In the case of United States vs. EC Knight Company, what aspect of refining was debated under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?

The case of United States vs. EC Knight Company in 1895 focused on the application of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the distinction between trade and manufacturing. The Supreme Court ruled that the government could regulate commerce, but not manufacturing. In this case, the EC Knight Company had acquired a substantial interest in the sugar refining business, effectively monopolizing the refining process. However, the Court determined that refining was a manufacturing activity and therefore outside the realm of the Act, which was intended to regulate trade.

By characterizing the monopolistic practices of EC Knight as manufacturing rather than trade, the Court limited the federal government's ability to challenge monopolies within the production sector. This case illustrated the legal complexities of antitrust measures and clarified the scope of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in relation to different economic activities, emphasizing the critical distinction between trade, which is subject to regulation, and manufacturing, which was deemed less so at the time.