The Negro world., 1900-06-09
Items of General Interest from the
National Center of leg
islation.
REPUBLICANS PlAYlEG 4 SHAM SANE.
Failure of Congress 10 LeRIsIAte
Against TruSts-rhe cuban steel
and Mining TroubIes-ImpsrIRli
Gaining GrOund-Hnnnn's Fund
short.
Lsnecial Corresnondenee.l

failure of their congress to legislate /
in restraint of trusts. Their alleged |
constitutional amendment fell so fiat |
that it became imperatiyely necessary |
TO construct something else that could |
be used for campaign scarecrow.
The ways and means committee is
holding night sessions and calling in
the best legal talent to aid it in draw
ing up what the republicans advertise
as real antitrust bill.
This is going TO be constitutional
aud il will squeeze all the water out
of trusts and prevent them from OPP
pressing the people" said republican
who stands very high in administration
councils
1t was pointed out that the date set
for the introduction of the bill would
only be a week before adjournment
and that the chances were very much
against its being pushed through both
houses. even if the republican majority
desired such Il result.
well. Of course. it may not be passed
this session." said this same optimistic
manufacturer OF campaign material
"but at any rate it will show the peo-
nile what we intend to do and they
ought to keep the republicans in power
when their intentions are 50 good,
The trouble is that the people have
grown tired of promises and good in
tentions on the part OF the republic
ans. They had clear majority IN hoth
houses and could have passed any de-
sired antitrust legislation long ago
The fact Is that they never intended to
meddIe with the trusts and have only
been frightened into sham display
Of opposition at this late date because
the voters of the country are already
voicing their indignation at party
which not only refuses to restrain the
miscbievous tendencies of trusts hut
actually promotes their interests as
far as possible by power OF congress
Republican Preten-e.
Fyeu II really effective antitrust
law we're passed, the republicans cou'd
always find an attorney general, Ike
the present one. who would declare the
law imperative. -,
4 proposition to restrain trusts WIN
he in nice company with the ship SUD-
sidy bill on one side of II and the arhor
Mate steal on the other. not TO say
ANYTHING OF the opportunities for trus'
exploitation so generously furnished
In le0iSlatinR for Porto Rico outside the
constitution and leaving the Phillp
mines in the control of the president
which means Mark Hanna and MS
friends. 49,,
The republicans are little late VIII
their Dretense of restraining trusts
This congress will be judged Oh "ha'
II actually did in relation to trusts mol
what il proposed 70 do.
The Cuban Postal Frasds'
The Cuban postal frauds gave on
obiect lesson on the effect of imperial
ism. and the Investigation OF the ldah'
mining troubles and the application o
martial Law gives a twin lesson as e
the dangers of militarism and bil
standing army.
The republic ma1orityoi the nous
committee or Htary Affairs try u
iustify the MS. United States troop
in imprisoning and finally exiting men
whose only proven ofense was mem
bership in a labor union The wag
walkers of the country will not fail y
mite this and they fear that miiitarisn
uill ne found a much more confenien
toll than the usual injunction "heh
ever an industrial disturbance occur
f. il not that the punishment OF IN
rioters in Idaho is condemned TN m
contrary the labor organizations ~
oyer the country have condemned W
riot and put themselves on recorh y
favor of furnishing the guilty TO IN
fullest extent Of the Law. The frouhi
, Is that the administration and is part
, seem To- think that martial las y
GOOD substitute for state and federi
Iav and that II does not .natter ho'
many innocent men are punished
: suspicioD that they are exercising thei
riobtx a. citizen. In belonging 10
union.
! Tie minority report on the Idah
: ,rouble shows that Gen. Merriam an
b Gov. steunenberg cooperaied IN q
0 .nnliea.;ou Of martial Ia~ which ha
no precedent In this country. I've.
4 accusation a. 20 the cruelties OF ~
j, bnIlnen was sustained and II vas show
q thai martial law Is stiii Ia force
q idaho for the sole purpose Of fnfor
a ing the PERM" system.
: The wage workers Of The count
are alarmed at this disposition 70 ial
q away from them the protection OF u
constitution and substitute an lrr
soonsibIe militsrism. One 81 the hr
. resuIfs o. the Idaho investigation
I shown IN Speaker Henderson : Fep@
y 10 President Mckinley that ih" arm
r reorganization bill cannot pas .
= bossr. lie said II II did The next hon
|, wonId surely be dernocrsfie. The del
; ocratic congressional eoTnSaitisF y 80
e that II viii be Democratic anyway. b
. the administration Is very Han
prieved over the failure Of the arm
:. bill.
ApplIeafisa Of ImpsFiaii.m.
While an adjournment early IN in
i eonedently advertised bS the reps
n leans. there II pienty Of work or Ia
y for congress. The house. makes 81