The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-15
TRUST OR NO TRUST
Lexow Wants an Expensive
Inquiry and Cantor Immedi-
ate Aetion . Against
Combinations.

ALBANY, Jan. Is, 1S97-But bare ma
jority of Senators were in their seats
when Lieutenant Governor Woodruff
called the Senate tc. order this morning.
Senator Lexow offered a resolution for
an investigation of the existence of the
monopolies and trusts.
Senator Lexow asked that this resolu-
tion be made a special order for next
Tuesday. He said he believed that the
Republican party would take hold of this
important question which was now agi-
tating the public. He referred to bill
upon the same subject introduced yes
terday by Senator Cantor, which the SEN
ator had afterward said would have to
be amended and severely criticised him
Senator Cantor made a spirited reply
in which he said that it would be ut
terly impossible fol this Legislature to
deal with the trusts if this Investigation
should be started. The investigation,
he said. would entail needless expense
upon the people ami would have no OBJ
ject but to consume time.
The motion to make the resolution a
special order for Tuesday was adopted.
The resolution follows
Whereas, 1t Is charged that combina-
tiorls of capital in the nature of trusts are
increasing in number and influence in this
commonwealth, whereby various Impor-
concentrated in the hands of a few, Great
ing monopolies, shutting out competition,
diSplaclng labor and driving the citizens
OF moderate means out of business, and
production and price are regulated not by
the natural laws of supply and demand,
or the rules of normal and healthy COM
petition, but by the arbitrary decision of
combinations operating together to destroy
competition and exact unreasonable
charges from the people; and
Whereas 1Ft ieS fllrhhAr charged THAT conn
binations of capital enjoy special and pc
culiar privileges and advantages detri-
mental to public interests, and that the
laws hitherto enacted either indirectly fos-
ter and promote the growth of the evils
complained OF If they exist, or are at least
inadequate to furnish relief; and
Whereas, If these charges are well
founded such conditions must necessarily
operate to the disadvantage and injury
of the citizen; therefore be it
Resolved, If the Assembly concur, that
a joint committee oil the Legislature. con-
SiSting of three Senators and four mem
bers of the Assembly, be appointed with
full power and authority to institute and
conduct an investigation for the purpose
of ascertaining if trusts and monopolies
exist in this commonwealth, or operate
therein, in such forms as are or may be
injurious to public interests, and, if they
so exist and operate, the causes that
create and maintain them, and if in any
way the business, agricultural and labor
interests of this commonwealth are in
juriously affected by the present economic
system, or if under the laws, as they now
exist, combinations of capital or aggrega-
tions of wealth enjoy special or peculiar
privileges, or undue advantages in the
business and Industrial conditions of the
State
And for that purpose the said com
mittee is empowered to hold sessions
wherever necessary to employ counsel a
Stenographer and such other assistants
as may be necessary to send for persons
and papers, issue srbpoenas. and exercise
and enjoy all the Iowers, privileges and
authority of legislative committee; and
it is further
Resolved, That the committee make a
report of its proceedings, conclusions anG
Recommendations at the earlies day
Dracticable