The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-12-08

definite and % clear 40 that which the
Supreme court itself lays down in en-
forcing the statute.
Supplemental lselslation Nssded-Not
Repeal or Amendment.
see no objection-and indeed can
SEQ decided sdvsntages-in the enact
ment Of . law which shall describe and
denounce methods Of competition.
which are unfair and are badges Of the
unlawful purpose denounced in the
antitrust law. The attempt and pur-
pose to suppress competitor by un-
derselling him at price 20 unprofit-
able az to drive him out Of business.
or the making Of exclusive contracts
with customers under which they are
required to give up association with
other manufacturers. and numerous
kindred methods for sitting competi-
ton and effecting monopoly, should be
described with sufficient accuracy In q
criminal statute on the one hand to
enable the government to shorten its
task by prosecuting single INSIDE
meanors instead Of an entire con-
spiracy. and, on the other hand. to
serve the purpose of pointing out
more In detail to the business COM
munity what must be avoided.
Federal Incorporation Recommended.
In a special message to congress
on January z. 1910, ventured to
point out the disturbance to business
that would probably attend the disso-
luton of these offending trusts.
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, EN-.
ployes, and associated tradesmen must
necessarily tend to disturb the con-
fdence of the business community,
to dry up the now flowing sources of
capital from its places of boarding,
and produce halt in our present
prosperity that will cause suffering
and strained circumstances among
the innocence many for the faults of
the guilty few. The question which
I wish in this message, to bring clear
ly to the consideration and discus
sion Of congress Is whether, in order
to avoid such possible business
danger, something cannot be done by
which these business combinations
may be offered means, without great
financial disturbance, of changing the
character, organization, and extent of
their business into one within the
lines of the law under federal control
and supervision, securing compliance
with the antitrust statute.
Generally, in the industrial com.
binations called Trusts the prin.
cipal business is the sale Of goods in
many states and in foreign markets;
in other words, the interstate and for.
eign business far exceeds the bust
ness done in any one state. This
fact will justify the federal govern
ment in granting federal charter
to such a combination to make and
sell in interstate and foreign com
perce the products of useful manu-
facture under such limitations as Will
secure compliance with the anti
trust law. 1t is possible so to frame
statute that while 1t offers protec
ton to federal company against
harmful, vexatious, and unnecessary
invasion by the states, it shall sub
ject 1t to reasonable taxation and
control by the states with respect to
its purely local business.
Corporations organized under this
act should be prohibited from &C
quiring and holding stock in other
corporations Except for special rea
sons. upon approval by the proper
federal authority, thus avoiding the
creation under national auspices of the
holding company with subordinate
corporations in different states, which
has been such an effective agency in
the creation of the great trusts and
monopolies.
IF the prohibition of the antitrust
act against combi:. atoms in restraint
Of trade is to be effectively enforced
1T is essential that the national gov
eminent shall provide for the creation
Of national corporations to carry on q
legitimate business throughout the
United States. The conflicting laws oil
the different states of the Union with
respect to foreign corporations makes
1t difficult, If not impossible. for ore
corporation to comply with their re
quirements so as to carry on business
in number of different states"
renew the recommendation of the
enactment Of a general law providing
for the voluntary formation of cor
porations to engage in trade and com
merce among the states and with for
eign nations. Every argument which
was then advanced for such law
and every explanation which was a,
that time offered to possible objec
tions, have been confirmed by our ex
perience since the enforcement OF
the antitrust statute has resulted In