The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-02
UNREASONABLE" THE WORD.

While the trusts are going ahead run
ming things as they please, they recognize
that they are doing SO in violation of
the law, and because of the impotency,
blindness or favortism of the law Of
ficers. The only trust that has beer
.roubled is the transportation trust w
vas brought into court before it had pc
gun to do business.
The trusts wish their illegal methods
uous attention upon prosecuting attor-
ncys and to free them from the necessity
of big campaign contributions.
Senator Foraker has introduced an ap
parently nice little bill TO amend all
antitrust laws. AT present all combina
t!ons ''in restraint of trade" are illegal
His little bill would make the law read
''all combinations in UNREASONABLE
restraint of trade
Just before the bill was introduced Mr..
]. Pierpont Morgan, head of many trusts,
and Mr.. A. J. Cassett, president Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad spent the day IN
Washington. Mr.. Cassatt was dined at the
White House. The presence of these two
men in Washington is believed to be r.
sponsible for the introduction of the Fora
ker amendment and Cassatt's invitation to
the White House is taken, says the New
York Herald, 'as an indication that ne is
no longer opposed to President Roose-
velt-" The bills most vital part pro-
vides that nothing in those acts shall
hereafter apply to foreign commerce or
prohibit any act or contract in restraint
Of trade or commerce among tho several
States if such restraint be reasonable,
or shall hereafter authorize IMP isonment
or forfeiture OF property or punishment
for violation of such acts except for per-
present law, if guilty, trust n1agnates,
like other convicted thieves, can be I'M
prisoned. Foraker's amendment would for
bid imprisonment or forfeiture OF prop
erty." The only punishment, presumably
would an admonition to carry on their
illegal acts "a little further from the
road"
The Heralds Washington correspondent
quotes friends of the measure as SAVING
that had the Sherman law been qualified
IN the manner now proposed the gov
ernment could never have been sue
cessful in its suit against the mer
ger effected by the Northern Pacific
and the Great Northwestern Railroads"
Mr. Morgan was the head Of the Northern
Securities Company that effected the
merger by the Northern Pacific and the
Great Northwestern railroads. Ii is he
Eeyed that it was the plan of Mr. Nor
gan and such railroad magnates as Mr..
Cassatt to organize Eastern and
Southern Securities Companies and
bring ali the great railroad sys-
TENS of the country under practically
three ownerships with only one control.
The suit frustrated their immediate car
rying out OF the plans for gigantic trans
portation trust, but nobody has believed
IL was their purpose to permanently
abandon it. They have evidently had the
best trust lawyers in America studying
how best Ito piow around tn. stump ana
Senator Foraker's mild amendment is tao
result. The President cannot make any
back-down from his position in the North
erl. Securities. case. 1t would be fatal to
dc SO if he should be so inclined but If
Congress will change the law leaving
loop-hole through which the trust lawyers
can drive four-horse team, why the
Pre- si6ent will not veto it and the Pres.-
dent can still pose X 4 mighty Rough