Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-04

that no injunction should issue, the
opinion takes Up the question whether
" hen the Steel Corporation was formed
IN 1901. it's inherent nature was such
as to necessitate its dissolution. After
discussing the evidence on this ques-
! lion. tho court said
Recurring, therefore. to the par
ticular question WITH which this par
ticular part OF this opinion deals.
namely. whether we should now enter
Il decree dissolvins tho Steel Cor
poration on the ground OF it's original
| inherent. illegal character in 1901, and
whether we should also dissolve the
several constituent companies which it
| original inherent illegal charac ter
when they were formed, S,e think
there is ground for our holding, In
view OF the facts. proofs and views set
forth, that we are not as court of
equity warranted in taking such II
dissolution of the Steel Corporation or
its constituents companies"
DISCUSSES ACQUISITION
OF OTHER PROPERTIES
Acquisition by the Steel Corporation
or several properties including tho
Tennessee Coal and Iron Company and
the James j. Hill ore leases are dis
cussed. The testimony of Colonel
Roosevelt that he had not interferred
with the purchase Of the Tennessee
plant means of avertinS the
panic of 1907 was vited. and the court
further stated that the Hill ore leases
were surrendered before the bill was
filed.
AS to the Gary dinners and the meet
ings of manufacturers subsequent
thereto, the court says
Freedom OF speech and freedom OF
individual action are justly priced in
American society, and no legislation
forbidS men to come together and speak
freely to each other about every detail
of their common business. And If each
individual should choose TO announce
at such a meeting the price he intends
to charge for his wares, we are aware
OF no law that forbids him so to do.
But at this point we approach debata-
BILE ground, for an individual is per-
mitted to do some things that are de-
MED to an association of indiv!d-
uals.
ITO our minds the testimony taken
as n whole makes the conclusion in
evitablc that the result of these meet
ings was an understanding about prices
that was equivalent TO an agreement
We have no doubt that among those
present some silently dissented and
went away intending to do what they
pleased, hut many. probably most. OF
the participants understood and as
sented TO the view that they were under
some kind OF an obligation to adhere
TO the prices that had been announced
or declared as the general sense of the
meeting. We cannot doubt that
such an arrangement or understanding
or moral Observation-Disclosures name
may be the most appropriate--amount
TO combination or a common action
ioroidden by law. 1t is only fair
to add that, in our opinion the par
Elephants in this movement did not in
tend TO act illegally. No doub, they
ala intend to exercise their full legal
rights, but. OF course, such exercise
could not be wrong, and they believed
they had succeeded in keeping within
the proper limits. For the reasons
given, we think they were mistaken
but we acquit them of thickness or
attempted evasion.
PROMISES TO RESTRAIN
ANY SIMILAR MOVEMENT
But the period of co-operation
passed away before the bill was filed
ana AS far as we can see il is not likely
TO be repeated. We do not think The
Gary movement would Justify us in
imposing so drastic a penalty as tho
dissolution of the corporation, but We
VIII. II the government moves for such
action. retain the bill for the purpose
vi restraining any similar movement
oS the defendants that might be con-
templated hereafter. We may, perhans
suggest that under recent lecislotion
congress may have provided a sufTlci
entity inclusive remedy for any ruturo
action that might have for its object
me adoption or the maintenance of un-
reasonable rates"
with regard to tho government
charge that the Steel Corporation had
| 'nonopolistc control of ore resource
me court said that all tho basic plnnra
OF the Steel Corporation are ;r,nrd
ana dependent on Lake Superior ores
Whiie the Atlantic steel comnanins
'cth !ehem, Pennsylvania and W,r,,
ia''u-have unlimited supplies OF ores
at water fronts ores