The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-07
An Antitrust Field Day.

Ifanybody thinks the administration has
been vague IN it's utterances on the trust
question, even after reading the presi-
dents message and speeches on the sub
1ect he ought to be satisfied with the
presentation Of the administration views
on the subject addressed to Chairman
Hoar, of the senate judiciary committee,
and Congressman Littlefield, chairman Of
the subcommittee of the house judiciary
committee by Attorney General Knox,
yesterday.
The administration does not propose to
have government, trust-regulating meas
ure presented, but it deems it proper to
make suggestions to be carried out by
congress. The subject Of the abuse Of
corporate power was amply discussed by
Senators Hoar and Vest, the former point
ing out the conspicuous evils of such abuse
and saying that his bill was only tentative.
The senator, who, during the Philippine
debates, denied the validity Of the national
power in the matter Of occupying and gov
erning territory obtained by conquest, and
excluding it from the operation Of the con-
stituton as in the states and territories
OF the union, declared that the national
power alone had the power to deal with
corporations; that congress. representing
the national power had the right to go
further on the lines Indicated in the at
torney generals Pittsburg speech It is
Interesting to know that Mr.. Hoar is now
a strong champion of the exercise of the
national power when necessary. It was
the national power, which, contrary to
the then current Interpretation of the con-
stitutlon, unconstitutionally crushed the
secession movement, and preserved the
union. The same national power can op-
crate to deliver the country from the I'M
lawful assumption Of power and the ty-
rannies and injustice Of corporate mo-
nopoly ~ Vi
The attorney generals letter to the two
committee men contains definite sugges-
lions. He would penalize all discrimina-
tory practices and include the recipients
of discriminatory favors in the punitive
process, and likewise deal with the inter-
state and foreign transportation of. the
products of such unjust dtscriminators,
the federal courts to be given the trans
pOWeI dL LllG SON-
ernment's suit. Water transportation
would be excluded from the prohibition,
because water transportation rates are
open to the freest competition. s-.-.
While the attorney general warns
against any hasty legislation, he would
have special act passed to expedite a
decision Of the current cases-the railway
injunction suits, Northern Securities, the
beef trust and cotton pool cases, through
hearing by full bench of circuit judges
and appeal direct to the federal supreme
court. This Is well, for these suits relate
to monopoly through secret rebates, rail-
way traffic pooling, combinations to fix
and maintain extortionate prices for meats,
and mergers Of parallel and competing
lines Of railway.
The attorney general does not seem to
4. expect the fHoar or any other corporation
regulating bill to get through the fifty
seventh congress. He proposes to show
what can be done under the existing laws,
aided by the legislation he proposes to ex-
pedite decisions in the test and crucial
cases he has brought before the courts.
Final decisions in these cases if favorable
to the government. will certainly pave the
way for new legislation amendatory Of the