The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-12
Urges q Law Supplemental to
the Sherman Act.
THEY CLOSE THE OTHER EYE
Saws Public Officials Are Ex-
pected Not to See
Violations of Antitrust Laws
by Certain Interests.

washington, reD. LIZ
Charles r. Van Hise. of the University
of Wisconsin, proposed before the
Chamber of Commerce Of America mere
today that the Sherman ANTITRUST law
should be supplemented by an act
which would forbid only comb1nations
and contracts in restraint OF trade that
are detrimental to the weiIare OIL tie
people. He charged that for politl-
cal reasons laws against monopoiles
and restraints of trade are enforced,
only against 'big business, the smaii
dealer, the farmer and the laborer De-
ing permitted to combine and monopo-
lie at will.
Under the enforced competitive sys-
tem," President Van Hise sald' we
are recklessly skimming the cream Oh
the natural resources of a virgin con-
tinent. with no concern for the future.
To support this contention. the speak
er said that the coal mines couio pIo-
duce 200, ,OOO, 600 tons more coal per yeaI
than the market demanded. put thae
the operators, regulated by the one.-
| man act, were compelled 10 manure ,i.4;...
mines, without cooperation In llmltihs
the output, dividing territory, or reeu-
lating prices. Such practices result
he said, in mining In a Waste1ui las.-
ion, working thick veins and negiect,
ing the thin veins in order to get coai
to the market at the lowest PoSSio'e
cost.
Limitation of Output.
IF the operators could agree upon
| Limitation of output, so as to reduce
| freight" continued the speaker, anu
could arrange for reasonable prices,
which would give them no more tnan
their present profits. they would ex-
plot coal conservatively, and they
would be the gamers IN prolongtng the
life Of the mines for future genera
/ tions.
so far as the public is concerned in
the separation of the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific railways, the only ef-
sect is that there will be fewer through
trains, greater expense in accounting
and less close cooperation between the
two systems, in handling the freight
and passenger business
II am willing to stand for enforce
ment of the law when it is enforced
alike for all. but when some one i:
picked out because it is good politics
to attack him, and the others are al
lowed to escape. / say, it is pro
foundly immoral situation. To hav'
statute which requires the officials
justice to close one eye whenever the!
pass by the men in control OF som
Industries and. at the same momen
see other men not one whit more guilt.
is not justice. And that is exactly tn
existing situation in this country"
Small Trusts as Well.
The speaker said it had been general
ly assumed that the only violators O
the Sherman act were combination
such as the Steel and Tobacco trusts
and that the small business men an
small producers were not dealt wit
under the law although they co-Operat
: in exactly the same way as the NOR
powerful organizations.
CONGRESS well understands this stu
5 ation," he continued, land at a recen
session a paragraph containing an ar
, preparation of 100000 for the enforce
! ment OF the antitrust laws was al
e tached. with a proviso, that none {
t the money should be spent in prosecut
! ing combinations or agreements {
: labor, or for the prosecution of pre-
ducers Of farm products and associa
r tions of farmers.
Some state legislatures, includin
! Texas Louisiana, Illinois and Sout
: Dakota, appreciated that the farmer
!. had SO many votes that they had
9 be dealt with gently when they forl
a trust and acted accordingly.
Il confidently look forward to a ne
q era Of social responsibility on the pa
!, of both the well-to-do and the poor
= Mr.. Van Hise concluded, "and to
a time when reason and science rath
n than vested interest shall control ec
| IL