Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1897 — HITS BOARDS OF TRADE. [ARTICLE]

HITS BOARDS OF TRADE.

Possible Effect of the Decision Made by Judge Foster. Judge Foster’s decision in the United States District Court at Topeka, in which he held that the Kansas City Live Stock Exchange was a trust, organized in violation of the Sherman anti-trust law, may result in closing all the live stock, grain and produce exchanges of the country. The decision, if it is upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States, to which it will be appealed, will be of the utmost importance, for it will class all exchanges which are organized on the same lines as the Kansas City institution as unlawful combinations in restraint of commerce. Washington attorneys are uncertain as to the scope of the decision, for the reason that there may have been some peculiarity about the organization and methods of the Kansas City Live Stock Exchange which does not apply to other exchanges. As it is understood, however, this exchange is similar to others in which live stock, grain, cotton, farm produce and petroleum are dealt in, and if the Supreme Court of the United States should uphold Judge Foster’s decision these institutions would have to close their doors or change their organization and methods.