Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-01-13
PRESIDENT on TRUSTS.
Statement by Roosevelt Points Gu
Some Evils and Remedies.

CtaLc ucut Nv ROOSEVELT IolnAs out
Some Evils and Remedies.
Presidsnr 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 tnterfered with beyond
the regulation necessary to control combl-
nations where they act improperly ana "a
correct any tendency toward monopoly. IN
this country, where money is cheap and
abundant and within the reach of keen and
capable men. monopoly Will be Impossible
If competition is kept free.
Small enterprises have certain advan-
tages over large combinations and will live
and thrive II assured Of an open and fair
field Rebates and discriminatory rates con
stitute one Of the chief restrictions on com
petition. They untustly swell the earnings
of favored concerns anu supporting vast
volume of capital stock which represents
nothing but unfair advantage over rivals.
contribute largely to the upbuilding OF mo
nopoy.
The administration recommends immedi-
ate legislation:
That all discriminatory practices affecting
interstate trade be made offenses TO be en-
Joined and punished.
such legislation to he directed alike
against those who give ana those who re-
eeige 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 a penalty should
be imposed upon the Interstate and foreign
transportation of goods produced by them,
ond federal courts should be given power
10 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 lie supplied by i'm
posing a penalty upon carrier ara benefci-
airy alike and by giving 70 the courts the
right TO restrain all such infracti0ns 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. II Is imprac-
tlcable 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 less rate than the pub.
lished rate and all who participate Ia ylo-
lating the law should be punished.
Provision should also be made 70 reach
corporations and combinations which pro
duce wholly within a state but whose prod
ucts enter interstate commerce. This pro-
vision should relate. first. to concerns which
fatten on rebates second 10 concerns whica
sell commodities below the general price
in particular localities o. IN any other way
In particular localities seek to destroy com
UetftiOu