerns and, supporting a vast
volume of capital stock which represents
nothing but unfair advantage over rivals,
contribute largely to the upbuilding Of mo-
nopoly.
The administration recommends immedi-
ate legislation:
Interstate trade be made offenses to be en-
Joined and punished
Such legislation to be directed alike
against those who give and those who re-
ceive illegal advantages, and to cover dis
elimination in prices as against competitors
in particular localities resorted 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 be given power
to restrain such TRANSPORTATION at the gov
ernment'S suit.
Such legislation is necessary because the
existing interstate commerce law does not
give an 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 a penalty upon carrier and benefci-
airy alike and by giving to the courts the
right to reStrai6 all such infractions 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 a rail and water line
as one line are required to publish their
rates and adhere to them. 1t is imprac-
ttc3ble to control lines operating wholly by
water Rates of water transportation are
necessarily open to the freest competition,
are invariably low by comparison and thus
naturally furnish the standard of reason
ableness without express regulation.
1t should be made unlawful to transport
traffic by carriers subject to the interstate
commerce act at a less rate than the pub
lished rate. and all who participate in VIC
lating the law should be punished.
Provision should also be made to reach
and combinations which pro-
duce wholly within State, but whose prod
ucts enter interstate commerce. This pro-
vision should relate, first, to concerns which
fatten on rebates, second to concerns which
sell commodities below the general price
In particular localities or In any other way
In particular localities seek to destroy com
DetifiOu