New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-24
A Day WITH TRUST-HUNIERS
LEXOWs BILLS ADVANCED AFTER
FLUBDUB DEBATE.

LEADERS on BOTH SIDES TRYING TO GET ON
RECORD AS THE ONLY SINCERE TRUST
HArERs-sENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Albany. March 3-There was long calendar IN
the Senate this morning. and first on II were the
Antitrust bills reported by the Lexow in'es"-
eating committee which were the special order lo'
the day together with the report OF the committee
Senator Cantor called attention TO a distinction
which he said was made between individuals ana
corporate In the matter OF penalties ITO said
one of the bills provided for the imprisonment Oh
an Individual for violation OF the ACT whhe III
the case OF a corporation only n fine of 5000 was
imposed there being provision for the imprisoh-
men Of the officers and directors OF the corpora
ton.
This bill. he said. took away all the existing
power lodged with the Attorney-General. the pur-
pose OF the bill should be to give the Attorney
General power TO compel the production OF all
hooks for examination. In this case all tha' was
provided was that application should be mace 10
the Supreme Court and the matter then referred
TO a referee The bill did not even make II com
rulsorv upon the Attorney General 10 institute such
proceedings but left II entirely TO his discretion
The provision for a reference OF the matter 10 a
referee he said defeated the purpose OF the Dill
The power to institute proceedings should be alb
eo,r,a and compulsorv upon the Attorney General.
and not discretionary.
Senator Lexow made vigorous reply, ana de-
Tended his bill All the powers conferred upon inc
Attorney General were retained. and addltlona'
mower given him in this bill. Every possible pro-
vlsion had been made to enforce the appearance Of
witnesses and compel them to answer questions
The referee was invested with all the rights OF II
Supreme Court Judge to compel obedience TO SUB
poenAs and might commit TO prison on the spot
any witness who refused to answer questions
The discussion drifted into a political argument
and Senator Grady ridculed the idea that the Re
4fy-o thaiq
against the trusts. Trusts had grown up and been
rorrished under Republican legislation. and now
maintained the Republican party. he declared
Senator Grady denounced the report Of Senator
McCarren He said the Democratic party had re-
peatedlv declared its adherence OF these monopo-
lies and could not be diverted from its course
by any man who claimed allegiance 10 the party
Senator McCarren said he had only reported the
facts as he had found them and thought II far BEG
ter that he should present TO his constituency the
true situation rather than that he should hoid our
10 them hope of something which il was impos-
sible TO accomplish. He declared that under the
Constitution Of the State and the Constitution OF
the United States II was impossible to prevent the
The two Antitrust bills were then advanced TO
q third reading Senator Cantor giving notice thai
he would offer amendments suggested by him when
the bills came up for final passage ..,a Ia
Just before adjournment Senator LeXow SAID ne
had a request for hearing on these bills. and he
asked that they be recommtted 10 the special COM
this They wanted the bills referred 10 the Judi
ciary Committee, az the minority had no repre-
sentation on the special committee. Senator Cantor
raised the further point Of order that this commit
tee was no longer in existence. as the time Tor
which IL had been appointed had expired. The
point OF order declared not well taken, ana
an amendment offered by Senator Grady tina;
the bill should he committed to the judiciary Com
mittee This was lost, "A 10 TO- party vote, ex-
cept that Senator McCarren voted with the Re-
senator Grady raised the further point Of order
that the Senate had no right 10 refer Dill 10
committee formed in part of members OF the As
sembly This also was ruled against, and senator
Cantor appealed from the decision OF the Chair.
Senator I.exow then withdrew his motion for a
recommittal OF the bills for hearing, and this
ended the whole matter.
These bills were passed:
senator Whites creating Commissioner OF
Jurors for each county OF the state having
population Of more than $4,000 and less than
1905
Mr. Austin's. TO provide for the enlargement OF
the building for the American Museum OF Natural
History in Central Park. New York city.
Mr. Ausins. to provide for the protection OF
purchasers of coal in cities OF the first and second
! classes.
! Senator Ford introduced a bill providing that no
regular teacher in the boroughs Of Manhattan and
Bronx shall receive less than $500 year nor shall
/ any teacher after ten years experience In inc
public schools receive less than $500, and no vice
principal first assistant less than sl,4H and the
salaries Of women principals shall be increased by
the addition Of $50 year until they shali reach
the limit OF $500.