The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-22
SHERMAN ON THE TRUSTS
Hs READS AN ARGUMENT IN FA-
VOR OF his BILL.

Uaconstitutionality- = Tariff Reform
Declared the Real Remedy for the
Evils Complained Of Blair Tries to
Resurrect His Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 2l-In the Senate
this morning Mr.. Ransom, referring to
Yesterdays vote on the Blair bill, said that
there had been some confusion about it,
that he should have been paired as in favor
Of the bill, and that Mr.. Casey, with whom
be was paired, was opposed to the bill.
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee on ap-
preparations, reported back the House joint
resolution authorizing the appointment of
thirty medical examiners for the bureau of
pensions, and gave notice that he would ask
the Senate to consider it tomorrow.
Mr.. Cockrell said that the report was by
no means unanimous, and gave notice that
he would move TO amend the joint resolution
by striking out the clause allowing the exam
ination TO be within the discretion and un-
der the direction of the Secretary of the
Interior, and leaving the appointments un-
der the civil service law, to which the Re-
publican party stood solemnly pledged.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman, the bill to
declare unlawful trusts and combinations
in restraint of trade and production was
taken up for consideration. The substitute
reported by MIR. Sherman from the finance
committe on March Is was read, and, also,
an amendment that was offered by Mr..
Reagan.
Mr.. Sherman addressed the Senate, read
ing his argument from manuscript. He
declared that the bill did not interfere with
any lawful business. 1t dealt only with un-
lawful ombinations-such combinations as
were unauthorized by any law of auy civil
nd xxyhA
sole object was to control prices and to
establish substantial monopolies 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
COURT DECISIONS CITED.
He referred to the decisions of the state
courts of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and New
York in the cases of the Standard Oil
Company. 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 combina-
tions in the 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 the several states but the entire world.
All these combinations, he said,- the cot,
ton trust, whisky trust, sugar refining
trust, copper trust, salt trust, and many
others-were modelled on the same plan,
and involved the same principle They
were all combinations of corporations and
individuals of many states forming league
and covenant under control of trustees.
In conclusion, he said that the defects of
the bill were in its moderation, and that its
best effect would serve notice that combina-
tions in restraint of trade and production
would not be tolerated.
AN AMENDMENT BY INGALLS,
At the close of Mr.. Sherman's speech, Mr..
ingalls, gave notice of an amendment which
he would offer to the bill. The amendment
was read and ordered printed. 1t is sub
stantially the Butterworth bill to regulate
dealings in options or futures, now pending
in the House.
On motion Of Mr.. Sherman, it was Or
dered that the substitute reported from the
finance committee shall be treated as the
original text of the bill; aud, so, the amend
ments proposed by Messrs. Reagan and In
gals are to be treated as amendments in the
first and second degree.
Mr.. VESTS ATTITUDE.
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
CotGSieslig III lu6 IlS
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
he desired was one thing, and what
could be accomplished under the au-
tonomy of the government was
another thing; and he could not,
even in the face of popular Indignation
which would be visited on any one that
criticised measure intended to destroy the
evil complained of, violate his oath to sup
port the consti ution, and violate all the
haoltudes of thought which had come to
him as lawyer, educated and trained in
ms profession. For congress to pass law
that would be thrown out of the supreme
court under the terrible criticism that such
a law would invoke, was simply to subject
itself to rldicule and to confession that it
was powerless to enact laws that would
give the people relief.
BELIEVED IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
lie went on to argue against the constitu-
tionallty of the original BILL as well as the
substitute, declaring his belief that the
supreme court would Immediately throw it
out OF court. The Senate had been told
last session by Mr.. Sherman that whenever
ne was satisfied that combinations were
protected by the high protective
outy he would be in favor of
reducing that duty; and that Mr..
est said was she real remedy. Any other
remedy without an amendment. of the con-
sututlon) would be absolutely nugatory and
lhe1ectual. Tness trusts (as every intelll-
eeAV man well knew were protected by the
nig tariff and were enabled to work their
ssnlquitous purposes under the buttress af-
Iorded by the tariff law.
t,rtn,re, r,-,,
The debate drifted into discussion of the
tuect OF high duties uron the existence of
trusts, Messrs. Allison, Platt, Ingalls,, Tel
itr, Dawes aud Frye asking questions aud
making suggestions In oppositionto Mr.. Vests
contention. The latter insisted upon close
connection between trusts and high duties
anu Illustrated the point by an anecdote of
suspicious old gentleman who once in
vested 25 cents in order to see the Siamese
,s"Ih9, and who, having examined the
rSament which bound them together, and
uo1ed IN that ligament pulsation that lndi-
.a'ed animal life to the fullest extent, said
70 them, stlll suspicious. "Now, boys. tell
'1s truth. Are you brothers~ Aud 50, in
sWte OF the demonstration of tine con-
necIon, the question was gravely asked,
"hs there any connection between trusts
ana the high protective tariff. lie noped
ttia0 some senator would move 20 refer the