The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-06-08
AN ANTITRUST BILL
Republican Measure Passed the
House, One Against.
Labor and Trades Unions Were
Excepted from its Stringent
Provisions.

Washington, June . Only one vote
was cast in the house today against the
Llttleteld antitrust bill to amend the
Sherman antitrust act to make il more
effective in the prosecution Of trusts
their agents or attorneys.
Mr.. Manu-, republican, of Illinois. cast
the negative vote. The bill, according
to the statements of the republican lead
ers, goes to the limit of the authority
OF congress under the constitution. All
the democratic minority amendments
except one were defeated. That was an
amendment declaring that nothing in
the act should be construed to apply TO
trades unions or labor organizations.
All except eight republicans Messrs.
Aldrich, Alabama; Allen and Littlefeld.
Maine; Bailey, Long and Calderhead.
Kansas, and Cannon and Hit. Illinois.
voted for it.
Points of the Law
The bill amends the Sherman anti
trust law so as to declare every contract
or combination in the form of trust or
conspiracy III restraint of commerce
among the states or foreign nations lille
gal, or such party to such act or com
binatiOn guilty of crime punishable by
a fine OF not less than $500 nor more
than $4,000 and by Imprisonment not
less than six months nor more than two
years.
1t provides that any person injured by
a violation OF the provisional provisions
OF the law may recover threefold dam
ages.
The definition of "person" and "per-
sons" in the recent law is enlarged so as
to include the agents, officers or attor-
neys OF corporations.
Barred Out of the Mails.
For purposes of commerce it declares
illegal all corporations or associations
formed or carrying on business for Dur
poses declared illegal by the common
laws; provides that they may be per-
petually enjoined from carrying on in
terstate commerce and forbids them the
use of the United States mails.
1t provides for the production of per
sons and papers and confers Jurisdiction
upon United States circuit and district
courts for the trial of cases under it and
authorizes any person, firm, corporation
or association to begin and prosecute
proceedings under it.
the report on the bill, occupied the time
for general debate on his side with an
explanation OF the proposed amend
ments to the Sherman anti trust law
which it contained.
Amendments Are Voted Down.
The minority amendment to broaden
the language of section was lost, 122
to 130.
The minority amendment authorizing
the president to place on the free list
articles in which he is satisfied there is q
of trade, was lost, 122 to
1873.
The last minority amendment pro-
vided that nothing in the act should be
construed to apply to trades unions or
labor organizations. Against this Mr..
Kay raised the point of order that it was
not germane. The speaker overruIed
the point Of order, saying that it was in
order under the agreement. The demo
Gratis greeted the ruling with cheers.
"NOw we have you in the hole" shout
ed some one on the democratic side. But
many of the republicans voted for the
Mr.. BabcOck of Wisconsin,
voted with the democrats, and his vote
was greeted with applause.
Applause From the Democrats.
As each republican voted for it the
democrats applauded. They were es-
pecially demOnstrative when Mr.. GrOs-
venor, of Ohio, Mr.. Roy of New York,
and Mr.. Dolliver of Iowa, voted in the
The amendment prevailed
by an overwhelming majority, 26O to 8.
The announcement was greeted with
cheers on both sides of the house.
The vote was then taken on the pass
age of the bill. On this vote the re-
publicans repeated the democratic per-
formance Of applauding the democrats
as they voted for it. The bill was pass
ed, 273 to 1. Mr.. Mann, republican, OF
Illinois, voted against the bill.