New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-27
B0RAH QUESTIONS
SHERMAN LAWS USE
Idaho Senator Starts Inquiry
Into the Value of Anti
Trust Statute.
STEEL TRUST ARRAlGNED
Though Not Named, It's Forma-
ton and Growing Power
Are Called Defiance
of Law.

Washington. July 2e.-FoIlowing an at
tack 10y Senator Borah. OF Idaho. on tine
enforcement Of the Sherman antitrust law
in the twenty years il has been In exist
ence. the Senate to-day adopted a resolu-
ton offered by Senator Clapp. ~ Mime
sofa. calling for an investigation into the
operation OF the law to determine what
changes or amendments are necessary 10
make it an adequate protection against UNI
lawful monopolies and trusts.
Mr.. Borah's arraignment of the statute
was inspired by Senator Pomerene. who
called up his resolution demanding criminal
prosecution of the officers OF the Standard
Oil and American Tobacco companies under
the recent decisions Of the Supreme Court.
The resolution Of Senator Clapp gives au-
thority 20 the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee Of which he is chairman, 20
conduct an inquiry into the operation OF
the law and TO make recommendations 10
the Senate Of any changes 80 may think
necessary relating 20 The creation and
control Of corporations engaged in inter
state commerce
Either tho sherman law is a failure.
asserted Senator Borah, wrong In contem-
plstion Of law and inevpedient as an eco
nomic proposition, or else there has neen
the most remarkable trifing with the exc
cution Of the law that has ever been noted
since law first was placed on the statute
books 10 be regarded and oheved by man.
Mr. Rorah said the Sherman law had been
i'm effect for twenty wears with four APP
parently simple. efficient and drastic
remedies against illegal combinations or
trusts.
yet every one knows that the last
twenty wears have been years in which the
most remarkable progress has been made
by these combinations ne said and not
an embarrassment has been placed on them
so far as their ultimate success was con-
cerned. although this simple, efficient and
drastic law has been on the statute DOCKS
an that time.
Without specifically mentioning the
United states Steel Corporation. Senator
Borah said.
"Evarv one will remember when one "
the greatest combinations that We know io
a,,ie+ before it was formed. advertised M
t,a reUsrapers for weeks and months
ahead nat r. was going 10 be formed
The details 90 n remarkable degree were
civo- II was known before the corpora
aon charter was filed and the combines
made that the powerful combination win
s-oo nm 0oo o. watered stock. supported DIV
the most marvellous banking combination
I'm tho world was going into existence
while this law existed prohibiting it ana
Giving the government the power 10 re-
strain its formation.
Notwithstanding that this Information
was ar hand and tho remedy known ana
,rovidad for. notwithstanding that the "'-
rale ar6 the facts to- remarkable extent
we're laid before the people, the means
which provided for under the law en-
ioin.ur its formation were not invoked
and the statute was permitted 10 remain =
doad letter during the time of the lorna
ton NJ this corporation. which has no"
anrerartlv passed beyond the control or inc
government ~ the United States.
a cornoration-or those promoting j.
notifies the people IN defiance of law mat
i, 0ouid ne formed. a. 70 how ~ would
ha ,or-uad. tho extent OF IT'S power. ana
tber proceeds IN the face of the statute
and TODAY exercises = most marvellous
ro,,or Inn the financial world, IN the no-
1iticaI world. and IN the industrial world
a0a n mistake not places the stamp NJ
snproval or disapproval on many An act of
legislation in the Congress of the mted
states