Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-28
NATIONS CAPITAL.
Senate Discusses Anti Trust and
Pension Bills.
House Passes Wyoming Bill BY Vote Of
tS9 to t27.
Various Acts Approved YestsEday
BY President Harrison.

WAsHNoros, Mar. 27.-The anti-trus
bill vas taken up and the amendments Il
II. ~ reported from the committee Of thu
whole, and brought before the Senate
The first amendment that gave rise to dis
cussion vas the provision excepting from
the provisions Of the Law the combinstioni
Of vofkmen and farmers.
EdmunGs declared himself in favor OF
doing everything that the constitution per
mitfed Congress 70 do in suppressing and
breaking up trusts and monopolies, a. ali
human experience proved them DESTRUCTIVE {
to the public welfare. The people could
not shut their eyes to the fact, that il capi-
tai combined WAS to regulate wages.
the workmen would be compelled
to combine to defend themselves.
He had learned Of . case that occurred
here only few months ago. where . skilled
printer and citizen Of the United States,
. man Of good character. with little money .
had applied to the public printer for en-
ployment, and although he was just the
man wanted to fill vacancy. the public
printer was not permitted to employ him,
because If he did, nine-tenths OF the print
ers employed in the Office would cease
work. and the country would 60 TO de-
Nruction because it could not read today
What was said in Congress yesterday. This
vas because the man did not belong to
particular combination. If that was not
tyranny Edmunds did not know what tyran-
ny was. The tyranny Of . thousand men
vas infinitely worse than the tyranny of
one man. As far - constitutional ques-
ton went he believed the safety Of the
nation depended more largely on the pre-.
servation Of what were called rights Of
States, than any other one thing
He should be slow about voting for any
act Of Congress which he thought vent
over the boundary which the constitution
prescribed. He believed it better to endure
the partial evil of even the most grinding
monOpoles than attempt to step by one
inch over the clear boundary line estab-
lished and maintained between Congress
and the legislative powers Of the States.
Platt made an earnest attack upon the
bill as the bill aimed at every business in
the United States. He spoke Of unrestrict-
ed capitalization as brutal warfa and in
furious to the whole country. He was en-
tifely sick of the idea that lower prices
were better for the country. Prices should
be just, reasonable and fair. The theory
of the bill was that no matter how much
prices were depressed, business men must
not come together to obtain fairly remu-
nerstive price for the articles they produced
There was but one constitutional provision
in the bill, and that was the amendment
offered by Reagan, which confined the
bill to persons engaged in transportation.
That was the effect Of the amendment,
and it would uproot the inter state COM
mpyca iaw Ha 1CuIt NOT lilo vota
against the bill because he believed there
were criminal combinations in the cou=try.
He believed every man in business had
moral right to obtain q fair 5r fit il his busi-
ness was down % an unremunerative point,
and that it was his right to combine with
other men for the purpose Of raising prices
to remunerstive point.
Walthall moved to refer the bill and
amendments to the judiciary committee
with instructions to report back within 20
days. Agreed to.
The Senate proceeded to the considera-
on of the Senate bill granting pensions to
ex soldiers and sailors incapacitated for the
performance of manual labor, and provid-
ing for pensions to dependent relations of
deceased soldiers and sailors,
Plumb made an argument in support of
the amendment, declarag entitled to a pen
sion of el2 month all who served three
months or more and were suffering from
mental or physical disability which inca
pacitites them from the performance of
manual labor, if the incapacity were total.
and pensions should be graded for less than
total disability and no pension should be
less than So q month.
Berry and Davis opposed the amend
ment.
Davis said the restriction bill reported
by the committee would make an appro-
prstion of S36 900 600 necessary in addi-
ton to SOS 900, 600 now necessary for the
pay yment of pensions. The amendment of
the Senator from Kansas would add at least
Si8, ,000 000 more and make . total of
sl52 600 600 for pensions.
Plumb said Davis statements we're not
entirely harmonious. No one could tell
how the bill Of the committee would be
construed by the commissioner of pensions
and he Plumb wanted to make It certain.
Mcpherson offered an amendment to
Plumb's amendment.
Moody advocated the bill ~ reported and
opposed both Plumb's and McPherson's
amendments.
McPherson's ard Plumb's amendments
we're rejected.
The bill vent over without hal action.
The House bill for the admission of
Wyoming as State was laid before the
Senate. and on motion of Plat was laid IN
the table and ordered printed.
The Senate .. s 80 adjourned until to
morrow.