The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-14
A REPORT MADE BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Wickersham Approves of the
Tobacco Trust Reorgan-
izati0n Plan.
National: News Associatien NJ

National News Associatien)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-That the
decision of the United States Supreme
Court In the Standard Oil and Tobacco
Trust cases, have fully demonstrated
the effectiveness of the Sherman Anti
Trust law to accomplish the purposes
for which It was enacted" is the opin
ion expressed by Attorney General
Wickersham in his annual report
which was made public today.
1.-THE court in these decisions" says
the report" rejected a literal interpre-
tation OF the act which would have
brought within it's condemnation every
agreement, which, in any respect
whatever. restrained competition; and
holding that a reasonable construc-
ton must be given to it's language, re-
cited that not every incidental or i'm
material restraint of competition was
q restraint OF trade within it's mean
ing, but that contract combination
or conspiracy, in order to fall within
the law. must impose direct and UNI
due restraint upon commerce between
states or with foreign countries"
Favors Reorganization.
Tho Attorney General reviews the
History of these two cases at length,
and states that in the tobacco case
the Supreme Court was confronted by
= far more intricate problem than in
the Standard OIL case. He sets his
stamp Of approval on the reorganiza'
ton plan OF the Tobacco Trust which
was recently affirmed by the Circuit
Court. In this connection he says:
''In my opinion the plan which has
been approved by the Circuit court Will
accomplish the objects OF the law;
and the various Injunction provisions
embodied in the decree OF the circuit
court will effectively operate to pre-
vent q recurrence in the future OF
those agreements and conditions.
be essential to the creation and main
tenance OF monopolistic condition"
In connection with the reorganiza-
ton plans. the attorney general states
that neither the courts nor the de-
partment of justice is properly equip
ped to work out such problems, and
recommends that the functions of the
bureau OF corporations is organized
with sole purpose Of gathering infor-
nation and data to enable the Presi-
dent to make recommendations to con-
gress of legislation looking toward the
control of corporations. The attor-
ney general thinks. however, that ii
their powers are enlarged in accor-
dance with his recommendations it
would prove OF exceptional help In dis
1ntegrating corporations that had been
adjudged as violating the Antitrust
law.
Fourteen proceedings under the An
thrust law have been instituted
since the last annual report. including
the suit against the United States
Steel corporation. the Shoe Machinery
trust. Sugar trust, Magazine trust, FL
ectric Lamp combination and the
Lumber trust
Under the Hepburn and Elkins In
ter State commerce law there have
been 46 prosecutions for ILLEGAL dis
elimination and rebates.
According to the report, the expen'
De OF the department during the last
fiscal year. including the offices of
the attorney general. district attor-
neys, assistants, ETC.. amounted to 3d.
223.773.S9. There was actually collect
ed and paid into the treasury of the
United States as a result of suits
brought or compromised by the depart
ment the sum of $3.467 .O95.39: in ad-
-
lected by the solicitor of the treasury
as compromise of claims not in suit,
making an aggregate in all of S4,204,-
1851. The grand total of all appro-
priations for the department and
courts was $1O,351, 1885 for the fiscal
year.
In speaking of the excellent work
done by the members of his depart
ment and of the long hours which they
Of the extra work, the attorney gener-
nj recommends retirement law Of
some kind. with a pension. In this
connection he says: THE salaries
. paid to the members of the classified
civil service are not large and they
have very little opportunity to save
Some provision should be made by
congress by way OF a retirement law
to secure. after faithful service over
% many years, at least the ordinary
need under justice that is coming to
be recognized by all private employ
ers a. due under the circumstances.
More than $2.12O.OOO has been col
lected through action of the depart
ment Of Justice in customs house
frauds during the past year and in the
southern district of New York thirty
eight criminal convictions have been
secured.
The white slave act which was en-
acted by congress in June 10, 1910.
has also been diligently enforced and
has resulted in seventy-six convictions
out of one hundred and forty.five pros
ecutions, with forty-five cases still
pending.
The bureau of investigation Of the
department of justice has played an
important part in collecting data look
ing to the prosecution of individuals
charged with fraudulent use Of the
mails. During the last fiscal year
there were 1867 convictions for viola