p. 9 | Concerning Trusts

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 4, 1903

Concerning Trusts.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary has completed consideration of the anti-trust bill, and will recommend its passage. The bill is aimed at those corporations which seek to monopolize trade, and purposes to punish such by denying them interstate traffic and imposing fines and imprisonment for violation of its provisions. The bill also imposes fine and imprisonment upon those who seek in any way to aid or abet such corporations in their unlawful work. In Chicago, on February 18, the so-called “beef-trust” case was disposed of by Judge Grosscup, by the granting of a temporary injunction against the trust. The packers are expected to take some action before March 4, otherwise the injunction will be made permanent. The judge decided that the acts performed by the firms constituting the beef trust were acts “in restraint of trade,” and thus in violation of the law. The firms concerned are some of the most wealthy meat packers in the country. The House Committee on Appropriations has recommended the passage of the general deficiency bill which carries a provision for the appointment of two assistant attorney-generals, whose immediate duty will be to assist Attorney-General Knox in the enforcement of the anti-trust law. It is reported that the president of the Standard Oil Company has now secured control of the great copper interests of the country, thus bringing under one management two of the greatest industries in the land. So trust helps trust to build up wealth-producing powers for the purpose of commanding finally all the wealth of the world. The recently-declared dividends of the Standard Oil Company and kindred corporations show the almost limitless powers of such concerns in the heaping together of treasure.