The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-03
PASSED THE ANTITRUST BILL.
ONE HOUSE REPUBLICAN VOTED
AGAINST THE MEASURE.

Democrats All Voted in Favor of
the BilI-AlI the Minority Amend
ments Except One Not to Include
Labor Organizations Were Voted
Down-BilI Amends sherman Law
and Puts Penalty on Combinations
in Restraint of Trade.
Washington, June 2.-Only one vote was
oast in the House to-day against the Lit
tlefeld antitrust bill to amend the Sher-
man act of 1890 to make 1t more effective
in the prosecution of trusts and combina-
tons, their agents, officers or attorneys.
Mr.. Mann of Illinois, Republican. cast the
negative vote.
The bill according to the statements of
the Republican leaders, goes to the limit
of the. authority of Congress under the
constitution.
All the Democratic minority amend
ments, 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,
which was adopted by vote of 260 to s.
Mr.. Ray of New York, In charge of
the bill, raised a point of order against
it. but was overruled by the Speaker.
All, except eight Republicans, Messrs.
AIdrich of Alabama, Allen and Littlefield
of Maine; Bailey, Long and Calderhead
Of Kansas and Cannon and Hit of
Illinois, voted for it.
What the Bill Provides.
The bill amends the Sherman antitrust
law so as to declare every contract, COM
hination, in the form of trust or conspir-
acy in restraint of commerce among the
states or with foreign nations Illegal, and
every party to such contract or combina-
ton guilty of crime punishable by
fine of not less than $500, nor more than
5000 and by Imprisonment not less than
six months, nor more than two years,
1t provides that any person injured by
q violation of the provisions of the law,
may recover threshold damages. The
definition so- person and persons" in
the present law, is enlarged so as 10 in
clude the agents, officers or attorneys of
corpora tlons. For purposes of commerce
1t declares illegal all corporations, asso-
ciations formed or carrying on business
for purposes declared Illegal by the COM
mon law; provides that they may be per-
petualiy enjoined from carrying on inter-
state commerce. and forbids them the use
OF the United States mails. 1t provides for
the production of persons and papers; con-
fers jurisdiction upon United States Cir
cult and District Courts, for the trial of
causes under It, and authorizes any. per-
son, firm or corpora ton, or association, 10
begin and prosecute proceedings under
It. ---
Some Routine Business.
Before proceeding to the consideration
Of the antitrust bill under the special
order, the House disposed of some rou-
tine business.
The Senate amendments to the sundry
civil bill were disagreed to, and the bill
was sent to conference
The antitrust bill was then taken up,
and thirty minutes general debate on each
side was had, after which the bill was
read under he five-minute rule.
The minority amendment authorizing
the President TO place on the free list
articles in which he is satisfied there is
a con- bipation in restraint of trade, was
lost 122 to 1873,
The vote on final passage was 273 to l,
and the announcement of 1t was cheered
10 the echo.
At $3.50 p. m, the House adjourned until
Monday.