The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-12-14


fectivs for such . purpose been entsred
BY . court than that against the Tobacco
trust.
1t has been assumed that the present
pro-rata and common ownership In al
these companies by former stockholders
Of the trust would insure q continuance
Of the same old single control Of all the
companies into which the trust has b.
decree been disintegrated- This II err
roneous and u based upon the assumed In
efficacy and innocuousness OF judicial in
functions. The companies are enjoined
from cooperation or combination: they
have different managers. directors, pur-
chasing and sales agents. II all or any
Of the numerous stockholders, reaching
into the thousands, attempt to secure
concerted action Of the companies with .
view to the control Of the market, their
number Il 10 large that such an attempt
could not well be concealed and its prime
movers and all its participants would be
at once subject to contempt proceedings
and imprisonment Of q summary charae.
ter. The immediate result Of the present
situation will necessarily be activity by
all the companies under different man
ayers and then competition must follow.
or there win b activity by one company
and staenation BY anothe7
Cry for Repeal Of Law.
But now that the antitrust act II seen
to be effective for the accomplishment Of
the purpose Of its enactment, We are met
by . cry from many different quarters
for it, repeal. It 10 said to b obstructive
Of business progress. to be an attempt to
restore old-fashioned methods of de-
structive competition between small units,
and to make impossible those useful COM
binations Of capital and the reduction Of
the cost of production that are essential
to continued prosperity and normal
growth.
In the recent decisions the Supreme
court makes clear that there 10 nothing
in the statute which condemns combine
tons Of capital or mere bigness of plant
organized to secure economy in produc-
ton and q reduction of its cost. It is only
when the purpose or necessary effect Of
the organisation and maintenance of the
combination or the aggregation Of Inn
mense size are the sitting Of competition,
actual and potential. and the enhancing
of prices and establishing q monopoly.
that the statute IL violated.
For Federal Incorporation.
In a special message to congress on
January Z. 1910. ventured to point out
the disturbance to business that would
probably attend the dissolution Of
these offending trusts. I said:
But such an investigation and pos
sible prosecution of corporations whose
prosperity or destruction affects the
comfort not only Of stockholders but Of
millions Of wage earners. employees.
and associated tradesmen must neces-
sarily tend to disturb the confidence Of
tho business community. TO dry up the
now flowing sources Of capital from itD
places Of boarding. and produce q halt
In our present prosperity that will
cause suffering and strained circum-
stances among the innocent many for
the fault of the guilty few. The Ques-
ton which I wish in this message to
bring clearly to the consideration and
discussion Of congress Is whether, in
order to avoid such a possible business
Danger. something cannot be done by
which these business combinations may
be offered a means, without great imam
cial disturbance. of changing the char
acter. organisation and extent of their
business into one within the lines of
the law under federal control and SUI
pervision. securing compliance with the
antitrust statute.
Generally. in the industrial combi-
nations called Trusts the principal
business Is the sale of goods in many
states and in foreign markets; in other
words, the interstate and foreign BUSH
ness far exceeds tho business done in
any one state. This fact will justify
the federal government in granting q
federal charter to such q combination
to make and sell in Interstate and for
eign commerce the products of useful
manufacture under such limitations az
trust law. 1t is possible, so to fvame
statute that while 1t offers protec-
ton to federal company against
harmful. vexatious and unnecessary
invasion by the states, 1t shall subject
1t to reasonable taxation and control
by the states with respect to its pure
ly local business.
"COrpOra ti0na 0rUa nfzod ,rnAor thta
act should be prohibited from acquir-
ing and holding stock in other corpora
tons Except for special reasons, upon
approval by the proper federal author
fty). thus avoiding tho creation under
national auspices of the holding COM
pany with subordinate corporations in
different states. which has been such an
effective agency In the creation of the
great trusts and monoDolies.
If the prohibition Of the antitrust
act against combinations in restraint
of trade is to be effectively enforced,
1t is essential that the national govern
ment shall provide for the creation Of
national corporations to carry on a
legitimate business throughout the
United States. The conflicting laws Of
the different states OF the Union with
respect to foreign corporations makes
1t dihcult. II not impossible. for one
to comply with their re-
in a number of different states"
Federal Commission Proposed.
do not set forth in detail the terms
and sections of a statute which might
supply the constructive legislation permit.
ting and aiding the formation of combina-
tons of capital into federal corporations.
They should be subject to rigid rules as
to their organization and procedure. in.
Guiding effective publicity. and to the
closest supervision as to the issue of
stock and bonds by N executive bureau
or commission in tho department of
commerce and labor. to which in times of
doubt they might we'll submit their pro-
posed plans for future business. It must
be distinctly understood that incorpora-
hon under a federal law could not ex-
empt the company thus formed and its
ncorporators and managers from prose-
cution under the antitrust law for SUBJ
sequent Illegal conduct, but the publicity
of its procedure and the opportunity for
frequent consultation as to the legitimate
purpose Of it's transactions would offer
L as great security against successful
for violations Of the law
a would be practical or wise.
l recommend that the federal charters
Lh,,a IN ho utod ahall no voI,ptor,, 81