New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-20
WA SHINGTOV

Of state, Huntington Wilson. who was
called before the committee II is not
known how the House Committee can cor
rect the affair at this late date or how It's
inquiry can recoup the republic of sah.o
Domingo. but, at any rate. DR.. Hollander
explanation is expected to be an interest
ing one. and the committee wants to hear IT,
THE ROOT AMENDMENT. -Enthusias-
tic supporters OF the Canadian reciprocity
agreement are opposed to the amendment
proposed by Senator Root. which appears
70 stand an excellent chance Of being
adopted by the Senate Committee on FL
nance 1t IL probable, however. that those
who oppose the amendment regard IL with
more apprehension than IL entirely war
ranted. or. indeed, than they will snow
II IT actually become a part Of the agree
ment. In effect. Mr.. Roots amendment
merely suspends pulp wood and print paper
from the operation OF the reciprocity agree
ment until all Canada may be wililhs
10 act uniformly with regard to these pro"-
uots. Some Of the Canadian provinces iii
pose export duties on pulp wood cut HUM
the crown lands therein. Under the agree
ment as submitted to Congress the Pio
visions of the agreement affecting pup
wood and paper would not go into eueCt DE-
between the United States and these prov
inces until that export duty was reihoNe'
Under the Root amendment those ProNi
sions would not go into effect until t'ie
exnort duties had been uniformly remover
throughout the Dominion. or course the
amendment might defer for all time 'he
- raoiprorifN with REGARD "
these two commodities That would depehu
an canada which is confronted by situa-
,ion analogous to that which would ire
ouently confront the United o'd'ee
the several states permitted by the
tuition to lay export duties. lhere l. -,
tle evidence however. that the auopoo"
of the Root amendment would deiea. '"e
agreement 1t does not stand on al io'i
Nth an amendment which would seek u
subtract from the concessions maui "
Canada. for instance. Because Vi t"o -
o,r,or conditions controlling the pulp ana
paper situation in Canada II was ioN"'
necessary to deal with them In specidi
paragraph and on basis separate
that on which the remainder or the ae'e
ment rests, and the presufnp'NeiS ''
norarv euspension of that section mas hot
heen shown 10 constitute serious menace
~ the remainder of the agreement
THE CALLED JADE.-The bitter COM
plants of the trusts. and more especiah'
If those attorneys whose business IL Is 10
advise them. that the Supreme Court IN
fermentation of the Sherman law does not
helm that il is still impossible TO determine
how far would-be trust may go without
getting its fingers pinched. etc, are oe
ginning 10 materialize. This is preclsely
what the government officials have all
along expected-what was forecast IN 'fls
column even before the decision was rem
dered From the point of view or the gov
eminent there is no sound reason loi
these complaints. despite the fact that
there is a very natural one. In the opinion
Of the federal lawyers. the court mas SAID
in effect: you must not create monopoly
nor seek 10 create one. The Sherman la"
forbids IT, You may rely upon the courts
to be guided by the rule of reason aho'
therefore. the mere fact that YOU happen
10 have entered into contract whlch INCL
dentallv effects a restraint Of trade VIII not
he held 10 render YOU liable to penalty FOR
violating the statute. You are perfectly
safe provided you neither effect nor seek
10 effect monopoly" OF course. there Is
! little comfort in this TO those who would
seek 10 effect a monopoly. who realize that
the profits they have enjoyed in the past
can he enjoyed only through monopoly
and who have long desired that the SUI
preme Court so far commit itself that they
NAV continue to strive for a monopoly
while. 10 escape the penalties OF the law,
| thew need only point 10 the SPECIFIC decla-
ration Of the court and show that they
| have avoided all violation Of the letter of
the law as there laid down The man who
is content 10 build up his business under
normal conditions and 10 seek his profits
/ in the open field Of competition has, in the
opinion of the government. nothing 10 fear
from the Sherman law Is now interpreted
while the man who seeks some ingenious
device whereby he may eliminate competi-
ton has everything TO fear Nor does the
administration regard with any large de-
gree Of respect the contentious Of the bust
ness man who asserts that he cannot tell
whether or not he is seeking to eliminate
competition and create a monopoly.
G. c. II.