The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-16
A BLOW AT TRUSTS.
House Judiciary Recommends a Con.
StituliOnal Amendment.
ADOPTED BY A PARTY VOTE.
The Democrats Voted Against the Plan
Adopted by the Majority.
GREAT POWER GIVEN TO CONGRESS-.
GREAT POWER GIVEN TO CONGRESS.
!, p o, ''arred to Define, Prohibit and
mn 11sa5aSsssas -biuations.
800
COMMITTEE RITZ. ,IENDATlONS OUTLINED
Present Power of Congress Is simply
One of Annoynnce--stntes should
Also Deal with Trusts.

Washington, May 15.-The trust ques-
ton led to an animated discussion in the
house committee on judiciary today a con
stitutional amendment finally being
adopted by a party vote giving congress
power to define, regulate, control, pro-
hibit or dissolve trusts, monopolles or
combinations whether in the form OF a
corporation or otherwise, This amendment
and a bill restricting trusts were framed
some time ago by special committee
on trusts.
After many delays the work of the sub
committee was brought before the full
committee with view of getting the trust
question before the house.
After several attempts to amend the
resolutions, which were defeated on party
lines, the committee amendment was
adopted by a party vote, the democrats
voting in the negative.
The constitutional amendment as agreed
to and reported to the house proposes the
following as article &c of the constitution.
Section /. All powers conferred by this
article snail extend to the several States
the Territories, TIE District of Columbia
and ali territory under the sovereignty
and subject to the Jurisdiction of The
United States.
Sec, g. Congress shall have power to
define, regulate, conerol. prohibit or dis
solve trusts, monopolies or combinations,
whether existing Ia the form OF Il cor
poration or otherwise. The several States
may continue to exercise such power in
any manner not ia conflict with the laws
OF the United States.
sec. g. Congress shall have power to
enforce the provisions OF this article by
appropriate legislation"
The majority report favorng the consti-
tutional amendment says IN part;
SIN our judgment IL is the plain duty
of those entrusted with the law making
power 10 propose ana submit to the people
OF the States SUCH a remedy as viii enable
congress to restrain and. if need he, re-
press absolu ely all Illegal and dangerous
combinations which restrein trade or de-
stroy competition, or which may unjustly
harass or Cypress labor.
1T Is to be expected that the broad and
comprehensive proposition embodied in
this joint resolution viii meet strong OPP
position and be subjected to some bitter
dsnunclation But aggregated capital, II
honest in its purpose, not only VIII not
oppose, but viii approve and sustain a
proposition that is designed to restrain
only where wrong is being done and that
compels submission 20 the government Of
a just and intelligent people.
Labor has it's best friend in aggregated
capital corporations and combinations
when fairly aud honestly formed and con-
Quoted II is not the existence, but the
abuee. OF corporate powers and combined
capital that merits condemnation and de-
nunciation and demands a remedy. Such
abuses exist Hence the necessity for the
existence Of competent controlling and
restraining power--a power OF absolute
suppression, It may be, in a given case.
"The power congress now has Is largely
one OF annoyance We may strike a light
blow here and there. but can not repress
or prohibit such combinations or monopo-
lies A mower to harass merely better not
be exercised at all
Congress should have power to msln-
tain an open field for honest competition
| in all industries throughout the entire
Union.
When corporation or business assoc
citation becomes monopoly, or when any
combination or corporation, or men asso-
ciated under any form or name for illegal
or improper purposes, becomes menace
TO the welfare of the people throughout
the Union. congress ought TO possess the
power to control and repress It.
'InlS IS the purpose anu SVoPc VI t"N
pronosed amendment
ct is necessary and Il is wise The
general welfare demands that this power
exist in the general government, and
there is no liberty where illegal trusts
combinations. corporations and monopo-
! lies crush competition in industrial enter
prises. control the production and prices
and thereby Cypress and 10 degree en-
SLAVE the people"
The report is very long. II argues IN
extenso against the proposed remedy OF
placing trust-made goods on the free iist,
which remedy it is asserted. wonld pc
worse than the disease in striking down
protection in an experimental enort 70
| destroy monopoly and combinations. ~