The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-09
KNOX GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Addresses Identical Letters to Hoar ano
Littiefield on Trust Question.

Addresses identical Letters to Hoar ano
littlefeld on Trust Question.
Washington, Jan. S.-Attorney Gen-
eral Knox has addressed Identical let
ters to Senator Hoar, chairman of the
senate judiciary committee, and Rep
resentative Littlefield, chairman of the
subcommittee of the house judiciary
committee, giving his views on the h
subject of trusts These letters are In 7
reply to communications Sent him by ss
Hoar and Littlefeld asking his views.
The letters embrace three subjects ;s
Questions which have been decided by
the courts; questions which are pend
ing in the courts, and suggestions re-Sl
specting further legislation.
Knox suggests that legislation be di-s
rected against those who give and res
ceive advantages enabling discrimina-
tlon In prices as against competitors
This is to take the form of penaliZing 4
transportation Of goods. The federal
courts should be given power to re-
strain such transportation. He says
the present law is not sufficient to meet
existing conditions. The operation OF II
any law on the subject, he thinks
should be limited to the common car
riers, subject to an act to regulate com.YB
merce. ~
To Reach State Corporations.
An additional provision should bs5
made to reach corporations, comb bina-s
tions and associations which produce
and manufacture wholly within the
state, but whose products or sales en-
ter into interstate commerce. It
should relate first, to such concerns as
fatten on rebates in transportation; Sec-ss
ond, to concerns which sell below the
general price of a commodity, or Wan- I
tonly seek to destroy competition.
comprehensive plan should be
framed to enable the government td i
get at all the facts bearing upon the
organization and practice of concerns
engaged in interstate and foreign COM
merce essential to a full understanding.
and to compel observation of the law
Wants Commission.
He recommends commission to aid
in carrying out the act of July 2, 1890, A
which shall make an investigation into
the operations of corporations and
combinations, with authority to make
such inquiries and have power to re-
quire reports from them and their Of
fcers. No person should be excused
from producing books. contracts, etc,
in court. ltss
Continuing, Knox says:
Legislation to correct trust abuses
should be developed with great care. for
it is not nearly SO important to act quick
ly as to act wisely III
He recommends legislation to hurry
a final decision in the cases now pend-sS
ing and which may be raised under the
antitrust law.
The attorney general prefaces his.
suggestions with the reasons upon
which they are based. Under the head
Of further legislation, Knox says:
In view of the wide experience of the
committee in dealing legisatively with
legal and economic questions 1 venture
upon any line of suggestion with hesita-8f
ton and feeling that the utmost the COM
mittee desires in this respect Is that some
considered in connection @ith other views
that may be presented as to what mi 5ht 3
be done within the short period allowed
for consideration during the life OF this
present congress.
End Desired Is Regulation
The end desired by an overwhelming z
majority of all the people in all sections z
Of the country, is that combinations of
stroyed, and that measures should be
taken to correct the tendency toward
monopolization OF the Industrial business
In my judgment monopoly in any in
dustry would be Impossible in this country,
where money Is abundant and cheap, and
in the hands or within the reach of keen
and capable men, il competition were as
sured fair and an open field, and pro-
tected against unfair, artificial and dis
eliminating practices.
Ii the law will guarantee to the smaller
producer protection against piratical (
methods IN competition and keep the
highways. to market open and available b
to him for the same tolls charged to his
powerful competitor he will manage 10
live and thrive to an astonishing degree.
Advantages of lndvidualsn.
Individualism in productlon mas its ad-
vantages as well as combination. Small
individual enterprises not uncommoniy
spring up and thrive within the shadow
Of larger ones, though enjoying none OF
their supposed advantages of the control
of the sources of raw material, fuel and
transportation facilities, yet realizing a
large profit per ton of their output be-
cause of close economies possible through &
direct personal, interested management I'll