The Washington times., 1907-06-25
Anti Battles
Constantly Going On,
And Prices Still Rise
General Question AS to What Benefit the
Public Is Getting From the Legal
Warfare.

any decrease in the price which the
consumer pays for drugs.
Salt and Elevator Trusts.
Injunctions have been obtained dissolv-
ing several Of the smaller trusts. IN
the fall OF 1902 the Salt trust was dis
solved by an order entered IN the Fed
eral court for the northern district OF
California. One year ago last May
the Ouis Elevator Company, which was
found 10 be a trust was dissolved By
order OF the Federal court for the
northern part Of California Among
the trust cases that have been pending
Tor from one TO three years are that 20
dissolve the Fertilizer trust pending IN
the Federal court for the middle district
OF Tennessee. that 10 dissolve the Ter
minal Railroad Association. Of St Louls,
and that 10 dissolve the Wholesale
Grocers' Association, pending In the
Federal court for the district Of Florida
STANDARD OIL Case.
BY far the most important case pend
ing IS that against the Standard OIL
Company This was brought in the
eighth judicial circuit.
The case was hled at ST. Louis. and
the argument on demurrer was heard at
ST Paul several months ago. Tie com
pany's demurrer has been overruled.
and as soon as the company answers
the case viii 90 TO trial before the full
circuit bench Of the Eighth circuit.
Long Preparation for Case
The Government has been preparing
for this case for nearly three years
The Bureau Of Corporations Of the De-
Partment Of Commerce and Labor hrst
conducted an investigation and turned
over 70 the Department Of Justice the
facts It succeeded in accommodating tend
ing 10 show that the company IS a trust
doing business in cOntrovenuOn OF the
Sherman antitrust law. Then the De-
partment of Justice made very care
ful investigation Of It's own, ana de-
cided that II could make case The
case will surely 60 20 the Supreme
Court OF the United States. II the Gov
eminent gets a decision that the com
pany is a trust and must be dissolved,
the victory win be the most notable
since the verdict IN the Northern Secu-
rites Company case, and yet IL may
turn out as Il has IN several other cases,
that no substantial benefit 70 anybody
viii come from a court order dissOlvins
the great corporation. Everybody knows
that the Standard Oil Company IS not
going out Of business. and there IS a
question IN the minds Of a great many
persons as 70 whether the Government
can compel II 10 50 conduct its bust
ness as 20 sdIlSLy LNe PUBIC
Tobacco and Hsryesters-
For two or three years the Depart
ment Of Justice has been showing signs
OF moving against the alleged Tobacco
trust. but so far II has made but little
Roadway. Officers Of the trust were
nailed to court for refusing 10 produce
certain evidence wanted by the Govern
ment. and the Supreme Court held that
they must answer. II IS well under
stood that the Department Of Justice
has a large amount OF evidence against
the alleged trust on hand. and viii
sooner or later take steps 10 have the
combination dissolved Agents have
been busy for six months gathering Svt-
dence against the alleged Harvester
trust, the Lumber trust. and the Pow
der trust The Interstate Commerce
Commission conducted the investigation
which led 70 the initial proceedings,
which have just been begun in Phila-
delphia against the Hard Coal trust
II will be seen from the above record
that the business Of trust busting
with the Sherman antitrust law as the
weapon has been rather uphill business.
AS matter OF fact. the Federal Gov
eminent has hardly made a dent on the
trust business. More trusts exist in the
United States today than ever before
in the history Of the country. and new
ones are being organized right along
40 De sure II Is not Lilc pOl4Cl OF the
party in power and Of the Administra-
tiOn 20 destroy" but 70 regulate
and there has been q great deal or talk
about good trusts" and bad trusts 80
but the probability Is that sooner or
later the people, who are finding the
cost OF living steadily going Up, Will
want 70 know what they are getting out
OF the trust busting" business.
But Prices Keep Going Up.
In all the warfare the Government
has conducted the last four or five
years, have substantial benefits come 10
anybody Certainly there have been
no reduction Of prices on any cOmmOd-
lily as a result OF the Government anti
trust policy. Il Is q fact Well known
to the Government that practically
every commodity that enters into the
daily life Of the citizen is now trust
made and trust-sOld
And everybody knows that prices keep
going up. Has the Government failed
70 find remedy for the trust evil, II Il
is an evil? Would a little less tariff
help 10 solve the problem? These and
various other questions are likely 20
occur 10 anyone who sits down and at
tempts 10 make a just review OF what
the Government has done for its citi-
zens IN the way Of regulating trusts