Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-10-16
Hail To Insist AInminnm Company
Be Prosecuted.

Unless the Department Of Justice acts
definitely and decisively on the report Of
the Federal Trade Commission. in which
the Aluminium Company Of America was
charged with being q monopoly in viola
ton Of the Sherman antitrust Law. Con-
eress viii be called on to deal with the
question
This was made plain Saturday by Rep
resentative CordelI Hull. Of Tennessee. who
has been close observer Of the growth
Of this company for fifteen years He Is
convinced the company is protected by
Attorney General Sargent because Andrew
W. Mellon. Secretary Of the Treasury. is a
dominant factor in its affairs.
II Is the purpose Of Representative Hull
TO demand Congressional investigation
Of the Aluminium Company IL the Depart
ment Of Justice continues to ignore the
findings Of the Trade Commission. He
plans also 70 call on Congress 10 reduce
the tariff which the Mellon company en-
joys and which il has been charged the
company uses to strengthen itself in the
domestic market.
Il know Of nothing more remarkable in
the administration Of Government" Mr..
Hull said, than the attitude Of the De-
partment Of Justice toward q monopoly
which has been twice pronounced oppres-
sive and Illegal by the Federal Trade
Commission and which goes is way un-
molested BY men charged by law with the
duty Of proceeding against 1t.
we do not hesitate to prosecute a con-
vict and sentence to prison an obscure
little prohibition agent found to be pro-
tectins saloon keeper engaged In violat-
ing the Volstesd act. but here is q case OF
the Department Of Justice itself appar-
emily protecting q gigantic combination
powerful enough to fix the price Of every
aluminium pot or pan 10 every household
In the country.
Nor can the fact be overlooked that the
man who is more powerful than any other
in the affairs Of the monopoly is the man
who happens TO be the Secretary Of the
Treasury. How the country can reconcile
itself to such situation. fail to understand
The Senate refused TO confirm Stewart.
President Grants nominee for Secretary
Of the Treasury because II was found that
he was merchan, who imported certain dry
dnrsha sfhlah H..
to appraise. And yet one OF the greatest
industrialists in America. dominating nu-
merous great corporations. every one Of
them having tax issues to be settled. is
now head Of the Treasury Department.
Il an willing for II to be known that il
the Department OF Justics pieeonhoIes the
findings Of the Federal Trade Commission
and does not bring suit for the dissolution
Of the Aluminium Company Of America. a
resolution Of investigation not only will be
introduced at the coming session Of Con-
eress but viii be fought for to the end. And
J. an willing for IL to be known further that
the tariff on aluminium. which was more
than doubled in the Fordney bill. will be
assailed as direct bounty to this mo-
nepoly.
Il would prefer TO have such action as
win be necessary to come from some leader
Of the majority In Congress. II such leader
makes the move. he will have my utmost
support and that Of my party associates.
But II none takes the step then it will be
taken by a minority member"
Mr.. Hull pointed out that the Aluminium
Company had grown until 1t is now a
34O0.000.00O corporation and Is in a
position to control the whole industry in
America as Is no other corporation, per-
haps. In any great industrial line. He
also recalled that the monopoly lately had
moved lite greatest manufacturing plant to
Canada with the obvious purpose Of escap-
ing to some extent the Jurisdiction Of the
American courts.
Twice within year the Federal Trade
Commission has published its findings Of
fact in connection with the Mellon com.
pany. Its first report was issued in 0cto-
Der. 1924. At that time the commission
was supposed to be dominated by the
Huston Thompson group and because the
commission announced the results OF its
Investigation in the midst Of the presi-
Dental campaign. President Coolidge was
incensed.
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