The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-07

tue production OF books, papers, etc
These recommendations are based on the
central thought that the nrst step should
DC taken by law aimed at what are GER
taIhly known TO be unreasonable practices
directly restrictive OF freedom Of com
merce, and by a law securing some govern
mental supervision MS outlined above.
special act should he passed nt once TO
speed the final decision Of eases pekdlng
or to be raised under the present anti trust
law. providing for the hearing Of suchfcnses
by fun bench OF circuit Judges and
direct appeal from the circuit courts to the
supreme court Of the United States.
LETTERS FROM KNoN.
Attorney General Knox hns addressed
| Identical letters to Senator Hcar. chairman
Of the senate Judiciary committee aud Rep
resentatlyc Littledcld. chairman Of tho sub.
committee Of the house Judiciary committee,
giving his views on the subject Of trust.
| These letters are In reply to communica
tions sent him by Senator Hoar aud MIR
littleGeld, asking the Views OF Mr. Knox
The letters embrace three subjects, the
questions which have been decided 10y the
courts the questions which are pending in
the courts and suggestions respecting
further legislation Under the latter hcnd
I MIR. Knox says On view OF the wide OK
perience Of the committee in dealing lcgis
lntiycly with legal aud economic questions,
I venture upon the line OF suggestion with
much hesitation and feeling that the ut
most the committee desires IN this respect
/ Is that some concrete thing he SGT down
that may bc considered. ia connection With
other views that may be presented as TO
what must he done in the short period 81,
low ed for consideration. during the lifc OF
this present congress think II proper
! enough to briefly premise such suggestions
rs | shall make for Immediate action by a
statcmcn. OF some Of the reasons upon
which they are bnscd.
"Thc end desired by the overwhelming
majority OF the people OF Mi sections Of tue
country is that combinations az capital
should he regulated aud not destroyed, aid
that measures should he taken 10 correct
! tho tendency toward monopoiautlou OF the
/ industrial busipcss Of the country as
I sumo "A fling 70 he avoided. oven b. sus
/ ccstiou is legislation regulating ibr huf'
lucss interests ~ the country beyond such az
win accomplish this end.
( In my judgment n mouonoly 10 any IN
dusty would be impossible In this country.
where money Is shuudnnt and cheap ana in
( the hands az within tho roach of kocr aud
/ capable men. II competition were assured ~
fair aud open aeld and protected against
unfsir and discriminating practices
! Two or more persons mr. corporations
can not. by any combination or arrangement
! between themselves, either contract or eS-
pand the rights Of others 10 engage
in similar business. The utmost they
can do is TO discourage the disposition TO do
so by restricting the opportunities, or by
/ securing to themselves some exclusive taciil-
/ Ties or the enjoyment Of some common IA
cilties upon exclusive terms.
SELF. EVIDENT TRUTH.
'If the Inv will guarantee TO the smaller
! producer the protection against plratica'
/ methods IN competition aud keep the high
ways to the market open and available 10
hin. for the seme tolls charged his power
! ful competitor. he viii manage 10 live and
/ thrive 20 an astonishing degree
"Indiyiduaiism In production has lis adj
vontages as well as combination. Smnll ln-
| diyidual enterprises not uncommoniy sprlnS
nm and thrive within the SHADOW Of the
/ larger ones, though enjoying none OF thelr
| spnnosed advantages Of control Of sources
4
facilities. vet realizing large profits per
| ton OF output because OF the close econo-
mics nossibIc through direct personal man
/ agrmen.,'
! Mr. Knox suggests legislation directed
/ oeoipst those who give and receive I'D
/ yantages enabling discrimination IN prices
/ as against competitors This took the form
J OF penallzug the transportation OF goods
] "A tho
mower 10 restrain such transportation, He
/ suyB the present Inv IS NOT sufficient t'
meet existing conditions The operation Of
| any law on the subject. he thinks. should
be limited to common carriers, subject To-
the act to regulate commerce.
An additional provision should be made,
he says. 60 reach corporations, combinations
ana associations which produce and manu-
facture wholly within q state, but whose
nroducts or sales enter into interstate conf
mercc. All should relate 6rst to such con
Germs M fstteu on rebates in transpotta
ton. and secoud, 10 concerns which sell
below the general price of commodity, or
uontoply seek 10 destroy competition.
A comprehensive plan should be framed
TO enable the government 10 get at all the
facts bearing on the Organization and prac-
II
foreign commerce essential 10 a fun un-
derstanding and 10 compel observation OF
the law. lie recommended commission
TO aid in carrying out the act Of July 2
1890, which shall make an investigation
into the operations OF corporations and com
binatlons with authority 20 make such In
quiries anu have power 70 require reports
from them aud their officers.
No person should be excused from pro-
duclng books. contracts, etc, in courts. Con.
tlnuing, Mr. Knox says;
Legislation TO correct 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 hurry the
| decisions in cases now pending under the
antitrust ia"' ------'--s-',e---~~,- ~