The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-23
VAN HISE SCORES
ANTITRUST LAW
Declares II Causes an Appalling
Waste In Mining

NcrSltN ol WISCONSIN, arfulgned the
sherman Antitrust law last night as
the one agency responsible more than
any other Tor appalling waste in min
in- and consequent grand larceny
trom iUture generations OF a portion
Of their Inheritance Of natural re-
sources.
To propose the repeal Of the Sher-
man law. DR. Van Hise asserted,
would Doe chimerical at the present
time, but il should be amended SO that
under its provisions cooperation
would he permitted. Unrestrained
competition, he added, meant appal-
ling waste; and waste was positively
opposed 10 the policy of conservation.
W hen The Sherman law was passed,
he said. the wheels. so far as coop
Grafton VAS concerned. were immedi-
atcly turned back 10 the conditions OF
the middle ages To remedy the evil,
he continued, an Interstate Trade
Commission should be fashioned with
broad powers like those of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, To regu-
late corporation in industry. Monop-
oily should be prohibited but business
men SHOULD be permitted to fix prices.
divide territory and curtai output
within reasonable limits.
Losses in Coal Mining
DIR. Van Hiso said In part:
There can DC no question that the
competitive system. when unresrain-
"a, is positively opposed to the policy
Of conservation. The wastefulness Of
the competitive system may be proved
with regard 10 every product which
is taken from the earth. But the most
disastrous losses in mining as far as
the future of ;hc human race is con-
Ccrncd are in connection with coal.
Director Holmes. of the United states
Bureau or Mines, SAYS that at the
present time not more than fifty per
cent of the anthracite reaches the sur
face. Tho sltgation is nearly similar
for bituminous coal. Holmes estimates
that since the beginning Of mining in
the United States two million tons Of
anthracite and three billion tons of
bitumincus coal have been left under
around in such condition as To make
is future recovery doubtful or impos-
slblc.
Under tho sherman act there is no
opporuritl TO limit output, divide ter
rtory, or regulate prices Five thou
saud Dituminous operators could pro-
cucc tive hundred million tons Of coal
q ~ L..
II the operators could agree upon linn
itation on output and division of mar
Fot prices which would give them no
more than their present profit, they
would then b, able To- follow these
principles I'm mining their coal Under
the competitive system, We are reck-
!assly akimming tho cream Of the nat
ural resources OF virgin continent
with no regard tor the rights OF our
children or our children's chndrden.
Remedy for Conditions
Ny proposal to remedy these con-
oitions IS neither regulated compc-
ton, nor regulated monopoly. but re-
tention Of competition. prohibition OF
monopoly, permission OF monopoly,
rormiss.on Of cooperation, and rogu-
lation Of tho latter. At the present
time there are state and national
movements TO extend still further the
advantages Of cooperation to the
farmer. We shall. | believe. ultimate
~ permit cooperation in an lines OF
business alike. If we, however. retain
freedom Of competition. permit con-
ccntrayion sufficient To give offlcien-
cy, allow reasonable co-oper atlon, and
prevent monopoly this will require
regulation just as it has been neces-
sary 90 regulate the railroads.
This done, the sherman law will
be forgotten. Has the been any pros
Ccution Of the railroads for violations
OF the sherman law because of collu-
sion in fixing rates? And yet. every
one knows that they arc just rs fla
grant viClators OF the sherman act as
any other class Of corporations in the
United states. Are the freight rates
the same for different roads between
any two points? Are the passenger
rates between Philadelphia and Chi
cago identical on all roads? Tho rate
Is the same providing tho speed is tho
same. How does 1t happen that the
roads al got together? Just by Prov
idence, ! suppose.
Railroads Not Attacked
"Thc railroads arc just as amenablo
to attack under tho Sherman act as
sny other combination In the United
states, but when the railroads are
giving reasonable rates, and are COM
reting in giving servico--cvcn If the
law Is on the statute book and is the
hallowed thing that has been des-
cribcd--tho sense Of official justice
is such that they arc not attacked in
the courts.
However, it is wron, condition
when We have ON the statute book q
Jaw OF kind which requires the of
fetal OF justice 20 close one eye when
ever they pass by the men in control
az one great group Of industries. and
at the same moment see other men
not one whit more guilty. We ought
20 remedy this condition go that the
honorable business men shall not DC