The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-10-23

During the interval between its adjourn
ment Saturday and November 3. when the
Industrial Commission will reconVene to
hear testimony. the attention of the mem
bors OF the Commission viii be paid to
preliminary arrangements for making a
special report to Congress upon the sub
ject of trusts. The greater part of the tes
tinony upon the subject has been taken and
there are but few witnesses left to be
heard on the subject II is the intention
OF the Commission to have the report COM
pleted in time for presentation TO Con-
eress. January 10. 1t was at first thought
advisable to present it when the session
opened ia December, but upon more ma
ture consideration it was decided e hold
it until Congress is well organized, and
ready TO consider il. BY adopting this
plan more time can be given to the details
OF the report.
vast amount Of testimony has been
taken upon the subject of trusts and COM
bines, and the report, it is expected, will
be exhaustive. and viii deal with the sub
ject in all its phases. The bulk OF the
testimony upon the subject has either been
printed or is nearly ready for the Pub
lie Printer, and will be at hand for
reference when needed.
The majority of the Commissioners have
been present at most of the sessions, dur
ing this part of the investigation, and IL
is very probable that opinions have been
formed in nearly all cases. Just what the
nature Of the report Will be, however, can
not be definitely determined at present.
The Commissioners decline to express
hEr frc fall lie anaf or huf
IL is thought by those who have followed
the work Of the Commission closely, and
have read the testimony that the report
will recommend restrictions. IL is practi-
cally foregCne conclusion that the rec
concentrations made Will recognize the fact
that trusts and combines cannot be abol-
ished.
The report. il is said, will be of a mild
character, and will not contain any sweep
ing declarations against the great COM
bines II is thought that restrictions viii
be recommended TO the legislatures of some
of the states, in regard to stock transac-
tions.
Several of the Commissioners at various
times have expressed themselves upon the
trust question, and in every instance the
sentiment has been TO the effect that trusts
are the. result of the new business condi-
tions OF the country. which owing 10 the
fierce competition in nearly all lines have
made trusts a necessity.
Senator Kyle. Chairman Of the Commits
sion, in an interview stated that he did not
think that trusts could be abolished ana
that the Commission would recognize the
fact in its report 10 Congress.
Il Is thought that the Commissioners in
their coming report will recognize the state
ments OF many witnesses that an absolute
monopoly OF any one interest cannot be per-
manenuy secured by a corporation or COM
binatioHi of capital. and that at all times
competition is sufficient TO keep the power
OF any trust within bounds.
Many witnesses who have taken the stand
against trusts have admitted that just
soon as trusts begin 10 demand eXorbitant
prices for their products, competition viii
become profitable, and thus reduce prices.
Ii is the general opinion that this fact
Will be-reeegnized by a majority of the
Commissioners, and that the fact will in
fuenee them against reporting unfavorably
on trusts.
In connection with the investigation of
the Standard Oil Company witnesses have
denounced the methods of that corporation.
in what they called violations Of the in
terstate commerce laws. AS a result Of
this testimony and that of witnesses upon
the subject of transportation, il is thought
that a revision Of the interstate commerce
laws may be advised
In addition to the special reports on
trusts. the Commission intends TO send
report upon immigration and possibly upon
mining and manufacturing. All the neces-
sary information covering inning. alton has
been received. and mining and manufactur-
ing Will in all probability have been thor
oughly investigated by the LIST OF January.
AS the Commission proceeds with its in
vestigations the scope of its work broadeas
and il viii now be impossible to finish
within the time mapped out for it. The
industrial interests Of the country. il has
been found, are more extensive than Con-
gress supposed when il enacted the bill
providing for the Commission, and there
are many so-called evils connected with
them which come within the scope of that
body. Il is thought probable that Congress
will prolong the life of the Commission
at the next session from one TO two years
A Scarcity Of Italian Priests.
ROME, Oct. 23.-The Vatican is impress
ed with the complaints from American