The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-05

declaring the iuegality of particular
practices is necessary 10 clothe the
courts with fun power 10 prevent any
ana all acts which NAV be employed
10 accomplish the Illegal purposes de-
nounced by the statute
Il am strongly OF the opinion. says
Mr.. Wickefsham. that the advocacy
of amendments OF the law which shall
partculari2e different acts as consti-
tuting unlawful restraints or attempts
at monopoly has its origin not SO
much with those who desire the en-
torcement OF the law, as with those
who are anxious 10 secure a sale
means Of its evasion. An enumera-
ton by statute of the different prac-
tices which. in and Of themselves,
without regard TO the circumstances or
particular cases, should be declared il
legal will either so too far OF not tar
enough"
Advises Public hearing.
The attorney general takes issue
with the decision OF Judges Colt
Putnam and Brown Of Boston. author
izing the hearing In private before an
examiner Of the civil antitrust suit
against the United Shoe Machinery
Company and asks for legislation ad-
mitting the public Representatives and
the press 10 such hearings.
The decision. it appears 20 me"
continues Mr.. WicEersham, is based
upon manifest misconception Of the
nature OF the proceedings ana the
character OF the parties. When the
government Of the United States Is q
party to a suit, and particularly 10 a
suit brought under the Sherman anti
trust law, to prevent unlawful re-
straint upon interstate commerce or
foreign commerce-essentiall a mat
ter affecting the public-all the people
have a legitimate interest in the pro-
ceeding and are entitled TO know lust
what evidence is being given and when
il is given. The public are the real
parties TO the suit
The suit against the Coffee Trust
or the Brazilian vaiorizatiou scheme,
the operations OF which. the attorney
general says has resulted in more than
doubling the retail price of coffee 10
the American consumer and thereby
laying heavy tax upon him has de-
veloped what the attorney general re-
CARDS as a defect In the still operative
section Of the Wilson tariff law dealing
with combinations. Pointing to the
fact that the government was unable
In
straining the expectation of g2O 600
bags of coffee. sand 10 be stored in New
York city under the valori2atiou
scheme the attorney general recon
mends the enactment of an amend
ment 20 the Wilson law, authorizing
the seizure by the government in the
state of entry OF merchandise import
ed for the purposes Of unlawful COM
bination. Al present such commoditie7
must be IN the course of interstate
transportation to Justify seizure
The voluntary dissolution of tho
National Packing Company following
the acduittal AT Chicago OF the beef
packers Of criminal violation OF the
sherman law. has accomplished in the
belief Of the attorney general. "a sub
stanual restoration of competitive
conditions in a large industry whrh
have not Tor long time heretofore
existed
Would Recover Petroleum.
The attorney general announces his
intention Of soon filing suits in equity
against the Southern Pacific railroad
company. and others Tor recovery or
vast areas Of petroleum bearing lards
IN California said 10 be worth more
than $500 600 GOO. The legislation
under which the patents were srauted
TO the railroad company So says ex-
cepted mineral lands other than iron
or coal lands The railroad company
contends. according to the attorney
general, that the exceptions in the
patents are void
The Department of Justice. includ-
ing the offices of the attorney general
and all the United States attorneys.
has been on a paving basis during
President Tafts term of Office ac-
cording TO figures submitted ia the
report a surplus of nearly 100000
over expenses having been turned into
the federal treasury. For the four
years ended June 30 last the depart
ment collected s11,2l2959 through
suits and compromises and expended
$3.50, SOS. The collections FOR the
preceding four years amounted to So
5s7,442 and expenses Sc 366,79S Ia
addition, the government recovered
durins the past four years l6231t9
acres of public lands.