The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-27
RUSSIA'S PROBLEM Premier Asked to Refuse Sanc- tion to Organization of
 Syndicates, STEEL TRUST HELD UP Project for Metallurgical Combination Suspended by Dumas Ob-
 jcctlons.

St. Petersburg, June Having
 found t lmpracticable, before the sum
 mcr recess. to discuss the interpolation
 brought by a group of Octoberists re- gardlng the pig Metallurgical trust now
 in course of formation, which will con-
 trol 60 per cent. of the steel production of Russia. as well as extensive coal and iron mines, deputation of the
 Duma, headed by Guchkoff. the Octo-
 berlst leader, today visited Premier
 Stolypln and explained their objections 10 such industrial and commercial com
 hinations.
 Since the introduction of this inter- pellation the organizers of the trust have suspended their activities, but the deputies, fearing that this Is only tenn porary. asked the premier 10 refuse to sanction this or similar syndcates un- til parliament has brought the corpora ton laws of Russia up 10 date. In re- ply Premier Stolypn said that the promoters of this enterprise had aban- doned their project because the gov ernmcnt. which has In its discretion to impose a high or low capitalization tax on new corporations, had declined 10 grant reduction. All similar projects, NJ Stolypin declared, would have to pass the cabinet. which assuredly would look carefully to the public in- terest and give due weight to the ob- jcctlons of the Duma
 She statement presented by M Guchkof Is signed by ll0 deputies representing all political parties It recites that the existing law, which is similar to tho French and Austrian regulations on the subject. prohibits syndicating agreements or other ar rangements in restraint of trade It declares that the proposed Metallur- g'cal trust Is masqueradng in the guise of an ordinary stock company, and ls seeking to evade the law. with monopollstic ends In view Such az gregntions of capital, when not con trolled by the state, are clearly amen ace 10 the public interest. This Ia shown by the pernicious effects of trusts in America and several states of Europe, where the struggle against them already has begun. The Rus sian legislation in the matter of trusts Is very backward. the statement re- cites, being either out or touch with modern conditions or having been drafted in haste, as In America
 The signers ask the government to Introduce Into parliament as speedily as possible legislation providing for reform of tho existing cor poratlon laws and the regulation of ln- dustrIal combinations. This legislation should establish clearly the distinction between various forms of industrial and commercial combinations, and con- tain specific regulations for them. It should also provide for the publication If accounts, governmental control af- fecting both tho Interior management of these combinations and the question of prices, and proper safeguards for the interests of employees II should protect | the public against speculators, who of len organize under cover of the law for the distinct purpose of plllaging the people
 Premier Stolypln promised to consld- CT the desired legislation, but said that t was extremely difficult to ascertain | what might be an adequate and sats- factory basis therefor.