The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-24
Lieutenant Governor Utter.
Continued from page Five.

Continued from page Five.
sage. restricted our action against trusts
unless they were engaged I'm tcrstate
unless thoy were engaged I'm interstate
encs drawn between railroads and
purely producing combinations. IL could
not be said that the sugar trust or the
beef trust. or the Standard OH company
was directly engaged in Interstate trans
portatton."
INJUNCTION IN FULL FORCE
think Mr.. Cleveland has overlooked
the fact tnat Attorney General Knox has
at this time an injunction I'm full force
against seven corpora tions. one copart
nership. and twenty three individuals en-
gagged In the production and transporta-
tIou OF meats and meat products, re
stra intng them, as the opinion shows
from requiring their purchasing agents
10 refrain from bidding against each
other when making purchases; from bid
ding up the price of live stock for few
days TO induce large shipments, and then
ceasing 10 bid so as.to obtain live stock
at prices less than It would bring in the
regular way: from agreeing between
themselves upon prices TO be adopted by
all; from restricting the quantities OF
meat TO be shipped; from requiring their
agents to impose uniform charges FOR
carriage. and from making agreements
with transportation companies for rebates
and other discrimination rates.
OF course this action Is based upon the
allegation admitted I'm the demurrer that
these packing concerns are engaged not
only in the production OF articles enter
ing into interstate commerce, but that
the concerns are themselves engaged in
interstate commerce Admittedly. the
federal government has no jurisdiction
TO restrain combinations between individ-
uals or corporations except such as Is
derived under the provision OF the con-
stitution. giving congress control OF inter-
state and foreign commerce.
APPROVES MERCER DECISION.
Thus. what Mr. Cleveland just last
week said cannot be done is an accom-
plished fact. and the action was brought
under the Sherman act. Republican
measure promised In a Republican plat
form. passed by a Republican congress.
signed by a Republican president, and
enforced by little giant under the direc-
tIoa Of the present Republican president.
And while the case has been appealed,
II stands and holds and will remain effect
i've until reversed.
Nor il this ALL nor the most aston
isning feature Of Mr.. Cleveland's inter
view In the closing paragraph he takes
no small pains to explain why nothing
was done during his administration, and
by so doing Endorses. in the most em-
phatic language. what has been done by
hts successors
without admitting the sufficiency of
his explans ton. II is quite gratifying TO
have so distinguished p person unqusli
aedly approve the institution. the prose
cution and the result of the merger case.
Listen TO the explanation he gives for
his own inactivity: ,--
There was then no opportunity TO take
any such action as this merger suit. The
case did not present itself II contracts ex-
isted among these business combinations
for the restraint OF trade. they were
kept secret and no evidence offered itself
on which 10 act At that time this
merger Of railroads had not been formed.
so that there was no action Of this sort
10 take"
How unfortunate it Is for so many Of
us that opportunities never present them
selves I'm our times. Those who lived
before us and those who come after us.
have great opportunities
lie closed, saying: "If In the course OF
events you get cinder In your eye don't
swear about II or vote the Democratic
ticket. one r. about as bad as the
other"
OFFICERS WE'RE ELECTED.
2 At the business meeting. which pre-
ceded the dinner, there was an election
OF officers, which resulted as follows:
President George "a. Webb: first vice
president. II. Anthony Dyer. second vice
president. Henry A. Carpenter. third vice
president. J Allen Burlington. secretary
and treasurer. Fred NJ Rhodes executive
committee. John r. Lewis &. Edward
Barney. Walter Lloyd Frank j. Clinton.
Norris r. Abbott Richard w Jennings,
George v. Andrews. George " Hopkins.
BENJAMIN v. Sieero and william ~
Coveii. each representing ward IN tho
CITY of Providence
The president was authorized % an
point a committee ~ three 20 organize