The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-03-27
Real Consideration of the Tariff
Bill Began in the
House
When 1t Was Thrown Open for
Amendment Under the Five
Minute Rule.
Leaders on Both Sides Have
Much to Say About
Trusts.

open for amendment under the 5.min-
ute rule. The leaders on both sides
were in their places but there were
hardly more than 10 members on the
floor. MI. Lanham dem, Tex. Is
soon as the enacting clause Of the bill
was read, moved to strike it out.
Mr. Sherman REP, N. ", who was
in the chair, ruled that the motion was
out of order.
Mr.. Dockery dem. Mo- offered the
first amendment. 1t was to the enact
ment clause, and was III the nature of
a proviso that whenever it was shown
to the satisfaction of the president that
there was u trust or combine to control
the price of any article on the dutiable
list, the duty on such article should be
suspended.
Mr.. Dingley made the point Of order
that the amendment was in effect to
the free list, and as the house was now
considering the dutiable list, it was not
in order.
II have great respect for the parlia-
mentary knowledge of the gentleman
from Maine" said Mr.. Dockery, 'but
as it is probable that the free list will
never be reached, l hope it will be held
in order now" lLaughter).
Mr.. Cooper dem, Tex offered a
substitute for the Dockery amendment,
in substance to accomplish the same
purpose but containing a definition of
a trust and provision for the determin-
alton of its existence by a court.
"If you are so anxious to incorporate
such a provision as this in the bill, why
did you not insert it in the present
law asked Mr.. Tawney (Rep.,
Mimi.
TRUSTS had not gone quite SO far
them replied Mr.. Richardson (Dem.,
Tenn amid laughter. He challenged
the other side, who ostensibily opposed
trusts, to aid in the adoption of the
amendment. II have never before"
said he, heard such insincere objec-
tions to a just amendment"
A long debate on the point of order
followed. Mr.. Bailey made an extended
argument appealing to the majority
to aid i'll putting down these combina-
tions, which preyed upon the energies
of the people"
MIR. Hepburn rep, Ia raised a
laugh OIL the Democratic side by saying
that this amendment, if adopted, would
defeat the purpose of the bill.
Don't laugh, he shouted, waving his
hand. He went on to explain how
easily it would be for a few men who
really desired free wool and free sugar,
to effect a combination to raise the
price of sugar and wool, and thus
under the amendment, force these ar.
tiCles to the free list
Mr.. Bailey thanked Mr.. Hepburn for
his frank admission that the destruc-
ton of trusts would interfere with the
purpose of the bill.
''Oh no." said Mr.. Hepburn, II was
trying to show that under the pretense
Of creating a trust this legislation could
be destroyed
But could not the courts decide be.
tween a sham trust and a real trust?"
asked Mr.. Terry CDem., Ark
Il suppose the courts could" replied
Mr.. Hepburn.
But shall the revenues of the coun.>
try be destroyed because of the exist.
! cnce, III vocation of law, of a real
trust Trusts are illegal. Their ere.
ntors are criminals. Shall we place the
treasury's revenues at the mercy of
~Crimiuals:'
Mir. Simpson Pop, kan.) said he
thought the majority Were very much
more concerned about the falling off of
the revenues of trusts than the fa.lIng
off Of the revenues of the treasury.
democratic applause.
Mr.. Bland dem, Mo- declared that
hardly a state Legislature met last
winter but did not seek to lay the
heavy hand of the law on these glgan.
tic corporations.
Mr.. Tawney declared the opposition
was attempting to make some cheap
political capital u of this alleged
assault On trusts. The Republican
party was the only party that had ever
enacted antitrust legislation in con.
gress. He created much amusement
by reading a list Of the prominent Dem
ocrats in the present house who voted
against the consideration Of the anti
trust law passed by the Fifty.tirst con.
gress.
will you name a single conviction
under that law asked Mr.. Richard
sOn.
Why" replied Mr.. Tawney, 'only
last Monday the supreme court decided
that the great railroad trust of the
country violated that law" (Republi.
can applause.)
Nh. Richardson, Mr.. Tawney said,
raised the question of consideration
against the antitrust bill. In reply
the Tennessean produced the record to
show thot he raised the question in the
interest of the silver bill. The Repub-
licans jeered this statement. Mr..
Tawney said that that was exactly the
method pursued by the free silver sem
ators at the last session t defeat the
Dingley bill.
Mr.. Bland and Mr.. McMillin insisted
that the Democratic position was mis-
stated, and the latter inquired why had
not Mr.. Tawney had the courage to
: read the vote ON tina final passage Of
the bill