Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-22
AGAINST THE TRUSTS.
Sherman's Bill Finally Under Consid-
GRAFTON in the Senate.
MIR. VEST BLAMES PROTECTION
For ALI of the Various Trade Combinations
in the Country.
ALLISONS ATTACK ON THIS POSITION

| WASHINGTON, March 21.-In the Senate
| to-day, on motion of Mr.. Sherman, the bill
to declare unlawful trusts and continuation:
in restraint of trade and production, was
taken up for consideration. The substitute
reported by Mr.. Sherman from the Finance
Committee on the 10th inst. was read and
also an amendment that was offered by Mr..
Reagan.
Senator Sherman then made an address
upon the subject. He declared that the bill
did not interfere with any lawful business.
1t dealt only with unlawful combinations
such combinations as were unauthorized by
any law of any civilized nation, ancient and
modern and whose sole object was to control
prices and to establish substantial monopo-
lies which were injurious to the public and
which should be restrained by the courts.
1t was that kind of combination which the
bill dealt with.
THE DEADLY PARALLEL,
If it was entrusted to a single man, then
1t was kingly prerogative inconsistent with
the American form of government If this
country would not endure king in political
power, it should not endure king over the
production, transportation and sale of the
necessaries of life. If it would not submit
to an Emperor, it should not submit to an
autocrat In trade.
He referred to the decisions of the State
courts of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and New
York in the cases of the Standard Oil Com
pany, the Diamond Match Company and
the Sugar Trust, declaring such trusts null
and void and against public policy.
These references and quotations were, he
said, to show that In different States the
State courts did declare trusts and combi-
nations in a State as unlawful and void,
and all that the pending bill proposed was
to empower the courts of the United States
to deal with those combinations, affecting
not only several States but the entire world.
ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.
All these combinations, be said-the Cot
ton Trust the Whisky Trust, the Sugar Re-
fning Trust, the Copper Trust, the Salt
Trust and many others-were modelled on
the same plan and involved the same prin-
ciple. They were all combinations of cor
porations and individuals of many states,
forming league and covenant under the
control of trustees. In conclusion, he said
that the detects of the bill were In its
moderations, and that its best effect would
be to serve notice that combinations in
restraint of trade and production would not
be tolerated.
At the close of Mr.. Sherman's speech Mr.
Ingalls, gave notice of an amendment which
he would offer to the bill.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman it was ordered
that the substitute reported from the FL
nance Committee shall be treated as the
original text of the bill, and so the amend
ments proposed by Senators Reagan and
Ingalls, are to be treated as amendments in
the first and second degree.
THE SOUTHERN IDEA.
Mr.. Vest addressed the Senate, No one,
he said, could exaggerate the importance of
the subject or the feeling that existed
against trusts all over the country, but es-
pecially in the agricultural districts. He
could have no controversy with the Senator
from Ohio as to the enormity of the abuses
that had grown up under the system of
trusts and combinations, and he also agreed
with him that there should be no hyper
criticism of the Constitution.
But what was desired was one thing; and
what could be accomplished under the
autonomy of the Government was another
thing; and he could not, even in face OF the
popular indignation which would be visited
on anyone that criticised measure intended
to destroy the evil complained of violate
his oath to support the Constitution, and
violate all the habitudes of thought which
had come to him as lawyer educated and
trained in his profession.
For Congress to pass law that would be
thrown out of the Supreme Court under the
terrible criticism that such law would in
woke, was simply to subject itself to ridi-
cule and to the confession that it was power
less to enact laws that would give the people
relief. He went on assailing the constitu-
tionality of the original bill as well as of
the substitute, declaring his belief that the
Supreme Court would Immediately throw it
out of court.
THE REAL REMEDY.
The Senate had been told last session by
Mr.. Sherman that whenever he was satisfied
that combinations were protected bv high
protective duty, he would be in favor of re-
ducing that duty, and that, Mr.. Vest said,
was the real remedy. ANY other remedy.
without an amendment of the Constitution, |
would be absolutely nugatory and in
effectual. Those trusts, as every intelligent |
man knew, were protected by the high |
tariff, and were enabled to work |
their iniquitous pressure under but
tresses afforded by the tariff law. He
Insisted upon the close connection between
trusts and high duties, and illustrated the
.leman who once invested % cents in order
to see the Siamese twins, and who, having
the ligament which bound them
5ogether, and noted in that 1igament the
oulsation that indicated animal life to the
ullest extent, said to them-still suspicious:
Now, boys, tell the truth. Are you
And so, in spite of the demonstration of
he connection, the question was gravely
ssked, was there any connection between
rusts and the high protective tariff? He
hoped that some Senator would vote to refer
he bill to the Judiciary Committee, be-
,ause it was subject so elaborate, SO i'm
,ortant, so overwhelming that it should be
approached with the greatest caution and
reated with the greatest care.
AISCoCK AGAINST IT.
Mr.. Hiscock said that no attempt should
,e made to give the Federal Government
Jurisdiction of a subject over which the
state had full and ample control. Mr..
Blair renewed his motion to reconsider the
7ote OF yesterday by which the educational
ill was rejected, and Mr.. Ingalls, moved to
ay that motion on the table. No action
vas taken.
A motion to adjourn over till Monday
vas opposed by Mr.. Sherman, who wished
o have action on the antitrust bill to-mor-
ow, and the motion was defeated-yeas, II;
rays, 25. Mr.. Reagan hoped the Senate
would adopt his amendment, which would
i've the General Government control in
ases where foreign commerce was affected,
eaving to the States the jurisdiction in
ases where local trade and manufactures
we're affected.
Mr.. Allison replied to Mr.. Vests argu-
nent as to the connection between high
uties and trusts, taking the ground that