The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-26

construction OF bridge across the Mississippi
river at Burlington, la. Placed on the House
calendar
In the morning hour. Dir. Peel, of Arkansas,
in behalf of tho committee Indian affairs,
called up the bill providing for the sale of
tain New York Indian lands in Kansas With
out action the bill went over till tomorrow.
The Senate biz authorizing the construction
of a bridge across the Mississippi river at Bur
ington Ia. passed.
Mr. Springer. OF Illinois, presented the me-
morial of settlers on the public land strip pray
ing for the organization of the Territory of CHM
Mr.. Bacon, of New York. asked unanimous
consent for present consideration of the resolu-
ton reported from the committee on manufact-
ures directing that committee to inquire into
the names, number and extent OF the corpora
TONS engaged IN manufacturing or mining. or
dealing IN any of the necessities OF life, and
known as trusts and 'spoois" their methods of
doing business ard the effect OF their combina-
tons upon the prices of necessaries.
Mr. Randall. of Pennsylvania, said that when
the resolution had been originally presented he
had objected to its immediate consideration,
because he had thought it not compre-
hensive enough He would like to have the
resolution amended so as to extend the in
Quiry to include the Standard Oil Com
pany. perhaps and the whisky trust, per-
haps. and every trust OF any kind In the
United State. If Congress had federal way
Of interfering with these organizations it might
be useful to exercise it.
MIR. Brumm of Pennsylvania, wanted to have
the inquiry extended as to apply to anthracite
combins tons
Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania. said Congress
had nothing whatever to do with the question.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois, suggested that the
resolution only looked to an investigation. Con-
gress then could determine what powers it had
in the premises.
Mr. Scott called attention to the fact that
nothing had come of the congressional investi-
cation into the strike on tho Missouri Pacific.
Mr. Hopkins inquired whether tho gentleman,
because one criminal was ACQUITTED, would not
try to enforce the criminal laws.
Mr. Scott replied that he not trying to
acQuit any
Mr.. Mason. of Illinois. the author of the reso-
luton, stated that it was not his object to
authorize a smelling committee to invade States
and investigate the business of persons doing
business under State law. The object of his
resolution was the aScertainment OF the effect
which combinations had on the price OF neces-
saries and further, to ascertain whether or not,
by reason of the tariff, those combinations were
able to raise the price of necessaries There
were some industries in our country that would
like to have a corner on the sunshine and levy
tax of $1,000 day upon il. His object was to
prevent the tariff laws, which he believed in,
being. perverted and turned against the people.
Mr.. Nelson OF Minnesota. inquired whether
the gentleman had any doubt that the tariff law
indirectly CO. operated to aid the trusts.
Mr. Mason replied that he had no doubt that
there was a class of men who took advantage of
the tariff laws. and therefore those who be-
lieved in a high protective tariff thought there
ought to be some way to prevent those laws be-
ing perverted. If there was way to protect
the people against these trusts. except by re-
that question now.
Mr.. Brumm of Pennsylvania, suggested that
the greatest monopolies in the country were
those that were not affected by the tariff.
They were the Standard Oil Company, the
Western Union telegraph and the anthracite
coal CONT ination.
Mr.. Raynor, of Maryland, criticised the reso-
luton not being broad enough. 1t would not
include the Western Union Telegraph Compa-
ny. which had swallowed up every other tee-
graph company for the purpose of controlling the
business. It would not affect the Standard Oil
Company. That was not com bin alton of in
dividualS. 1t q com binatiop of different
corporations, each one of which was created by
the sovereignty of a particular State. The
olution would not apply to that The Reading
coal strike was great question which was agi-
tatine the public mind. The Reading company
was.incorporated by Pennsylvania, but y ship
company which had entered into a conspira cy
to strike down labor in the Lehigh and Schuyl
kill regions in order to increase the price of coal,
would not be affected by the investigation. In
to strike out thei clause which confines the in
uuiry to the trusts not incorporated under the
laws of any State.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio. moved to recommit
the resolution with instructions to the committee
to report it back, with provision that il the
investigating committee report legislation Look
ing to the regulation of the business of corpora
tions controlled by State laws it also shall report
proper eulogy and epitaph commemorative of
the life. public services and death of the ancient
doctrine of State rights, with the time and cir
cumstances of the abandonment of said doctrine
by the Democratic party. Ruled out not
germane.
On motion of Mr.. Randall several amend
ments tending to broaden the scope of the in
curry were agreed to. The resolution, with the
accompanying preamble was then adopted, and
the House adjourned.