New-York tribune., 1903-01-07
KNOX'S TRUST VIEWS.
PRESENTED TO CONGRESS
Mann Members Predict -4nts- Trust
Legislation This Session.
TRy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

Washington Jan. 6-Attorney General Knox
to-day presented his views to Congress on the
| subject OF antitrust legislation in a pamphlet
| of forty-seven pages delivered simultaneously
| 10 the Senate and House Committees on the
judiciary The recommendations made, to-
| gether with the large number of antitrust
| measures which are pending before the commit
| tees, would to constitute ample material
! out of which antitrust legislation may be COM
| piled That antitrust legislation will be enacted
at the present session is the belief Of members
Of the House subcommittee on trusts and
this belief seems now 10 be shared by many
members OF Congress. Chairman Jenkins, who
takes the position that constitutional amend
nent is the only adequate remedy, declares that
he will not stand in the way, but will cheer
fully aid in getting a bill into the House. even
though it does not accord with his views. No
one except the members of the House sub-com-
mittee on trusts and the Senate judiciary Com
mttee is as vet familiar with the Attorney
Generals recommendations. After the meeting
OF the House Committee to-day, at which the
Knox report the sole topic discussed, Mr.
Iittlefield declared that the recommendations
throw valuable light the subject and are in
some instances new and in all cases practical
Mr. Overstreet, the ranking Republican men,
Der of the subcommittee, who has heretofore
been reported as against action Of any kind.
that he believed action against the trusts might
be taken at this session of Congress.
II believe that all of the authority given by
the constitution for the regulation of interstate
| commerce has not been exhausted he con-
| tinred and while that remaining may not be
! entirely adequate for the accomplishment of all
that some people think should be done, yet until
| I. has been used to its limit it seems TO me
no additional authority should be asked
PLEASED WITH KNoX'S REPORT.
REGARDING the report of the Attorney Cen
eral Mr. OTerstreet expressed himself as highly
pleased. The Attorney General has made four
| principal recommendations" he said. The first
two of these four are important, and the other
| two may be regarded subsidiary. The first
and important suggestion Is that all dis
criminatory practices affecting interstate trade
be made offences 70 be enjoined and punished,
| such legislation TO be directed alike against
| those who give and those who receive the ad-
| yantases to be made also to cover discrimina-
ton in prices against competitors in
| particular localities resorted to for the
| purpose of destroying competition IN inter
| state and foreign trade. The Attorney
| General says that II the corpora ton ana
| its officers could be effectively reached by
criminal proceedings, the law leaves unre-
| strained the persons, corporations and combina-
tions who are benehciaries OF the unlawful re-
| bates That the right Of the courts TO restrain
| such practices on action brought by the United
states-a right not settled and now vigorously
| chaIlenged-should be made certain is the sec
| ond important recommendation. The third is
the creation of a commission to aid in carrying
| out the provisions of the Sherman Antitrust
/ law and snv further legislation that may be en-
| acted The duty of the commission, among
| other things is to make diligent investigation
into the operation and conduct of all corpora
| tions combinations and concerns engaged II
| interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose
| Of making specific recommendations for addi-
| ,ional legislation, and annually or cftener re-
| port to the President. The last recommendation
| is for the passage of act which will speed
| the final decision Of cases now pending and
| Others that may be brought under the antitrust
| law
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS LETTER
! Mr. Knox's letter embraces three subjects
| the questions which have been decided by the
/ courts the questions which are pending In the
| courts and suggestions respecting further leg
islation. Under the latter head Mr.. Knox says
view of the vide szpeEsnese s. Of the the committge nnndie
dssns ss,1r 5pon th the e sf0 Of
With much hesitation and feeling that t the cimost most
concrete thing to be set down that may be consd.
Fee resented nj as to What might be done within t
| Short period allowed for Consideration during the
think proper enough to briefly premise such
| by a statement of some of the reasons upon Which
The enc desired by the overwheimng majGrity y, Of
tine people of all sections Of the country Is tna
combinations of capital should De TeguiateGI: ato a
correct the tendency toward menopolization Of the
Industrial business Of the cosptgy
,estIlatinc the business interests of the country
| will
Ofg0n1 IN my su indsment monopoly in industry
be impossible In this 1 Goqner mt SaTd weFs o1
the reach of keen and capaole men II conpeuuols ~
| assinst unfair artificial and discriminating prac-
1iees. n.-.or. o- ,ornorat,ons cannot b,
any combinat tion or arrangsment between tnen n
selves 81 eneg fngase in similar business The utmost
theS can do is 20 discourage the disposition TO DC
h TesTsss aes se eSaGsive facilities or the en-
ioyrnent of some common facilities upon exclusive
If the law VIII guarantee to the smaller p5oa,n;eeI
protection fs asahSs brWaps to the market open and
susila6e to him fo- the tolls charged to his
powerful competitor. he win manage TO live and
! thrive TO astonishing degree
ADVANTAGES OF NDrvIDUALIsM
rndtvidualisrn in production has its advantages as
well as combination Small individual enterprises
non sgrne e ee iho oush fss eoyng noh 5hs
o their supposed adyantagss Of eontrol Of sources
yet realizing large proht per Ton Of output because
os the SSse a per-
| Indeed IL is true that the great concerns whose
lanes ethe real trusts are themselves Largely but
segresatons of successful smaller ones which one
felt By an ambitious rival that ne has absorbed
granted by carriers 10 large operators in the lead
ing industries of the country as against their com
Roui9 represent interest upon the Tonss
IN The hnsnes - Of sISs sSsn oPeTa1ers sn
| trolled by one company, the more threatening te