Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-16

An0 h0puDllcel MemDorS OF U0A.
gress Spring surprise on
the Democrats.
An Antitrust Bill Framed With
Resolution for a Constitutional
Amendment.
The Measure Amends Sherman Act
and Makes 1t an Enforceable
Statute.
Washington. May ls.A republican
congress is about to have the oppor-
tunity 10 enact antitrust legislation
which, from the present outlook, Will
be conservatively corrective Of the evils
resultant from existing commercial
combinations.
The house committee on judiciary
last evening agreed upon a bill to be
reported by Mr.. Overs,reet. of Indiana,
Which is intended to amend the act of
July 20, 1890. known as the Sherman
iinti-trust Law.
Earlier in the daydliring the after
lloon--the committee agreed upon q
resolution proposing an amendmentto
the constitution and comforting power
ON congress to define. regulate, prohibit
IiSsl ~ Yt1t
committee, excepting Mi. Kerr. repub-
l5licin, Of Ohio. and MIR. Smith, demo-
crat. of Kentucky, were present al yes
terduys session.
Every democrat voted against the
proposed amendment 10 the constitu-
l5tion. holding TO The old principle OF
that party that it would prove, II
passed an infringement, of state rights.
ION the, main issue-the anti-trust bill
tbs democrats refrained from voting.
Not expecting the republicans to
come squareIy out at this session of
i.SoAeress and hoping that the domi-
nant party would be placed in a bad
i9lgnt hceanse Of silence. the demo-
lsaratie Statesmen iii Washington We're
l}fslken rs surprise and being careful of
lspubae opinion, played safe In the.
i8eotiinit,se room by not going on rec.
Ford against the ntitrnst bin.
The republicans. on the other hand.
have i,ad this card up their sleeve for
some TIM. They have eluded all in
islulIies rs 10 what the house committee
Ion judiciary Mould do and therefore
| the rsstllis4of tbs day are Ikea thun-.
deiboit from a clear sky.
The democrats have been outwitted
lat thelis#uWtn game, with due respect to
the Vaccinations ~ Senator Jones and
Bird 5 t.olsr. of New York. The
I1alnendment5tp the constitution as final
ty worded is brief. and reads as fol-
tt5leMs.
sssction i All powers conferred By
lfhis art!ele shall extend 10 the several
/ states. the territories, The District Of
| Columbia and all tarritory under the
sepsielgn,S and subject 10 the ju.isdic-
tionaof the United States.
SEQ 2. Congress shall have power to
4 define. regulate, control. prohibit or
i dissolve trusts, mopopolies or combina-
lions, whether existing IN the form Of
a corporation OF atherMise,
The several states may continue &c
Ilexereise such power IN any manner not
IN conflict With the laws of the United
states.
Secs. Congress shall have power IL
i5enforce8 the provisions of this article by
appropriate legislation
i All the afternoon the committee
|sstruggled to reach M agreement upon a
i new antitrust bill. and finally sue
3Eoceded. The committee makes two inns
aIgportant reports. one explaining the linz
4 itations % fcderol authority over cor
4 parations, and the other upon the bill
"A These reports have been prepared by
II Messrs. Ray, Littiaiield and Oyerstrcet
Il Tie proposed amendment TO the CON
4 stitutiGn3 and the anti-trust bill. to-
4 ggether Mil. II adopted, put fangs ant
d claws in the Sherman antitrust Law
. and make 1t living. forcible statute
Il Two motives Were held In view:
TO enlarge the dominating power
! taf The federal constitution 50 asto Civ,
( llr6ngTess greater control over the CLAN
corporations of the day.
. ? To provide appropriate and SAT
"a llnws whereby the dangers of such com
Ia uercial amaigama tons might be hel'
:. III check,
b These two objects the best lawyers II
4 the house Of Representatives on the re
. ! publican sid.. believe the bill about L
+ be reported and the proposed censtitu
]. ti1nal amendment Will attain. TIL
anti-trust bill resembles in part thatin
PRODUCED by Mr. Li1tlefield last winter
The majority committee report favor
ing the constitutional amendment say
! in8part:
1T is 10 be expected that the broa
y ana comprehensive proposition embed
3 led in this joint resolution will NEE
. strong opposition and be subjected I
d some bitter denunciation But aggre
= gated capital, II honest In Its purposs.
yInot only Will not oppose but VIII ap
[. Eprope and sustan proposition that
t designed to restrain only where wron
Fl lis being done and that compels submis
sion to the government OF Just and q
! Intelligent people
= Labor has its best friend In aggre
gated capital, corporations and comb
: nations when fairly and honestly form
!, ed and conducted. It is not the exist
:, ence hut the abuse Of corporate power
= land combined capital that merits con
: defamation and denuncfat1on and de
:, mands n remedy. Such abuses exis
= Hence the necessity for the existence :
>. a competent controlling and restrainin
power--a power Of absolute suppression
. 1t may be, in a given case.
THE power congress now has Is large
E1.,6n ono re mn Ia mn " CT la