Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-01

A vast reorganization of more than
100 combinations of capital, which at
present are modelled along the same
lines as the companies ordered dis
solved.
Fewer civil suits for the dissolution
of illegal combinations and more GRIM
inal indictments Of the men response
BILE for any undue restraint Of trade.
Recommendation by the president in
his next annual message that the
Wickersham federal Incorporation bill
be passed in order to take out Of the
hands of the courts the duty of over
seeing the reorganization of illegal
combinations and placing this power
in the hands OF the federal govern
ment.
Maintenance upon the statute books
of the anti trust law as it stands.
Criminal prosecution of the officials
Of the tobacco trust providing the
study being made by the attorney gen
eral does not establish their immunity
under the statute Of limitation.
Taft Pleased With Decisions.
To callers today President Taft made
no secret Of his satisfaction with the
Interpretation Of the antitrust law
which the supreme court made. He
was satisfied with the Standard OIL de-
cision; he is doubly satisfied with the
one handed down In the tobacco trust
case The latter supplements and
clarifies the first.
The court v!ndicated its rule Of rea-
son. gave to the statute "vivifying
potentiality no honest man may fear"
applied the doctrine Of common sense,
demonstrated that the Sherman law
has teeth and that those who violate 1t
do 50 at their peril. Without disturb
ing business It requires honesty In
business methods and conduct.
And above all. by directing reorgan-
izations in accordance with the views
OF the court below It furnishes an OBJ
ject lesson which all wise capitalists
win follow. Moreover, thru the au-
thority to appoint receiver granted
to the circuit court in the tobacco case
the supreme court has taken q step
unheard Of in it's previous history. one
certain to force the adoption OF meth
DDS to end all the evils.
Six Big Suits Pending.
There are pending six antitrust
suits which involve practically the
same facts and conditions condemned
by the supreme court, and upon which
the government expects a favorable
and now an early decision. These
are:
l.. A proceeding instituted in New
York last November against the Amer
lean Sugar Refining Company and
other companies and individuals form
ing what Is commonly known as the
sugar trust.
g A petition in equity filed in New
York last January against the Ham
burg Amerillansche Packet-Fahrt-
Action Gesellschaft and a number Of
steaming companies. forming what is
known as the steamship pool or ocean
freight trust.
81 petition In equity fled In
Cleveland last March against the Cen
eral Electric Company and others.
forming the electrical appliances trust.
A. A petition IN equity filed in New
York ten days ago against the Eastern
States Retail Lumber Dealers Asso-
citation and others.
5. Prosecution Of the Reading and
other railroad companies owning and
operating anthracite coal mines,
known as the anthracite coal trust.
6. Suit for the dissolution of the gun
powder trust. involving the appoint
ment of receiver, such as was direct
ed by the supreme court in certain
contingencies with respect to the to-
bacco trust.
Will Prosecute individuals.
In connection with these prosecu-
tons 1t may be said that, with respect
to their officials, they are to be
brought to swift punishment in case Of
the expected finding that they are un-
reasonably and unduly operating in
restraint of trade.
More consideration, 1t is claimed,
should be shown to the Standard Oil
Company and the Tobacco Company
than to their successors in litigation
because the first named have been put
in the position Of enabling the govern
ment to find out the exact meaning Of
the law. Moreover, attention Is called
to the fact that the men behind these
enterprises must devote themselves
exclusively. to the work of reorganiza-
ton during the next six months, task
presenting great difficulty and one
which should not be hampered by the
government. However, in the case Of
the tobacco company, unless the stat
ute of limitation applies, prosecution
Will occur.
| 1t Is recognized by lawyers that the
supreme court has placed tremendous
responsibility upon the courts below.
The decisions Of the highest tribunal
announce in general terms the princi-
pies to be applied, and 1t will be the
duty Of the circuit courts to approve
| q reorganization which will be "in har-
mony with and not repugnant to the
law"
Must Dissolve the Combine.
It will be their duty to see that the
two trusts are dissolved and that all OF
the forms Of restraint and methods
employed by them to create and main
tain their monopolies shall be ended
IN addition, the courts must ASCERTAIN
In advance whether the new methods
proposed harmonic with the law a
\ \ S::::..!ernreted and the principles An laid
down by the supreme court.
It is not TO be expected that the
courts win devise the plan TO b fol.
flowed BY the Illegal corporations. Thu
Inter Will prepare several schemes