Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-30
NOTABLE EVENTS OF 1906
Perspective View Of the Years Record at
Home and Abroad.
MATERIAL PROGRESS IN UNITED STATES
EDochai Legislation, Prosecution of
Combines, Rebaters and Land
Grabbers-AppaIinE Disast-
ers-ROIl of Noted Dead.

The record of the closing year presents
an uncommon variety OF events affecting
the material and social well being Of the
United States. Material prosperity domi-
mates the record. Crops Of surprising
abundance were harvested, Industrial activ-
lily continued at high tide, trade advanced
In all lines, end increased rewards re-
sponded to the call Of industry and enter
prise. SO vast and unprecedented is the
volume of traffic that the last month OF
the year finds transportation companies un-
able to handle the business expeditiously,
mills are overwhelmed with orders, build
ing operations are greater than the supply
Of men and materials money is abundant
and freely circulating During the fall
months the wages of $4,000 employees Of
twelve great corporations have been ad-
vanced in the aggregate 81. 100000 year
In nearly all lines of skilled and unskilled
labor the workmen shared in the increased
activities and profits. The magic touch
Of tabled Aladdlns working overtime could
not produce scene approaching the pic
ture wrought by prosperity in 1906.
Rivalng prosperity in its relation to
public welfare is the epochal legislation of
congress. Under the aggressive leadership
of President Roosevelt congress enacted
into law the famous railroad rate bill vest
ing In the Interstate Commerce commission
power to declare and enforce reasonable
rates on all transportation lines, prohibit
ing discrimination, rebates and free passes.
OF almost equal Importance are the laws
for meat inspection, pure food, truthful
labelling Of proprietary medicines, drugs
and liquors, railroad employees liability
and the removal OF the duty on alcohol de-
naturized for mechanical purposes.
Trusts and Rebates.
Under the stimulus of aroused public
sentiment prosecution OF trusts and COM
binattons In restraint Of trade proceeded
with increased vigor. State authorities in
missouri, Ohio, Texas and Alabama in
stituted proceedings against the Standard
OIL trust One conviction was had in Ohio
over 5000 indictments have been returned
against the company in the several states
and the United States has begun suit in
the federal court at ST. Louis to annul
its charter During the March sitting the
federal supreme court decided that wit
nesses must answer questions concerning
the affairs of corporations by which they
are employed, and that the plea of i'm
munity could not apply to a corporation.
As result OF the ruling the combination
or white paper manufacturers of the mid
uio west ConIesSeu judgment ana dlSSolVed.
The Salt trust was broken UP by similar
proceedings, and action is pending against
the Elevator Car trust, Patent Medicine
association and several other combines
The federal prosecution of meat packers
at Chicago for combining to regulate prices
resulted In defeat for the government The
plea of immunity entered by the de-
PENDANTS, based on the information they
had supplied Labor Commissioner Garfield,
was sustained by the court.
Prosecution of rebaters went on vlgor-
ously and successfully in the federal
courts. The New York Central Railroad
company, convicted of granting rebates to
the Sugar trust, was fined sos 900, and
the Sugar trust and a subsidiary company,
for receiving the rebates, were fined $780,
900 and $4,000 respectively. Four meat
packers and the Burlington railroad, for
like offenses. were fined $4,000 each, and
two New York brokers who engineered
the deal were fined and given prison sem
tence. Relating cost the Chicago & Alton
Railroad company $4,000 and two officers
$4,000 each.
Combines in the ice trade during the