The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-02-23

conditions are exceeded.
The report severely condemns the
original promoters of the sugar trust,
but describes the 10000 present own
ers Of the stock of the American Sugar
Refining company as innocent pur-
chasers" of profitable stock which was
unloaded on them by the few men
who organized the sugar trust.
Henry o. Havemeyer is given credit
for the organization of the combina-
ton.
Law Violation Charged.
The committee charges that since
the organization Of the American
Sugar Refining company in 1891 it has
repeatedly violated the Sherman law.
AT the time it was chartered the
Sherman law had been in force more
than six months, and both its organiza-
ton and existence, coupled with its
methods of doing business, was. as the
testimony seems to indicate to your
committee, a palpable and continuing
violation of the Sherman law" the re-
port continues.
And yet no serious attempt was
made (prior to November, 1870 to
invoke the civil remedies provided by
the antitrust law against the cor
poration. 1t is also to be noted that
the government has not even up to the
present time. SO far as has appeared,
made any effort to enforce the penal
provisions of the Sherman law"
Against Price Regulation.
Twenty-one actions which the COM
mittee holds violations Of the Sherman
law are enumerated, and the report
says:
These salient facts indicate with
emphasis the basic condition
of the problem uncovered by this CON-
mittee:
That we have in this government
ample machinery for rigid inquisition
into the property of these $4,000 peo-
pie and for suits to decompose that
property into its original parts by the
destruction Of it's organization, but
there is no arrangement Of govern
ment whatever whereby any one Of
these $4,000 people might have been
informed definitely of the hazards in
to which he or she was buying"
The report discusses the doctrine OF
government regulation of prices but
discourages it. saying. Competition
and individuality are the great rene
dies hat have been sufficient through
all the ages to protect us from the
evils that now threaten. We are not
yet ready to write an epitaph over
either"
No Beet Sugar Combine.
The committee estimates that $3.50
per cent of the sugar business is con-
trolled by the combine. 1t also finds
that the trust has a large interest
in the beet sugar end of the business.
With it's strongest competitor, Ar
buckle Brothers, there is said to be a
condition of armed neutrality"
OF the beet sugar growers the report
says:
Your committee reports that the
evidence as taken does not disclose
combinations between manufacturers
in the beet sugar industry that have
caused or had a tendency to a
decrease in the cost of sugar beets."
Washington. d. G.. - Investigation
Of the war department as an out
growth Of the difference between the
secretary of war and General Wood
and former Adjutant General Aims
worth, which eliminated in the lat
ter's retirement after a threatened
courtmartial. is 10Y practically as
sured.
General Ainsworth was s~ubpoenaed
to appear before the house commit
tee of expenditure in the war depart.
ment. He was directed to produce
papers of the department relating to
the charges against Major B. Ray, but
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