Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-07

auentiy swelled earnings so that enor-
nous volumes of capital stock represent
nothing but unfair advantage obtained
; over rivals.
THE situation Is much improved In re-
spect to transportation DETERMINATIONS
within the last two years. This Is the
part Of the government to apply existing
laws in an effective way against dis
ordinations: and. second, to the, fact
managers of the country have exerted
tier large influence In the direction Of
equitable dealing with The shippers Of the !e
is a consequence of these influences or a
mere coincidence. 1t is, nevertheless.
stated on high authority. to be fact ct, that at
the embarkation Of new capital IN
posedly controlled industries within the
period named probably equals the capt.
tai of the trusts. The effect OF certainty
tition can be safely prophesied to increase.
my suggestion. therefore, is that as :,
pursued until every Industry. large and
small. in the country can be assured OF
| equal rights and opportunities: and until
the tendency to monopolization OF the
important industries of the country are
checked. that all discriminatory practices
effecting interstate trade be made of
fences to be enjoined and punished. such
legislation to be directed against thosi
who give and those who receive the adj
vantage thereof. and to cover discrimina-
ton in prices as against competitors in
purpose of destroying competition in in
terstate and foreign. as well as discr1mi-
nation by carriers.
Such practices are so obviously unrea-
sonable that to inhibit them would be a
measure of regulation of commerce to
| keep it free and unrestrained and not
to attempt to exercise arbitrary power.
ducers guilty Of practices injurious to
national and International commerce.
! should. in my judgment, take the form
! goods produced by the guilty parties. and
!, the Federal courts should be given power
! to restrain such transportation and the
suit OF the government.
! f.It mav be said that under the act to
/, regulate commerce. shipper may be
punished for receiving rebates or special
/ rates less than the lawful published
rates; and that it is unnecessary to pro.
vide additional legislation in this respect
! to curb trusts, monopolies. and combina-
tons. This. however, is an erroneous
| statement"
| MIR. Knox points out the inefectiveness,
of the interstate commerce act in reach
! ing unlawful concessions in railway
rates ties; and goes on to say az T., - r.,,,
! late commerce should be supplied by
! Imposing a penalty upon the incorporated.
carrier and beneficiary alike. and the
| right of the courts to restrain such prac-s
tees at the suit of the United States. a
| right not settled and now vigorously
! challenged. should be made certain.
-'It should be ma dc unlawful to transport
| traffic by carriers subject to the act to
| regulate commerce at any rate less than
| such carriers published rate. and all who.
participate in the violation of such law
should be punished
IAN additional provision should be
made to reach corporations. combina-
tons and associations which preo tn4
but whose products or sales enter into In
| terstate commerce. 1t should relate
first to such concerns as fatten on re-
| TO corporations which sell below the gen
eral nrice Of commodity in particular
localities, or otherwise in particular
Competition. Thvse could be excluded
with their commodities products, or
manufactures from crossing State lines
state commerce is plenary. excepting as
it may be limited by the Constitution. 1t
is believed that it may impose such a
punishment for the violation of the public
policy of the nation.
! "a commission should be created to aid
in carrying out the provisions OF the act
oI o..s leSv, anu aA.y Ia. tner ties lslatlns
to commerce. II should b.. the duty OF
such commission. among other things. to
make diligent Investigation into the ope-
rations and conduct of all corporations,
combinations, and concerns engaged IN
interstate or foreign commerce.
"Such q commission should have au-
thority to inquire into the management
OF the business of such corporate s ana 11a
manner and method IN which the
same is conducted, and to obtain from
such concerns full and complete infqrma-
ton necessary to enable the commission
to perform the duties and carry out the
| objects for which it is created; AS there
are no means now provined by law for
| provide that no person should be eN-.
| cuSId from attending and tesufying or
| from producing books, papers. contracts
I and documents before such commission
or the courts.
| .of course. the general scheme of Iegis-
1 lation to correct trust abuses should be,
nearly so important to act quickly. as to
act Wisely. Primarily, the question OF
the power of Congress to reach what the
sherman act seems to nave We missed o.
upon that proposition the whole structure
of effective. regulative legislation
must rest We should at once take the
4 certainly know to be unreasonable prac-
tees directly restrictive of freedom OF
commerce upon which the fundamental
comforting upon the government a gene
raj supervisory power a. above outlined.
another step in legislation which ]
earnestly recommend. and which will. II
enacted. greatly hasten solution of the
problem. is that an act De passed as soon
as possible to speed the final decision Of
4 cases now penang ana OlnerS 3tndl may
1 be raised under the antitrust law. l re-
1 Ter to an act to enable the Attorney
General TO secure the original hearing b..
a full bench of the circuit judges In the
circuit wherein is pending any su,
! brought by the United States under the
4 antitrust law which the Attornsy-Gene-5
ia! certified to the court to involve Ques-
tons of great public Importance. anu
! giving decision directly to the Supreme
Court of the United States.
1T is not too much to say that WITH
these gaps closed the scheme of govern
! mental regulation viii be compete. but
| 1t is clear that without some similar
legislation 1t would continue to be mad
1 eQuate. And such legislation will make
long. first stride in advance.
GENERAL STAFF BILL PASSED.
k1uttz, of North Carolina, Spoke In
! Opposition.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. January e.-Th
House to-day passed the bill for the
creation Of a general stan for the army
by q vote of l53 to 81. BY terms -of the
bill 1t becomes the. duty OF the general
staff to prepare plans for the natIonas9
defence and for the mobilization OF the