The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-18
THE ANTITRUST BILL
After d Warm Debate Is i
Killed.
pluMMEa.s EFFECTIVE SPEECH
one 90 enc Most EseItfrg ssIscassEons Of
the sessfes-othsr fsasiness In
Both Houses.

0tsarA. Jan. 1.-THE antitrust BIZ
was killed in the House to-day. II vas not
only killed. but Il was buried beyond hopes
Of resurrection. The vote was . tie. bat
The majority lacked 81 the necessary %
10 pass aud then. by bst Of sharp pariia-
mentary practice. the opponents OF the
ineeaure moved 10 reconsider, which being
defeated readers st impossible for thss bell
to he called up again this session. The
fight began early IN the after
noon, and lasted until after 8 eel0ck.
The first blow was aimed ~ section 1.
which declares against trusts and prohibits
their organization for the purpose Of limit
ing the production or regulating the trans
portation Of any product or commodity.
McReayy moved TO strike out the restric-
ton upon transportation companies. and
after q hard fight this motion prevailed.
Minis sncreeaed In adding 20 the section
weakening modification against ineoTpora-
tons unlawfuiIy organized, and seeking 70
restrict the production OF any commodity
s'te the injury Of the public" This also
was agreed 70 after debate. and then the
original provision regarding transportation
companies was restored. because Minis
amendment was . sufficient safeguard 70
the public.
Section was the Objectionable feature Of
the bin. IL was characterized as class legis-
lation pure and simple. and Judson Of
Pierce. himself farmer. led che attack upon
IT, II reads
Ser. Z the provisions % this act shall nos
apply 70 agricultural products. livestock while In
The hands Of the prodnrer or raiser. nor 70 the
services 81 laboFefs. nor artisans who are
formed Into societies. OF organizations for the
heneEt ard protection Of their members.
This provision was held 70 be unconsti-
sutional and 10 vas exps,:ted that it would
be stricken out 70 saye the rest Of the meas
sire. The opposition, however. resorted 10
tactics. the purport OF which was not at
first understood. and voted for the clause.
The motive Of their action was this: IL the
section we're abolished the opposition
would be weakened and the support CORES
pondingiy strengthened. II 1t stood. 1t
would render the bin 80 Objectionable that
IL would be defeated on the final vote.
They were correct The motion to strike
OFT failed and the presence OF the obnox.
ious section eondaced largely TO the defeat
al the bill
The debate so absorbed the attention OF
the House that little other business was
done during the whole session. The sup
rort was led by Moultray Of whascom,
who paraded before the House fer the Sec
ond time the ghostfy spectacle Of the de
serted sawmill on Beilingham bay, closed
by the lumber trust. but he made good
fight The opposition was united and
tenacious and neglected no effort 70 get in
q good point. plummer OF Jefferson made
the most effective speech that has yet been
made this session in the House.
The objection 10 the hill was based upon
IT, alleged ttneonstitutionality The declare
ton against combinations was asserted 20
he uHuxpation OF the scope of The inter
state commerce act, and the last section
was said 10 be unconstitutional. in that il
was class legislation IN favor OF the farmer
and stock raiser. ~ against the remainder
Of the public. HANDLE. the Tacoma insur-
ance man. got In an amendment excepting
combinations hy insurance companies 10
as premiums on insurance from the pro
visions Of the act n section was uncon-
stitutional so likewise was this, and the
amendment piled u;son the bill another
burden that eventually broke It's back.
0ne very laughable incident occurred
during the debate, Grubb, Spokane
farmer, was doclaimtnE against the butch
era trust, declaring that no farmer could
ret more than So for a so steer at spa.
kane Falls. THIS brought 10 his feet Clark,
the statesman from Rockford, Spokane
county. and a determined opponent 10 the
blil. who declared III the gentleman will
drive his cattle to Rockford he can get the
So he wants /" s'.rhe trouble il. reioined
tIrahb. quietly, sthat three-quartegs OF one
good steer would glat the whole Rockford
market" and the House howled With
laughter.
Though bis bill is dead and will stay
dead il cannot he exrecte that there viii
be no legislation on the subject OF trusts.
Moaitray = dissatisfied with the result of
toaay's nght and viii probably draw an.
other bin and present it 10 the House in a
short time.
A successful tight was made in the Sen.
ate upen The hsll prescribing the duties OF
ths acknowledgements and che clause
giving him extra pay for extra services Was
stricken ons.
The Senate passed a concurrent resola.
tss,n in faveF cf chicago for the Weird
fair Of issss and Instructed Washington re-
present asives in cosss,<-s FOR that city.
Roth houses adj ournea until Monday.
ard members IL the press have accepted
81 invitation Of MaRagsr Hanna ~ the
Tacoma tAeaseT 10 BE present al the pre-
sensAtlen 81 the opera, A Trip TO Africa "
somoEFew night aud will attend in = body.
TaG SENATE.