The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-06-08
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
hen!lan Hade OF Many Important News
Items About the Capital City.
Special CORRESPONDENCE.

Washington, D. c., June 9Th
Supreme Court Of the United State
handed down a sweeping decisio
against the Tobacco Trust Monday
1t was the last case disposed of be
fore the summer recess. Chief Jus
tice White delivered the opinion As
sociate Justice Harlan dissenting o.
the Tight of reason" construction
The trust is adjudged a combination
in restraint Of trade, an attempt t.
monopolize, and monopoly. Com
blnat!on, as to practically all con
stltuent concerns, is dissolved in /;
sweeping decision. Six months
time allowed for dissolution. 1ndi
vidual defendants and foreign cor
porations are included in the court.
findings. Way opened for crimina
prosecution of tobacco princes. Fol
first time the principle of receiver.
snip in enforcement Of the Sherman
law is recognized, and through which
q wide field is opened for effective
enforcement of antitrust laws.
Chief Justice White insists Sherman
law has been vitalized, not weaken
ed, by light Of reason construc-
ton. Justice Harlan forcibly oE-
jects to legislation by judicial con-
struction, and warns court people
will not submit. Tobacco combina-
ton is composed Of sixty-fve corpor-
ations, the eight largest Of which
have combined capital of over $780,
000,O 900.
The decisions Of the Supreme
Court in the Standard Oil and To-
bacco Trust cases will have whole
some effect on all combinations in
restraint of trade, and will undoubt-
ediy cause many small concerns to
business owing to the
fear Of large organizations pushing
them to the wall by underselling be-
ing removed. = The chief trouble
with all large aggregations Of capi-
ia! is that they become arrogant and
become a law to themselves, know
ing 10 law but that which concerns
them, and overriding and evading
the law until they imagine they are
superior to the law and are not bound
to respect its provisions. 1t is high
time halt was called.
Tuesday was National Memorial
Day and public holiday here.
There were only 500 old soldiers in
line for the parade that morning.
This small remnant of old soldiers
to show that they are fast
passing away, and it will be but
few years more when the last will
nave departed to that 'bourne from
whence no traveller ever yet return
ed" President Taft and Senator
Curtis delivered the addresses at
Arlington, the former home Of Gen.
Robert e. Lee, now the National
Cemetery, where sleep thousands of
soldiers and officers until the last
trump shall sound their awakening.
Representative Burns, of Tennes-
see, on Tuesday asked if the Attor-
ney General of the United States
had begun criminal prosecution Of
the officers Of the American Tobacco
Company, or if such proceedings are
contemplated The resolution has
the support of the House Democrats
and undoubtedly will be passed. The
Tobacco Company and six
ty-four constituent corporations and
individual defendants
will be prosecuted. They are James
B. Duke, ~Cabcl C. Duke, Percival S.
Hill. George Arvents, Paul Brown,
Robert B. Duke, George A. Helm,
Robert D. Levitt, Thomas j. Maho-
aey, Oliver H. Payne, Thomas F.
Ryan, Robert K. Smith, George w.
Watts, George G.. Allen, John B.
Cobb, William r. Harris, William
Fl. McAllister, Anthony M. Brady,
H. Duke, H. M. Hannah,
Herbert A. Kingsbury, Pierre Loril-
lard, Rufus L. Patterson, Frank II.
Ray. Grant B. Schley, Charles Strait,
Peter A. B. Widener. Wilford C
Reed and Williamson w. Fuller.
To date there have been .the fol-
lowing corporations prosecuted ur
der the Sherman law: Paper Trust,
New York; Cotton Corner Trust,
New York; Beef Packers Trust,
Chicago, Savannah and Boston;
Brick Trust, Chicago; Window Glass
Trust, Pittsburg; Bath Tub Trust,
Detroit: Milk Trust, Boston. The
Paper Trust and the Window Glass