The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-07
THE ANTITRUST BILL.
Further Consideration of it Tomorrow
Afternoon.

Further Consideration of it Tomorrow
Afternoon.
Mr.. Stevens antitrust bill was con
sidered yesterday afternoon by the
House judiciary committee.
1t is evident. Notwithstanding the
pledges of the Democratic party on this
question. that several of the members
of the committee will not support this
or any other bill Of the kind if they
can help IT,
Whether a majority will be with them
or not remains TO be seen.
OF the members of the committee
yesterday. Mr.. Stevens spoke in favor
of the bill and Mr. Rountree and Mr.
Winston against it.
Il am entirely opposed to the bill,
said Mr.. Rountree. Il have never read
it, | don't know, therefore. exactly
what it is. I'm just simply opposed to
that sort of legislation"
Mr. Winston expressed himself in IA
vor Of antitrust legislation. but he
didn't like the provisions of this parti-
cular bill.
Mr. Jas. II. Pou appeared before the
committee in opposition to the bill. He
expressed a fear that it would cripple the
Cone Export Company and thereby hurt
the cotton mills of the State. He painted
, the beauties and advantages of the
Cone organization in glowing colors,
though heappeared only. he said, IN his
own behalf as an owacr of
cotton mill stock and for few
other persons for whom he had bought
stock
Mr.. T.. l.. Harris. jobber Of this
city. said the bill would compel him to
either quit business in North Carolina or
to establish Il nominal office in Norfolk
or elsewhere outside of the State.
Mr.. Julian. Of Rowan. as business
man. endorsed the contentious Of MIR.
Harris. He considered the bill IN pre-
MUM on dishonesty.
Replying to these arguments Mr..
Stevens said rs was not welded 10 his
bill He was for good and effective
antitrust bill and this was the best
he had seen. He was willing to take
a better one, if somebody would sup
lply it.
| Until they did he would stand by this
bill. The Democratic party had prom
Used and he for one proposed to do
his best to fulfil the promise.
Some people consider it all right to
promise, but in bad taste to legislatc
against trusts. 1 don't know that this
bill will prevent trusts, but | do know
it registers the will of the people"
i Mr. Robinson-''Don'ty you think these
trusts are the outgrowth Of tariff lesis-
Ilation?"
Mr.. Stevens-"No They are the out
growth of greed and avarice."
! He read from the last report of Attor
Iney General Osborne asking for a m.re
stringent and effective antitrust law,
and recommending one of this yc"y kind
Mr.. Stevens also pointed out the fact
that the Supreme court o. the United
States has decided this law consttu-
| ti0nal.
/ Mr.. Rountree-'.What good will it do
to pass an antitrust lawY
| Mr.. Stevens-"You ought 70 have gone
into the State Convention and asked
that question"
''The trust goes to Congress and
| says, Leave this matter TO the States
to regulate To the State Legislatures
| it says, let Congress pass a national
antitrust law
The streets of Jerusalem We're kept
clean by every man sweeping in froat of
his door.
'If the Democratic party ignores It's
pledges in this respect then the people
are going to be disappointed"
Mr.. Rountree-"D0n You know %
per cent of the persons who 50 into
business fail?"
Mr.. Craig-'The trusts crash them
out"
Mr. Steyens-'"Trusts are being form
/ ed daily. You can scarcely pick up a
paper but you see something of 4 new
| trust. But Pm not here to discuss
trusts. That's to be done by Che Dem
ocratic party in its platform. BY that
| stand.
Its whispered that perhaps we'd bet
| ter so slow here: that we'd better touch
corporate interests lightly, else these
interests will withdraw their influence
from the Democratic party in North
| Carolina.
Now / acknowledge that the hus-
ness interests of the Stare have done
much for its best interests politically
but if the time has come when they arc
going to play the roll Of political high
| wayman / say let them go. and joy 20
with them. They leave peace behind
them
Further consideration VIII be given
this bill in committee to morrow after
| noon.