The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-12-14

and It would be Of great value to the
legal branch OF the government Mr..
Wickersham says. IL the functions Of
the bureau should be so enlarged that
II could be called upon ofTiclaiIy to
make Investigations and report its
conclusions with respect to plans for
the voluntary or enforced disintegra-
ton Of monopolistic combinations.
Reviews Year.
The attorney general reviews the
record Of a year OF intense activity In
federal prosecutions and points out
that the department financially gus
tanned itself as the result Of the con-
tribution of $4,204.115 to the United
States treasury in the shape OF fines
collected, custom duties recoveries,
etc. The expense Of the department.
including the Office of the attorney
general, all the district attorneys and
assistants throughout the country ag-
sregated ss.222s.77s.
In a comprehensive review OF the
anti trust prosecutions, the attorney
general shows that the seventeen an
ti-trust civil suits pending at the be-
ginning Of the last fiscal year were
augmented by six additional actions.
L
under the same statute were increased
by twenty three more prosecutions
during the last fiscal year.
Eight civil actions and similar
number Of criminal trials were brought
to conclusion during the year. In four
of the civil prosecutions judgments
were rendered In favor OF the United
States, while three were lost and one
was discontinued. Four convictions
were secured until the criminal clause
Of the statute during the year and four
cases were either quashed or discon-
tinued.
Declaring that he appreciates that
public interest I'm the Sherman anti
trust law was even greater" than IL
was at the date of his last report, the
attorney general sets forth the follow
ing cases as being prosecuted or pend
ing for final settlement:
"The powder trust. the night rider
cases; United States Steel corporation;
cotton corner; alleged towing monop-
oily; beef packers; Southern Pacific
merger; bituminous coal combinations;
naval store suit: bathtub trust; lum-
Der trust; milk trust; wall paper COM
bination; sugar trust: trans-Atlantic
steamship pool magazine trust; shoe
machinery trust: combination of coal
roads; elevator suit in okiahoma and
kindling wood trust.
Tobacco Trust Decree.
Emphasizing his satisfaction with
the decree OF the New York circuit
court in the tobacco trust dissolution.
the attorney general has this to sayeof
Independent tobacco interests who
have criticised the plan OF disintegra-
ton:
Competitors of the existing combi-
nation were eager to compel the i'm
position Of terms or conditions OF the
disintegration which would have made
solvent, successful business read
iustment impossible, would have
brought about a receivership OF the
property and forced judicial sales. re-
sulting in great financial loss, not only
to those interested in the combination.
but to the business interests OF the
country at large, and in the end would
have benefited only the very individ-
uaIs who had been dominant In the
formation Of the combination, as they
are possessed OF means ample enough
to profit by the ruin which would have
followed. in my opinion, the plan
which has been approved by the court
will accomplish the objects of the law"
Forty-six prosecutions for illegal
Determinations and rebates We're in
stituted against railroads during the
year. The attorney general urges the
amendment fthe twenty eight hour
law governing the railroad Transport
tation Of live stock by imposing an
imprisonment penalty for its violation.
The vigorous enforcement Of the
| customs laws, the attorney general
says, resulted in the recovery Of ST.
40. 5000 in duties out OF which the gov
. eminent had been defrauded.
i, White Slavery Act.
The white slave trafTic act, now b
year and half old, Is having a sal
utary effect, In the judgment OF Mr..
Wickersham. The statute was dill
gently enforced throughout. the coun-
try, he AYERS. with most satisfactory
results. One hundred and forty-fve
prosecutions were had, resulting in
seventy-six convictions fourteen ac-
: quittals and ten noile pressed or 9TH
, erwise discontinued. Forty-hve cases
'. are pending. Sentences imposed rang
ed from a few months in Jail to ten
! years in the penitentiary.
IL While prosecutions against peonage.
. the attorney general says, has done
, much to stamp 1t out the practice still
appears to be quite extensively carried
on In some OF the southern states. He
lsusgests the strengthening OF the
! statutes so as TO afford efficient pro-
Election Of persons against slavery and
/, involuntary servitude. except 40
, punishment for crime.
Mr.. Wickersham calls attention to
! the discovery OF extensive irreguIari-
ties and In some cases actual dishon-
esty In Offices OF clerks OF the United
! States courts. No effective reform, he
I cIaresa can be accomplished until the
lpower Of removing the clerks Ii taken
from the judges and lodged In the press
ident and the clerks paid aa specific
sum. instead Of the fees aystem.
III Declaring that many OF the TAILS
where federal prisoners are confined
are wholly unsuitable for the deteu-
ton OF human beings and are shock
: | ing breeding places Of crime" the at
. Itorney general recommends the So
Ip0intm0nt Of commission to Inquire
/ Il into the conditions This commission
! also would consider the general treat-
! ment Of juveniles and first offenders
III The attorney general also recom-
nends that the federal governmept be
l given the right to bring an action
against an individual or corporation
: Il IN any part OF the country without
lrestrz04ion "a 10 the place Of realaenca