New-York tribune., 1900-09-24
DEMOCRATS AND TRUSTS.
CHAIRMAN RAY OF THE HOUSE JUDI
CIARY COMMITTEE SHOWS THE HoL-
LOwNESS OF THEIR OUTCRY.

publican National Headquarters by Congressman
george w Ray. Of the XNVIth District of New
yorl chairman OF the judiciary Committee of
.he House Of Representatives. BY virtue OF ms
positon al the head OF this committee MT hA!
IS fitted 10 discuss this subject with unusual intel
lgence. Mr.. Ray said:
The sudden change Of Mr.. Bryan from the DIS
cussion his paramount ISSUE lmpstlIlisf lpii of the
tie discussion Of trusts Is c4iafacteilsSiS u ira
man @me4 The ii It can be dignifed as such is
nehsr popular fo n9T ~aR aR q Gay dS ' The people Of
The United States are intensely panIl4o1' a,; u1IS
Par6o 10 destroy The liberties Of people of
the naon or 81 any q s Us Isct'ly ID no substantial
Impression. In fact the continued dscSsStr Srvsn
party Hence the change OF base. -..,, - ,o,
just what Mr. Bryan means Ssba py ,nteSded when
he cries Imperialism. If he refers 10 I man
HenS a5et n The hands CT seected persons for the
benefit OF The sockholders 9t a. Of siI trusts the
answer IS thai 10 trusts exist to-day Il mas oeeh
SSsIions are illegal and they have been abandoned
y he c6S5ed gsiSLs % their capital to carry on great
Ierprises, cheaper me cos 9i a srticie 10 the
consumer he is attacking modern eiNaa 6a,ons 6 Ss
Of our present prosperity as unlted ana P'0
gregatins capitaL any 49, ock become SO pow
of a given article OF necessity and SO uitlhaleLg
5eseroy competition in It's production aad iN me
mice ~ viii But 50 long as competition is open
ana free ether capital IS II liberty 10 ana WI or
people are thus projected Py freedom ~ ,T wnaI
form IL may exist resorts 10 lIseel ,rdW com
OF doing business or co1splISs 10 nrices
inst Il i5 iheIS he 2h1 The restraining power Of
the law The courts should be able TO take hoid
TNeaty-iVe of the States Of our Union have
passed riE!d anti-iTgsJ or E prefsrred TO-
laws ntendsa 10 9Te'f at h liberty TO enact ard
enforce such legislation, and II each SlaTT "ouu tt
Sude Of the Repubcan party and is Leaders re-
gardng this question has never been 9 ant G
monopoly legislation of the States referred 10 % mas
almost without exception, been enacted Dy heppun-
Iican Legislatures and approved by hepuohcah
When the transportation of merchandise and
passeag gers from State to State became tpe SUI
he iS' rstes aId fares RepLblcan Congress inter
fered ana enacted the Interstate Commerce Law,
passed and Republican President approved the
feetRe e Ie i6er5tate oommerce That a severe
and drastic and has been rlgla5y ei.lceu ~ 80
Attorney-General Of The United States whenever
the Republicans have been IN power. , C,
a ts f,SIj ,oT-eT - regnlate interstate Commerce
hut no power whatever over Manufacture ana pro
s oTarIess 10 mass laws regulating or controlling
iss = go 81 ,,,,no,oljee in nanufactIre or production
Ii was supposed that manufacture ana production
we're so interviewer and connected with. so de
r9erce that the laws enacted by Congress could
Pe monopoly in gaa T a 2aa P64aed he
effort was made 70 apply the law to H. i5ut ~ me
held that manufacture and production are no part
OF interstate commerce, and hence not within INC
p2%gs oI o. ne The result conceded by ell is
maj Congress is powerloss 70 enact any law d.
finine or regulating controlling monopoly, or
so called trusts or conspiracies IN manufacture
True is promises TO the PsoPIs; the Rspq6Ii-
gress attempted TO provide remedy for this CON
fisnal amendment was necessary, if Congress was
e 10 a w4 d 2 @ 1R 4 P6%eT on con-
gress TO enact antitrust and anl-monopoly laws.
Committee on the judiciary and there received
Early IN the session TIE democrats asserted that
The 6spubhc&ans & would -I2t a9 any Ima1
OF that committee was appointed consisting OF
Ihtee kePGhsaHs and Two DeInocGats -, Ihe ne. Re i
committee proposed amendment, which provided
Iaie 9ro5ibi1 or dissolve trusts monopoiies or
combinations. whether existing in the form Of
Democratic doctrine that State rights might be
interfeTed with this provision was added: The f
power in any manner not in conflict with the laws
Strange 70 say, the Democrats il, committee op-
surrender Of power belonging to the States to the
Congress Of the United States. At their request a
no substitute was suggested and finally the re-
pSE MsS m The Ho cans es he m ques29 Of con
q Mr.. Ray. chairman Of the committee, asked
9aSer 6eBat bod aeb be cogcAa5 tne aSAa 6i M then
3ected. This action Of the Democrats compelled
nsH adopfed against bemo5rate m e oppo5on %ifh was
When the proposed amendment came Up for con
sideration, under the rule, the Democratic party
and press arrayed themselves against it. The
ntty-four voted for the proposed amendment and
= 1b2 against Five Democrats voted for and two Re.
publcans against IT, As amendment TO the Con
6ttution cannot be submitted TO the people except
on two-thirds vote Of both houses Of Congress the
whether Congress shall be empowered to reguiate
BY the Democratic party In other words tbst
party in Congress refused 70 allow to be sub
Congress power 10 90 Just What it now 1itSr nssf on
Congress should do, and IS blaming a Republican
70 DO or have done if eected That wbieb ibs
party 10 which he belongs has said shall not be
The proposition was defeated by # on the ground
kerre3 on Congress at ali T6 isg8 hot m De con
made at Chicago: WiiaI1 J. Bryan advocating
created by the laws Of one State should not bc
feceived q license from Congress 10 do so - Tbe Tb
question was asked X such law would be con.
favor Of an amendment to the Constitution am a. ~ 81
vii give 70 Congress the power TO destroy every
,,as When y william ami J. BRYAN was in Congress he be
stion was referred No report was made a25 S
he made effort 70 secure q fayorab bic renorf
MS party In me doctrine Of State rights to tht
extent that he is unwilling to confer on Congress
states cannot or Will not enact laws the sub
Is It not fair TO assume that this cry agains
The alleged trusts IS raised simply for effect a
ecuFe S the e ana f n not M with any PURPOSE
complained Of? II is perfectly clear that if any
the ,electicn Of Republican Congress and a a Re-
Such result cS8 the oueso6 by SnX 5shroggi 70
people and the requisite power vested in the Con
Rress Of the United States.