Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-08-01

and II they all were required TO take
out a Federal license or a Federal char
ter, the burden upon the interstate bust
ness of the country would become in
tolerable.
Should Be Limited to Small Percent
age by Classification.
It is necessary, therefore, to devise
some means for classifying and insur-
ing Federal supervision Of such cor
porations as have the power and temp.
tation to effect restraints of interstate
trade and monopolies. Such corpora
atoms constitute a very small percent
age of all engaged in interstate bust.
ness.
MIR. RooseveIt's Proposed Classification.
With such classification In view, Mr..
Roosevelt recommended an amend
ment to the antitrust law, known as
the Hepburn bill, which provided for
voluntary classification, and created a
strong motive therefor by granting i'm
munity from prosecution for reason
able restraints of interstate trade to all
corporations which should register and
submit themselves to the publicity reg
ulations of the Department of Com
merce and Labor.
The Democratic Proposed Classified
ton.
The Democratic platform suggests
requirement that corporations in inter
state trade having control of % per
cent. of the products in which they
deal shall take out a Federal license.
This classification would probably in
cFude q great many small corporations
engaged in the manufacture of special
articles, or commodities whose total
value is so inconsiderable that they are
not really within the purview or real
evil Of the antitrust law.
1t is not now necessary, however, to
discuss the relative merit of such prop
ositions, but it is enough merely to af-
firm the necessity for some method by
which greater executive supervision
can be given to the Federal Govern
ment over those businesses in which
there is a temptation to violations Of
the antitrust law. .S..,...,..s.......
Construction of Anti Trust Law.
Possible Necessity For Amendment.
The possible operation of the anti
trust law under existing rulings of the
Supreme Court has given rise to sug-
gestions for its necessary amendment
to prevent its application to cases
which it is believed were never in the
contemplation of the trainers Of the
statute. Take two instances: A mer-
chant or manufacturer engaged in a
States, wishes to sell his business and
his good will, and so in the terms Of
the sale obligates himself to the pur-
chaser not to go into the same business
In those States. Such a restraint Of
trade has always been enforced at COM
mon law. Again, the employees Of an
railway combine and enter
upon q peaceabIe and lawful strike to
secure better wages. At common law
this was not a restraint Of trade or
commerce or q violation of the rights
Of the company or Of the public. Mel
Their case ought to be made violation
Of the antitrust law. My own impress
yfon is that the Supreme Court would
hold that neither of these instances are
within its inhibition, but, If they are to
be so regarded, general legislation
the law is necessary.
Plank to Limit Corpora
tions to Ownership of so Per Cent.
of Plant ard Product Faulty.
The suggestion Of the Democratic
platform that trusts be ended by for.
bidding corporations to hold more than
20 per cent. of the plant in any line
If manufacture IS made without re-
,ard to the possibility of enforcement
,r the real evil in trusts: A corpora
ion controlling 10 or 80 ger cent. Of
he products may by we'll known meth
ds frequently effect monopoly and
lamp out competition In a part OF the
ountry as completely as il il controlled
10 or 20 per cent thereof.
Compulsory Sale of Products at Fixed
Price Impractical
The proposal to compel every corpo-
alton to sell it's commodities at the
same price the country over, allowing
or transportation, is utterly imprac-
icable. If it can be shown that in or
Ter to drive out competition, corpora
ion owning n large part Of the plant
an article is selling in one
part of the country, where 1t has COM
oetitors, at a low and Improbable
price, and in another part Of the coun-
try, where it has none, at an exorbi-
tant price, this is evidence that 1t Is
attempting an unlawful monopoly, and
lustifies conviction under the antitrust
law; but the proposal to supervise the
business of corporations in such way
as to fix the price Of commodities and
compel the sale at such price is as alb
surd and socialistic plank as was ever
Inserted in a Democratic political plat
form.