The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-02-24
DECISION ON BEEF TRUST.
Roosevelt Administration Will Get
Credit for What II Has Not
Really Done.


The decision 81 the United States SUI
Dreme court against the so-caled beef
trust is important though il establishes
no new precedent Itfollows il general
way the decision OF the court in the ADJ
eyston pipe trust case of some years ago
sust as the judgment against the North
trn Securities company followed that
against the Trans-Misso Freight and
Joint Traffic association cases Taken in
connection with the opposite decision OF
the court in the sugar case says the
Springfield Mass Republican, these
various judgments thus define the scope
OF the sherman antitrust law Of 1890
Ii applies 10 combina ions Of parallel
and competing railroads. whether such
combinations be duly incorporated or
not; it applies also 10 unincorporated a.
liances, conspiracies and concerted &C
tons among various corporations, firms
)r individuals engaged in manufactur-
ing or trade making for restriction OF
output uniform prices and monopoly
practices generally; bur 1t does not ap-
ply TO combinations OF manufacturing
concerns. no matter how far extended
when hey are incorporated
But such combinations are. Of course
the most important OF all. and the pres
ent decision of the court only makes the
more glaringiy defective III opinion in
the knight or sugar trust case. which
permitted incorporated manufacturing
combinations 10 escape the law alto
gether Evidently IL the beef trust
concerns were incorporated they might
be prosecuted for see king and accepting
special railroad favors but they might
otherwise do everything charged against
them in this case and escape prosecu
ton or restraining orders This pre-
'sents an absurdity in judicial construc
tion which calls for correction II car
obviously make no difference TO the pub
lie whether the same acts Of equal effec
tiveness. in mOnOpolistic restraint o.
trade are performed through an incor
porated or an unincorporatcd combina
ton and as the law was intended {,
protect the public against such acts. +
should be applied wherever such act
are manifest. regardless Of the precis
methods pursued. or II should be re
pealed or made more amenaOle 20
trust organization Of industry.
still the decision will stand In tn
public view as another vindication OF III
Roosevelt administration in its anti
monopoly character and VIII greati
enhance the presidents popularity
There evidently exists some sort OF
combination among the big dressed
meat concerns. and IL now appears 4
have been brought up with round tur
through the efforts Of the department 0
justice The injunction stands. such
the decision but il remains 20 be en-
forced and this is the feature Of the cas-
which most interests the public. as
will most tax the efforts OF the govern
ment prosecutors
Meantime the great mass Of the trust
remain untouched and beyond IN
reach of the law as Interpreted by tn
court. Il would seem that the admins
tration, in order TO round out its repu
tation for zeal in the protection Of tn
people against monopOlistic practice
should start another prosecution tina
the supreme court might be brought TO
reconsideration Of the inconsistent p,
sition taken by II in the sugar trui
case
Give the old medicines a thoroug
trial before prescribing new remedie
for the cure OF trust evils II may we
be that If the antitrust law as il stant
shall be enforced there will be no nee
offurther legislation. With two or thr,
OF the more conspicuous members OF n
beef trust cooling their heels In the pen
Tertiary a great advantage will hay
been made in the effort TO do away wit
rebates the misuse oil private car line
and private terminal facilities. and a
the other contrivances for Illicit gain
the expense alike OF producers, consun
ers and honest carriers and shippers
tAll9G lphia Record.