Show KNOX ON THE TRUSTS I 0 AttorneyGeral 1 Writes a Letter Uj u Subject I HIS VIEWS ARE PRESENTED i r Replies to the Communications From Senators Three Subjects Aro Treated in the Document and Suggestions Made for Ilemedial Legislature Washington Jan AttorneyGen < eral Knox has addressed identical letters let-ters to Senator Hoar chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee and Representative Repre-sentative Llttleflold chairman of the subcommittee of the House Judiciary committee giving his views on the subject sub-ject of tniplfe These letters are in reply re-ply to communications sent him by Senator Hoar and Mr Liltllefleld asking I the views of Mr Knox The letter embraces I em-braces three subjects the questions which have been decided by the courts the questions which are pending I In the courts and suggestions respecting further legislation Under the latter head Mr Knox Bays I Tn view of the wide experience of tho I committee in dealing loglblatlvcly with Ifual 1 and economic questions I vcnluni I upon the line of suggestion with much hesitation and foolIng that Die utmost the committee desires In this respect is that something be set down that may bo considered In connection with other views that may bo presentcd as to what might be done within the short period allowed for consideration during the life of this present Congress I think It proper enough to briefly promise such suggestions as 1 shall make for immediate action by 1 a statement of Home of the leanoiu upon which they arc hissed The end dffllrcd by tire overwhelming majority of the people of all sections of the country Is that combnatlons of capital capi-tal should be regulated and not destroyed and that measmes should Ue taken to correct the tendency toward monopolization monopoliza-tion of the Industrial business of thr country J assume a thing to be avoided oven by fitiggestlon la Icgfalntlou regulating regu-lating the business Jnterepts of tine country coun-try beyond such Jia will accomplish this end In my Judgment a monopoly III nov Industry In-dustry would be Impossible in thin country coun-try where money Is ubundant and ch nteLp and in the hand or within the roach of keen und capable men If competition were assured of n fair arid upon Held and protected pro-tected umilnsl unfair artlilelal and dls linlnatlng praotlcos Two or more persona or corporations cannot by nny combination or arrangement arrange-ment botToon thomHchVH cither contractor contract-or expand the rights of others to engage In a similar busliscHfi Ti utmost they can do Is 15 dlicouiage the disponitlon to do BO by reTilctlng the opportunities ov by scouring to themrclvcn some exclusive facilities or the enjoyment of some common com-mon facilities upon exclusive terms U tin law I will guarantee to the nmnllT producer protection against piratical methods In competition and keep the two pathways to the market open and available to him for the sumo tolls I chnrgod to his powerful competitor ho will manage to live I and thrive to an astonishing I as-tonishing degree Individualism In production has Its advantages ad-vantages as walL as combination Small Individual enterprises not uncommonly spring up and thilve within thd shadow of the larger ones though enjoying none of th < lr Hiipposi advantages of control of courses of raw material fuel and transportation facilities yet rcuUsIng I largo projlts per ton of output because of the close economics possible through direct di-rect personal interested management Mr Knox suggests legislation directed direct-ed against those who give and receive advantages enabling discrimination In price This to take the form of penal ising the transportation of goods and Federal courts should be given the power pow-er to restrain such transportation He says the present law is I not sufficient to meet existing conditions The operation opera-tion of any law on the subject he says should be limited to common carriers An additional publication should be made he said to reach corporations combinations and associations which produce and manufacture wholly within with-in a State but whose products or sales enter into interstate commerce It should relate first to such concerns aa fatten on rebates In transportation and second to concerns which sell below the general 1 price of a commodity or wantonly want-only toek to destroy competition A comprehensive plan should be framed to enable the Government to get at all the facts hearing the organization organiza-tion and practices of concerns engniod In Interstate and foreign commerce essential es-sential to n full understanding and to compel observation of the law lie recommend a commission to aid In carrying out the act of July 2 lt9U whch shall make an Investigation Into In-to operations of corporations and combinations with authority to make such Inquiry and have power to require re-quire reports from them No persons should be excused froth producing books contracts etc In courts Continuing Mr Knox says Legislation Leg-islation to correct trust abuses should be developed with great care for It IH not nearly HO Important to act quJck Jy as to act wisely > lIe recommendn legislation to hurry final decision in canes now pending and which may be raised under the antitrust anti-trust law |