Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-05
ANTITRUST LAW
APPARENTLY DEAD
CONTINUED From First Page.)

iContinueu FROM FlrBt fRRo.)
when Violations were oonolusivoIy
proven.
Successive Attornoyp-0 from
Knox down to Palmer hailed mon
opolists before tho courts and In
many important instances dlasolu-
ton dccrocs wero Issued. But about
tho timo It was agreed that tho law
against combinations was clearly
stated and clearly understood by
corporations lawyers. tho court
cumo along with tho steel decision.
which has apparently lowered tho
bars and which has loft Industrial
interests free TO combine SO long ms
they do not take in quite all OF
their competitors.
Attorney General Daugherty has
been criticized on the floor OF tho
Senate for failure TO prosecute any
trusts during his regime. II Is ad-
mittcd at the Department OF JUS
iice that MIR. Daugherty has initiat-
cd no important prosecutions of that
character, but IL is declared In de-
Tense OF his policy that the stcol de-
cision has left him uuarmcd TO a
very large degree and that he feels
that he has very little law on which
to go TO court.
Congress itself is held responsible
for some OF the liberty which bust
ness interests are taking advantage
OF at this time. Sentiment In that
body. which was rampant on the
side of "trust-bus,inx" "A few years
ago. and which passed the clayton
and the Federal Trade Commission
acts. does not seem to be as passion
ate as 1t was.
IL is easy TO recall tina, It was
Congress which deliberately and re-
peatediy exempted labor and farmer
organizations from the operation OF
the antitrust laws and to that OK
tent weakened the hand of the gov
ernnent in It's prosecutions.
Far more recently Congress passed
railroad reorganization law which
actually authorized the railroads of
the coutry TO organize themselves
into few grea, systems. The gen
eral principle was laid down in that
act that competition should be main
tained as between the systems. az far
as possible, but the general idea OF
tho law is that railroads may now
merge. II they arc willing. which is
at least departure from former mol
Icy on the part Of the government.
Public sentiment itself. II is
pointed out here. is less set against
combinations than 1t was few
years ago. During the war all legal
barriers against common price fix
ing and other forms OF combinations
were suspended In order TO make
possible the quickest and most cifcc-
experience. 1t is insisted. somewhat
overcnme the popular prcjudic.
against practices which would have
been condemned and which, in fact.
were condemned, prior TO the war
The Interesting fact at the pres
cnt time. is that fresh combinations
are now being promoted in many
liner OF industry and without any
concealment and without any par
ticuar hindrance on the part OF the
government. These mergers are not
monopollos. II is declared. and are
not necessarily designed TO restrain
trade. hut II is confidently asserted
here, tina. many OF them would not
be undertaken If /: were not for the
assurance afforded by tho steel de-
cision Of the Supreme Court.
The government. in a general way.
it. watching Tho new Industrial move
ment. bat does not seem 10 be par
ticularly concerned and not al all
alarmed over developments An oc-
and a note Of warning sounded. but
that is about all one hears here in
that connection.