The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-12-20
and both sell and buy bonds for the

and both sell and buy bonds for the
purpose.
The trust question is treated with
little short of misstatement OF law and
facts. The day prior to the reading oil
this message, the United States Supreme
Court, in the important case Of the Ad-
dyst0n Pipe Co.. decided that this trust
was in violation of Federal statues.
There is no longer doubt that existing
law is sufficient to reach the trusts IL
is for the Attorney General of the Unit
ed States, an official of Mckinley
administration, to prosecute the often
ders. But Attorney General comes
from New Jersey, the great incOrporat-
Ing State of all the trusts operating in
the country, and his thoughts and con-
victions are imbued naturally with pre-
judices in favor Of the great capitals
tic concerns Griggs can not see means
for prosecuting these combinations I'M
der the so called Sherman act, although
the Supreme Court can convict when
cases are brought before it The easiest
escape for such situation is to ask for
more Legislation, and this is the course
OF the President. With laws enough
to cover the principal offenders, the
trust-fed administration asks Congress
to furnish more; and then it implies
these matters will receive considera-
ton. When the next Republican con-
vention meets, it will no doubt de-
nOunce vigorously, in general terms,
trusts and combinations for the purpose
OF sitting competition. The RepGbli-
cans have lost none of their character
istic effrOntery,as is shown very well in
the latest message of their chief repre-
sentative.
No suggestion is made for lesseniDg
the burdens of the standing army, but
on the contrary, between the lines can
be read the purpose to establish, it
permanently. If the President actually
believes the instruction in the Philip
pines is practically ended, why is no
hope extended that soon the army can
be reduced, and portion at least of the
present burden of Sl2O,OOO, 600 for this
army can be taken off the shoulder of
the taxpayer?
In the House the message was listen
ed to impatiently. The thousands who
filled the galleries was there to witness
the proceedings in the Roberts case
They were bored by the long, tedious
message.
Without party division, the House
voted not to admit Roberts on his I'M
questionably perfect certificate of cleo
ton as a representative. The COM
ments heard from the leaders on both
sides indicates very cleary that they
were not at all satisfied with their
votes upon the question. They recog-
nize, unanimously, that a most danger
Gus precedent has been established in
refusing to admit any man presenting
] regular credentials. proceeding that
may be invoked hereafter to great in
/ jury of State, by inscriptions major
titles in the House. 1t can lie stated,
moreover, that there were not six men
of the nearly 400 in the House who did
not recognize the fact that the proper
procedure in the case would have been
to adopt the resolution offered by Il e
Democratic leader, Mr.. Richardson,
proposing to admit Roberts temporarily
upon his credentials, and then refer to
the committee on the judiciary for i'm
mediate report the charges of personal
disqualification Roberts would have
been expelled under that method, be.
yond the shadow of doubt.