Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-01-14
PRESIDENTS TRUST POLICY
The Attitude Of the Administration
Officially Voiced.
LEGISLATION Is RECOMMENDED
1t is Urged That All Discriminatory Prac-
hceS Affecting Interstate Trade lie
Made Orcnses to he EnjoIred and Pun
ishcd-The Formation OF n Trust Conn
mission SugEcstcd-Onicial Statement.


ishcd-The Formation OF n Trust Com
mission SuEEcstcd-OmciaI Statement.
Washington. u. C.-Prcsidcnt Roose-
welt has made an official declaration
us to what he wishes in the way OF
ANTITRUST legislation.
Tho following abstract of Attorney
General NroX'S recommendations re-
2ardin- trusts ana combinations. which
were made public Mt sonic length. WAS
given ont at the White House. 1t
represents tho general attitude of the
Administration on this subject and
was authorized by the President. IL
is as follows:
preliminary The people do not de-
sire the business of the country tn hc
inter ere. .vi;i. ,;:'; .nG i',, rc"ulnti.u
necessary ia coutrol umisina;ions
where they act improperly and to cor
rec, any tendency toward monopoly.
In this country. where money is cheap
and abundant and within the reach of
Keen and capable men, monopoly will
hc impossible il connection * kept
free
Small enterprises have certain ad-
N3niagcS over large combinations. and
will live and thrive If assured of all
open and fair field. Rebates ami dis.
criminatCry rates constitute one OF the
chief restrictions on competition. They
miustly swell tho earnings of favored
concerns. and. supporting vast vol
uWc OF capital stock which represents
nothing but unfair advantage over
rivals. contribute largely TO The up-
building OF monopoly.
'1ndividual industrial experience.
with the certainty OF securing employ
ment of capital. may hc trusted 10
compete effectively with such selfish
combina tons aS are not formed for
sound economic reasons hui merely i'm
order To capitalize the country's pros
pcrity for the benefit Of their promot-
crs. The existence of most of these
combinations has nor increased the
productive capacity or the country:
they have merely acquired the owner
ship of prc-eXiSting Industries.
Recommendation for immediate
Legislation That al dscriminatory
practices affecting interstate trade lie
made oifcnScs tn he cnioined and pun
ishcd.
such legislation To he directed alike
against those who give and those who
receive Illegal advantages and to cover
discrimination in prices as against
competitors in particular localities re-
sorted to for tho purpose OF destroying
competition.
In order 20 reach producers guilty
OF these oiTcnScS. who are rs producers
merely beyond national control. pen
atty should he imposed upon the i'll
terstatc and foreign transportation OF
goods produced by them. and Federal
hn
strain such transportation ut the Gov
crnnent's suit.
such legislation is necessary he
cause the existing Interstate com
mcrcc law does not give an effective
remedy in this class OF eases against
either shippe" or carrier
The casus omisSus in the interstate
commerce should now he supplied by
imposing n penalty upon carrier and
beneficiary alike. and by giving to the
courts the right 10 restrain ail such in
fractions of the law.
"PrOviSion should also he made To
reach corporations and combinations
which produce wholly within Il State
but whose products enter Interstate
commerce. This provision should re.
late. first to concerns which fattcn on
rebates; second to concerns which
sell commodities below The general
price i'll particular localities or in any
other way in particular localities seek
To destroy competition.
There should lie comprehensive
plan To enable the Government to get
ut all the facts bearing upon the or
ganization and practices of concerns
engaged in interstate commerce. not
with Il view to hampering any lcgit-
mate business or such concerns. but in
order to be i'll position II take action
If necessary.
ITO this end commission or n Spc-
cial bureau i'm the proposed Depart
ment of Commerce should he created.
whose duty it should be to investigate
the operations of concerns engaged in
Interstate or foreign commerce. aud To
gather information and data enabling
ii To make recommendation for addi-
tiOnal legislation to report to the Prcs-
dent
This would he first step in sccur-
ing proper publicity. This commission
should have authority to inquire into
the management of any concern doing
nm Interstate business whenever it be-
comes necessary or desirable; it should
have the authority 10 call for reports
from them. to- compel testimony frcm
tall witnesses and by the production Of
BOOKS. papers. etc.
These recommendations are based
on the central thought that the first
step should he taken by law aimed at
what are certainly known to be un-
reasonable practices directly restrictive
of freedom OF commerc, and by law
securing some governmental superv1s-
ion, as outlined above. a special act
should be passed at once to speed the
final decision OF cases pending or to
he raised under the present antitrust
law. providing for the hearing Of such
cases by fpll bench Of Circuit Judges,
and for direct appeal from the Cir
cuit Courts to the Supreme Court OF
hn