The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-02
Mr.. Berry Wanted the Government to
Boycott Alleged Trusts in
Purchase of Supplies.
HIS MOTION VOTED DOWN
AFTER A SHARP DEBATE ON THE
"COMBINEo QUESTION.
The Alaskan Code Bill Passed by the
Senate-Under Consideration
for Over Two Months.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-After having
been under consideration more than two
months the Alaskan civil code bill was
passed by the Senate to-day. Mr.. Carter
to do this withdrew the amendment relat-
ing to alien location of mining claims and
all other points in dispute
The army appropriation bill. carrying
supplies for the military establishment of
more than s114.OOOOoo. was taken up. The
fe AZURE of the discussion of the measure
was a debate on trusts precipitated by an
amendment offered by Mr.. Berry Oem.,
Ark providing that the quartermasters
department should not purchase supplies
from any recognized trust. The amend
ment was defeated. The bill had not been
completed when the Senate adjourned.
resolution offered by Mr.. Tilman, of
South Carolina. calling upon the secretary
Of the navy for information as. to tests of
Krupp armor at Indian Head was agreed
to.
Mr. Harris, of Kansas, had passed a reso-
luton calling upon the secretary Of the in
terror for information as TO the flow of
the Arkansas river and as to converting
the waters of that stream for the benefit Of
Colorado and Kansas.
Mr.. Proctor called up the army reorgani-
cation bill and the Senate agreed without
objection to proceed with consideration of
the measure. Mr.. Proctor, however, had
the bill laid aside and the Senate took up
the army appropriation bill, carrying S114,-
95l $50.
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED.
Mr.. Hawley, in charge of the bill, Sc
cured the adoption of an amendment in
creasing the appropriation for paymasters
clerks at 81, 400 each, from s126,OO0 to $l33,0OO
and fixing their compensation on service
basis, thus Those who have served fifteen
years. s1.SOO: ten years. $1,000; five years,
81, 500; less than five years. 81, 400. Another
amendment fixing travelling allowances for
officers and men discharged In the insular
possessions at cents mile, was adopted.
committee amendment was also
adopted striking out the last paragraph
of the bill and inserting: THAT the act ap-
proved Jan. IL, 1899, granting extra pay to
officers and enlisted men of the United
States volunteers shall extend to all officers
and enlisted men of the volunteer organiza-
lions who have served honestly and faith
fully in the volunteer army of the United
States during the war with Spain and have
been honorably discharged prior to Jan. IL,
1899, with their organizations without fur
Tough, or by reason of their service being
no longer required, or an any time by rea-
son of wounds received or disability con-
tracted in the service and in the line OF
duty and who have not received the extra
pay granted in said act or subsequent acts
OF Congress supplemental thereto.
Mr.. Berry offered the following amend
ment: 1.-The quartermaster's department in
making contracts and purchases of articles
and supplies for the military service, shall
give preference, all other things, including
price and quality, being equal, to articles
of growth, production and manufacture OF
the United States; and as between the
producers, manufacturers, merchants and
dealers of the United States, preference
shall be given, all other things, including
price and quality, being equal, to those
producers, manufacturers, merchants and
way connected with any trust or combine
formed to produce, manufacture or sell the
articles which are being contracted for and
purchased by the quartermaster's depart
ment for the military service
Mr.. Sewell, of New Jersey, inquired what
he meant by a trust. What were common
ly known as trusts, he said, in, many in
stances had proved to be public benefac-
tors. He designated the Standard Oil Com
pany and the American Sugar Refining
Company as two combinations of capital
which had cheapened their products to the
people This ''populistic sentiment" about
trusts, he said, was the adoption of the
small ways of the past of transacting bust
ness. and was not in any respect based
upon good sense.
A GREAT QUESTION
Mr.. Berry replied that he had not ex-
rected Mr.. Sewell to be i'm sympathy with
any effort to curtail or destroy the power
of great combinations of capital. He de-
clared that the question of trusts was one
of the greatest faced by the people of this
country He knew, he said, that the lead
ers of the Republican party were not in
favor of trusts and pointed out that the
Republicans of Ohio only last week had
adopted a platform condemning trusts "Of
course" said Mr.. Berry, 1.-THE plank was a
feeble one, but Ii was plank
Mr.. Hawley opposed the amendment on
the ground that the officers of the army
had no option but to accept the lowest bids
for supplies.
Mr.. Stewart said most of the legislative
efforts against trusts had been perfectly
wild and crazy" and the proposed amend
ment was one OF comedy of errors on
the subject.
Mr.. Pettigrew attacked Mr. sewelrs
statement that the Standard Oil Company
and the American Sugar Refining Com
pany were benefactors of the people and
had cheapened products. He produced
figures which, he maintained. showtd that
neither of the companies mentioned had
cheapened their products, their action at
all times being directed toward the crush
ing out of competition and the increasing
or rnelr own prOntS.
Mr.. Stewart maintained that the only
remedy for trusts was competition. If a
legislative remedy could be found he
would favor it. There were combinations
of capital that were bad and others that
were good.
Mr.. Teller-Will the senator tell us what
is the difference between bad trusts and
good trusts?'
1.-The Senate of the United States is a
trust" replied Mr.. Stewart. land believe
a good one" ILaughter.l Some of the
were bad. Leave competition untrarn-
meled and the people will rid themselves of
all bad trusts. OF course, we cannot in
any way stop the overproducted industry
of bowling against trusts simply TO win
votes to get into Office
A DELICATE SUBJECT
Mr.. Teller believed that the trust ques-
ton was immensely important and one
that must be met squarely and handled
1t was desirable. he thought, that it should
be dealt with by the States. but the diff
ficuity was that many legislatures were
controlled by the trusts themselves. Ma
tional legislation of kind that could or
would be enforced was therefore desirable.
IF the Sherman law were enforced" said
he. las ii ought to be. there would not be
the cry there is now against trusts If
n law should be enacted providing that
the officers of any trust or combination
should be imprisoned for contributing TO
the fund of any political party a stop
trusts and politics." Mr.. Teller said the
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