The Natchitoches enterprise., 1900-06-28

bV far the most important Interpretation
!, of the trust act yet made. A careful
= ANALYSIS OF the principles involved dis
closes broad and far-reaching VeSturC
of power in Congress in the enactment
i of legislation under the broader con-
StitutiOnal warrant to "regulate COM
., merCe." 1t was nCl1 lawful That in tine
: power thus granted Congress 1t could
restrain individual contracts. The
court say:
Under this giant of power TO Con-
gress that BODY, in our judgment, NAV
enact such legislation as shalt declare
void and prohibit the performance o1
any such contract between individuals
or corporations where the natural and
; direct effect of such a contract viii be,
when carried out, to directly ard not a.
a mere incident to- other and innocent
purposes regulate to anv substantial eX-
tent Interstate COmIherCe. We do not
assent to the correctness of the PROPOSE
tiOn hat The constitutional guaranty of
liberty TO the individual to enter into
private contracts limits the power Of
Congress ana prevents it frOm legisa-
ting upon the subject of contracts Of the
class mentioned.
The power 10 regulate interstate COM
merce Is, as stated by Chief Justice Mar
shall, full and complete in Congress.
and there is no Limitation in the grant
Of ys,hi 70
tracts Uf the nature In question from
the jurisdiction of that body.
Does not this opinion OF the present
court, affirming the judgment of Chief
Justice Marshall, "that the power to
regulate interstate commerce il full and
complete in Congress, completely, alb
solutely deny the necessity of Vesting
additional power in Congress by the
process of amending the Constitution rs
contemplated bv the pending resolution?
| And that the Republican majority of
| the Judiciary Committee in their inner
conscience believes this to be so. l am
thoroughly convinced, else whv old the
committee supplement the pending con
StitutiOnaI amendment resolution by the
bill II. X. No. 1889, known us the Lit
tletieId bill?
And here desire to say a word touch
ing that measure. / will nave no Op-
portunity of discussing that measure
when il comes up for consideration by |
this House Tomorrow. And | desire |
now 10 say that in my Judgment it is not !
broad or 1ar-1eachIng enough to accom- |
pliSh all desire ia the way of legisla- |
ton for the suppression of trusts. but it |
at least enlarges the scope of the pres.
ent antitrust statute, and / believe If
vigorously enforced will afford much |
relief to a suffering public.
believe If the amendments to that
bill prepared and to be offered by the
Democratic minority are adopted full.
compete, and absolute authority will
We conferred On this Republican Admin
istratlOn to absolutely destroy the MANY
internal trusts which live, flourish. and
grow all powerful under Republican
rule. / shall vote on the morrow for
every amendment offered by the Demo-
cratic minority, and il they fail to car
nv, which | have no doubt will be the
case, because the Republican majority
do not desire eHectual trust legislation,
shall vote for the Littletield bill.
etuIning now to the consideration of
the pending measure. my objections to
it are thTeefold 1t is unnecessary, AS [
have shown, Congress baYIng ample
power under the Constitute n for the
Of all necdful legislation.
1t is impractical by reason of the long
delay necessarily incident to its final
by three -fourths of the
States. While we ale waiting the trusts
Will have control of the Republic.
1t violates fundamental principle of
the Government in the surrender by the
States, should it become part of the
Constitution, of their right to manage !
and control and regulate their domestic
affairs free from Federal interference. '
This Is the language Of section Z of '
the Joint resolUtIOn:
Congress shall have the power to de-
dne, regulate, control, prohibit, or dis
solve trusts, mOnOpolies, or comblna-
ti0ns, whether existing in the form of a !
or otherwise t
No restriction of any character or q
kind, remote or contingent, is placed Oh
Congress. Under the limitlesS power
herein conferred Congress could invade
The States and, in simple act defining
trusts, ETC., regulate or control or pro-
nibit or dissolve every species and kind
Of business, whether existing IN the
IOrm of a corporation or otherwise
1t is no argument to say, as some of
you have, that Congress would never
avail itself of the authority granted.
The question is one of principle and not
believe it is. or should
Je, a maxim of craftsmanship that eX.
0ediency should not control principle.
congress was vested with certain broad
powers by the fifteenth amendment. and
t availed itself of that power to enact
legislation that any honest and self
man now bushes to cOntem-
'late. The sad experience of recon-
truction days is sufficient reason to OPP
lose this amendment. The rights anu
powers reserved to the individual State
nder the Constitution should be pre-
erved intact and garded with Jealous
are.
The whole tendency of the Republi-
an party is toward Capitalization and
nperiaiistIc government. The nilsson
I the Democratic DartV is to resist TINS !
!
The proposed pending amendment is
long these lines; 1t would invest in
congress unlimited power to strike down
ne most sacred rights of the States
ne right guaranteed bv the COnstitu- I
on to control, regulate. and govern !
heir domestic affairs. !
MIR. Speaker, / can not vote for the =
ending blllIto amend the Constitution. !
1t is unnecessary, unwIse, vicious, VIOLA
We of the inherent rights of Ghe States, :
No. IN my Judgment, submitted by the !
epuOlican party only IN vain attempt
deceive the American people.
Conceived in hvnnnrISu ynd ho.n 80