The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-23
Congressman ELOrimer Says
Big Trusts Favor 1t.
Will Cooperate to Secure Legis~
latiOn to That End.
IN THE DIRECTORATE
They Are Willing Government
Shall Be Represented.
Thinks He Sees Solution to the
Whole Problem.

Chicago Nov. 23-"Trade combina-
tions-trusts-are ready for and invite
government supervision. I know of one
big combine whose officers even go so
far as to say that no objection would
be raised to the government having q
representative on its board of directors
You will find that the trusts viii CO.
operate in securing the enactment Of
legislation looking to federal supervis-
ion and this problem viii be easily and
quickly settled"
This was the statement of Congress-
man Lorimer to his associates on the
subcommission on transportation dur
ing an informal discussion yesterday
of the results thus far attained by the
congressional inquiry into the condition
of capitaH and labor in the United
States. His authority for this view was
named as President Lambert of the
American Steel and Wire company. He
supported his contention with a CONVEX
sation he had held recently with John
w. Gates, former head of the Illinois
Steel company.
Members of the subcommission ar
gued further that the life of the COM
mission should be five years instead OF
two as prescribed by the law. Con-
gresham LOrimer Will start for Wash
ingtOn on December l. firm in this be-
lief. The commissioners admit that the
report to congress on the trust problem
viii be the most important feature of
their work. Commissioner Kennedy
stated that difficulty might be expected
when the 10 members of the investigat-
ing body sought to draft this report.
I think the question viii be easily
settled, continued Congressman Lori
mer. I recently talked with President
Lambert of the American Steel and
Wire company. He asserts that the
trade combinations want government
supervision. His company. so he stated.
would not object to the government
appointing representative on the di-
rectOrate. Examination of the con-
Germs books, he said. by government
inspectors would meet with no opposi-
ton If reports We're not published in
such a way as might benefit competi-
tors. This position, Mr. Lambert said,
is held generally by officials Of trade
combinations. They have a selfish pur-
pose in desiring government control IN
that they believe it will make their
stock more secure in the market"
The subcommission on transporta-
tiOn struck an obstacle in the lack of
witnesses. Postponement Of the after
noon session was necessary and further
delays may induce the com missioners
to issue subpoenas for those whom they
desire to question. OF the two witnesses
appearing, Joseph Chapman, a ware
houseman of GAINESVILLE, O., stirred up
a mild sensation by proposing as rem
edy to check determinations IN railroad
rates the creation by law OF a board OF
control, composed of one member from
each state, which should have absolute
power over this and contingent railway
problems with it's ruling amenable only
to the United States supreme court.
He intimated that the government
might possess his plan for 2 considera-
tiOn.
My system" said Mr.. Chapman.
''contemplates the handling of traffic
on a mileage basis, which should be so
arranged that the railroads would get
a reasonable return for their services.
and the public a reasonable rate of
transportation. The interstate com
merce commission should have a courts
power to investigate, determine and
rule, but these orders should not be en-
forced until sanctioned by the board OF
control"
c. c. Emmerson of st. Paul presented
the complaints of produce dealers OF
his city. Rate-cutting, said lac, is not
now so bad as formerly.
H. H. Porter, when questioned in re-
gard to Congressman LOriIner's state
ment, said:
I can not say what the industrial
combinations want. I know nothing Of
any request to the government that
their affairs be examined"
John P Wilson said I ara unable to
say anything in regard to Congressman
LOrimer's statements, for [ have no
knowledge of what the trusts or indus
trial combinations want"