The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-25
TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS.
Mr.. Shcrmnn'H Bill Dlscussed-Consltler,
bio Opposition Develops,

Alr. Shcrmuh'k DlIl Observation-Disclosures
bio Opposition Develops.
'WAsH1SdroN, D. G., March 24.-In
the Senate today the bill to declare un-
lawful trusts and combinations in re-
straint Of trade and production was
taken up, and Mr.. Turpie discussed the
constitutional points involved.
Mr.. Teller said he was inclined to
vote for the bill, although he was not
sanguine OF its accomplishing the pur-
pose. He doubted very much whether
any benefit would be derived from it.
Unless the States took hold OF the
question and suppressed these trusts by
limiting the amount of capital that
can be aggregated in any corporation the
trouble would continue. The bill, he
said, would apply to the Farmers ALI.
ance and the National Farmers League,
which were organized with the avowel
purpose Of increasing the prices Of farm
products, a thing which may DO regard
cd rs most desirable and as absolutely
essential to the prosperity Of the coun.
try.
MI. George referred 10 the Knights OF
Labor as another organization that
would come within the scope Of the bill,
because the object Of that order was to
increase their wages, and consequently
to increase the cost Of production.
:" Mr.. Teller admitted that the knights
OF Labor and all the trades unions Of the
country were practically included in the
bill, and suggested to tho committee,
which reported it whether it could not
be 80 worded as 10 Acontine it to trusts
that were offensive to good morals. ~
Mr.. Hoar criticised the bill in some Of
its legal aspects and claimed that it
failed to afford any adequate remedy.
He did not believe TINT every time the
price OF wheat went down, every time
that there was bad year in agriculture,
or that the manufacturers were pinched,
or that the money were Improbable it
was good policy for Congress to hold
out to the people quack medicines or
pretended cures.
Mr.. Sherman replied to Mr.. 1Ioar and
said thai, il the duty on cotton or woolen
cloths was little too low to protect the
manufacturers Of Massachusetts, not q
month or q day would be allowed to
pass before he (Mr. Hoar) would dc.
inand a remedy in the way Of raising it,
There was remedy for greater wrong
than any that resulted from low tariff
Combinations had been made involving
a capital Of $4,000, 900, and some State
Courts had been endeavoring to wrestlt
with them. He instanced the sugar
trust composed OF seventeen corpora
tions, and asked what remedy had the
people Of New York against that combi
nation. None at all, he said, except
against ono OF the corporations in
ciuded in it. Was there no remedy
for tho evil Of such combina
ltions2 II the remedy proposed BY
the bill wao sham and {
auack medicine, whero was his lMr
Hoar's) genuine remedy2 A remedy
would never comes he said, from the
class OF men engaged in such monopolies
He had seen the gradual growth OF com
bipations and knew TINT their power
was growing greater and greater, ant
stronger and stronger, and II Congress
was impotent to deal with TINT evil, i
Il could not prescribe anything bu
nuack medicine, it would prove itsel
nnbt TO perform It's duties. The Farm
ers Associations throughout tho coun
try could not SEQ the source of the evils
but they demanded remedy, and thei
demand had to be heard. The power Q
! CongreayWas the only power that coull