Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-12-16

the kellogg Halnes Singing Party. Jan.
uary 6.
Advocates Reform Of Trusts
Continued From Page One.)
should in the future be required, it
is important that the truth be known
lest injustice be done, not so much to
the manufacturer rs to the consumer
Some men, we'll informed, argue
that tho fixing Of refill prices under
conditions where competition in man
ufacture exists tends to promote com
petition. Others say that the refusal
to permit the. fixing OF retail prices
tends to monopoly because in the cut
throat competition certain to follow
obviously the stronger competitor will
survive and may eventually have the
business in his own hands, for the
law forbids the making of agree
ments to maintain prices, and under
these circumstances the weakest must
go to the wall. Such being the
views expressed by thoughtful men on
q matter in which every consumer is
interested, because he must needs
buy such articles. it Is important that
the subject should receive thoughtful
study, and this the bureau OF corpora
lions purposes to give to it.
"That there are Immediate and
Inou,n oonAi&inuo thot oh
and can be remedied by law is appar
ent. Some of these remedies are, FOL
instance, law providing that there
shall be q presumption that all re
straints of trade are unreasonable
and placing the burden Of establish
ing the reasonableness of such re
straint upon the party alleging it;
legislation preventing the watering OF
stocks; that corporations shall not
hold stock in other competing com
panies, and that neither a person nor
a corporation shall at the same time
own controlling interest in two OF
more competing corporations, or that
the officers Of corporations shall not
be affiliated directly or indirectly by
holding Office in other corporations.
Congress will undoubtedly address
itself to some Of these aspects of the
situation with curative provisions
Regardless of such legislation, how
ever, there still remains fundament.
al economic fact to be determined. to-
wit, whether the trust or monopoligt,
ic form is socially and economically
efficient in production, as is alleged;
and upon the solution of this problem
must depend the ultimate attitude ot
government toward combination and
consultations in business.
"Of the old Investigations those on
tobacco, water transportation,
the harvester industry and corporate
taxation remain to be concluded by
the publication of additional reports,
but all will probably be closed up
within the next II months. In addi-
tion to these are the new investiga.
tons OF the fertilizer industry, the re.
lationship OF the Oklahoma oil fields
to the general oil market, and the
cotton pool.
& An investigation of trade agree
ments is also in progress, with a view
to establishing some facts as to what
agreements, il any, apparently in re.
restraint OF trade, are really in aid
Of competition and should he exempt.
ed from the operation Of the Sherman
act. There is also an investigation
pending with reference to the merits
and dement's OF condition which
prohibits q uniform price from being
fixed by manufacturers and jobbers,
binding upon retailers, as to articles
of their manufacture"
Secretary Redfleld outlines his
plans for a reorganization Of the bn-
reau of foreign and domestic com.
merce:;,
"Our foreign commerce has grown
by leaps and bounds. until during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1913, it
reached the great total Of $4,279, OO0,-
900 in value OF this great sum ST.
466,000,000 were exports and .$1,Sl3,-
100000 We're imports, showing q
trade balance on these transactions in
our favor of 1858 100000. 1t certainly
cannot be said that the government
has done much 10 foster this great
and growing trade In the estimates
for the coming fiscal year. therefore,
sum has been included which will
provide for the reorganization OF the
bureau into such form as will make
It the basis for productive effort In
developing American Industries in
every field, which is normal to them
at home and abroad.
Briefly stated, the proposed organ.
ization provides for commercial at.
taches to be located at each OF four
teen capitals accredited to our EN-.
bassies there by the department of
state, but reporting directly to the
department of commerce. Their p,lr-
pose will be to study the commerce
and industries Of the nations where
they reside. They will have no other
duties. They will collaborate with
the consuls, having the advantage Of
the larger view and Of the freedom
from other cares.
1t is recommended that the con-
suls shall, on purely commercial
report directly to the depart.
ment Of commerce and that they shalt
cooperate with the commercial at
taches in presenting between them a
complete and unified knowledge Of
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