The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-03-28
The house by vote Of 1855 to las declared
Mr.. Compton not entitled to his seat

to the negative In order to move a reconsid-
GRAFTON.
The house by vote of 1856 to las declared
Mr. Compton not entitled to his seat
WASHINGTON, March "a In the senate
several petitions from Massachusetts, and
Missouri were presented protesting against
the ratification OF the extradition treaty
with Russia. The reports on the Montana
senatorial case were presented. The bill to
declare unlawful trusts and combinations
In restraint Of trade and production was
taken. Mr.. Turpie and Mr.. Pugh spoke
briefly in support of the bill. The amend.
ment offered by Mr. Reagan-his antitrust
bill-was the first question to be voted on
Mr.. George regarded the amendment as he
did the bill as utterly without warrant in
the constitution, but thought the amend.
ment more efficient than the bill and would
vote for it.
Mr. Teller said he was in full sympathy
with the objects Of the BILL but he said Il
would apply to the Farmers alliance and
the National Farmers league, which were
organized with the avowed purpose of in.
creasing the prices Of farm produces thing
which he regarded as most desirable and as
absolutely essential to the prosperity of the
country, for every body knew that unless
could be increased, a great many of the
farmers would soon be in bankruptcy and
turned out of their homes MIR. George re-
ferred to 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 con-
sequently to increase the cost of production.
Mr. Reagan thought the first necessity was
to strike down trusts and combinations
which gave life to Knights of Labor and
trade unions Mr.. Hoar criticized the bill
In some of its legal aspects, and claimed
that it failed to afford any adequate remedy.
Mr.. Sherman replying to Mr.. Hoar, said
that If the duty on cotton cloths or wooden
cloths was a little too low to protect the
manufacturers of Massachusetts, not
month or a day would be allowed to pass
before he (Mr. Hoar) would demand a
remedy in the way Of raising the duty.
Here was remedy for n greater wrong
than any that result from a low tariff.
State courts had been endeavoring to
wrestle with combinations. He instanced
the sugar trust composed of seventeen cor.
porations, and asked what remedy had the
people of New York against that combina
tion. None at all, he said except against
one of the corporations included in it.
remedy would never come, he said, from the
class of men engaged in such monopolies
He had seen the gradual growth of COM
binations and knew that their power was
growing greater and greater and stronger
and stronger And if congress was impo-
tent to deal with that evil, IL it could not
prescribe anything but quack medicine, it
would prove itself utterly untitled to per-
form its duties. The bill went over
WASHINGTON, March 25. - The senate
passed the bill providing for a special inves.
tigation Of the seal industry of Alaska. The
Sherman antitrust bill was then taken up.
and Mr. George made speech in opposition
to it on constitutional grounds. He said
that the amendment offered by Mr. Ingalls,
would meet with the appreciation of every
senator but for the fact that the constitution
prohibited the senate originating a tax
measure. He moved that the bill be referred
to the judiciary committee. The debate was
continued at some length. The motion to
refer was finally beaten-yeas, Is; nays, 2S
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Reagan was
agreed to-yeas, "a; nays, 10.
Mr.. Sherman moved to amend the first
section by adding to it the following proviso,
which had been suggested by Mr.. George;
"PiAyided that this act shall not be con-
strued to apply to any arrangement, agree
ment OF combination between laborers, made
with view to lessening the number of
hours of their labor or Of increasing their
wages nor to any arrangement, agreement,
association or combination among persons
engaged in horticulture or agriculture, made
with view of enhancing the price of their
own agricultural or horticultural products
The amendment was agreed to- Mr.. Ingalls,
amendment, aiming at dealings in futures
and options, was agreed to. Mr.. Coke then
offered his amendment, consisting of eight
sactippc tp .,J
In support of it. He argued that the bills Of
Mr.. Sherman and Mr. Reagan were uncon-
stitutional and vague "wasps without
sting"
Mr.. Reagan's amendment makes 1t unlaw-
full to create or carry out any restrictions
in trade; to limit production or to increase
or reduce the price Of merchandise or COM
modities; to prevent competition in mer-
chandise, produce or commodities; to fix a
standard or figure whereby the price of any
article, commodity, merchandise or produce
intended for SALE use or consumption shall
be in any way controlled; to create
monopoly in the manufacture, sale or trans
portation of any such article; TO enter in to
any obligation by which they shall bind
others or themselves not to manufacture
sell or transport any such article below a
common standard figure; or by which they
shall agree to keep such article for trans
portation at a fixed or graduated figure; or
by which they shall settle the price of such
article so as to preclude unrestricted COM
petition. Mr. Coke moved to strike out all
of the bill except the amendment of Mr.. In
gals or his own. Tabled-yeas, %; nays, 16
Mr.. Farwell introduced in the senate a
bill to pension Mary Crook, widow of the
late Gen. Crook, at the rate of s., 600 per
annum.