Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-10-20
TRUST REGULATION.
eEMocRATic & lNcAPAclTY1 TO DEAL
WITH TIE QUESTION. -.
Ifn3E - d

tiftion by the Espubsicans and Inac-
tion by the rDesmpcrass> .lN|-if Il
When one considers the record the
Democrats have made In congress in
relation TO the trusts, their present APP.
peals TO, the voters and their promise
to do something further are really ri
dicplons They began on the matter
In 1855, when they had both houses of
congress and fhe presidency, and it
was possible for them 10 pass any law
they pleased There were in that year
IL different bills for the regulation and
control of the trusts. As all these bills
were introduced they were referred to
Democratic conlnettees and we've never
allowed 10 see the light thereafter.
The Democratic committee on manu-
features. after being Instructed Jan.
%, 1888, to investigate and report Zee
concentrations as to trusts, took testi-
mony at cost to the government of
S11,96S until, Sept. i, 1883, and then
held the question Under consideration
until March 2. 1889, six months and a
day, and then acknowledged their In
capacity TO deal with the subject by
Recommending submitting to the care
| full consideration of subsequent con-
! crosses the facts as shown by the testi-
mony taken by the committee.
/ ~ Ut The Sherman Law.
The next subsequent congress, under
Republican leadership and against
| Democratic opposition, passed the Sher-
man. antitrust law The Republicans
| had also given To- tlfe country the inter
state commerce law and all of its
| amendments. ~
referring to attempted legislation in
the last congress, Mr.. Bryan says:
Just as congress was closing farcical and hypo-
| critical attempt was made to deceive the public
| by the introduction of an antitrust amendment
!. and an antitrust bill. TIC amendment was not
1 necessary and intended to deprive the states
OF tbe power which (they possess rather than to
confer upon congress new authority
How can congress deprive the states
| of the power they now possess without
assuming any new authority?
Mr.. Bryan says, without impairing
the present authority of the state con-
| gress' can provide that corporations or
! ganized in any state shall not do bust
ness outside of the state"
His suggestion IS entirely unconstitu-
tional He says that if elected he will
recommend similar legislation. He
would do nothing of the kind, as he
will never find judiciary committee
of competent lawyers who would be
willing to report such bills.
Democrats Prevent Reform.
| The proposed constitutional amend
ment was rejected by a solid Demo
cratic vote, all but four of the Demo-
cratic members voting against it, and.
although the Republicans voted solidly
for it, it failed for the lack of the meet
essary two-thrds, The minority of the
! Judiciary committee, composed of DENT
ocrats, presented report on the sub
| ject, in which they confessed their in
capacity. They thought that the only
] way to reach the trusts was TO repeal
! the tariff laws and to amend the patent
| laws and thought that even existing
laws We're sufficient if they were hon
estly enforced. They claimed that the
/ proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton interfered with state rights, and
they objected to its reference to our
| newly dClulItN pOSStSSiOHS'
Specimens of Political FutiIity.
! Here are some of the i'll advised or
| unconstitutional bills that Democrats
introduced at the last session of con-
4 gress:
Senator Butler had a bill that would
destroy the trusts" by making money,
the national highways. posfoffiees. the
! telegraph and the telephone public
| functions" He would punish any one
who gave rebates by FORGETTING twice
! the amount of the rebate. He would
| punish the carriers for trusts and, de-
| claring such combinations Illegal,
would give the president power to
! suspend the duties on the articles they
| control. He wanted also TO have the
| rules that one state made in regard
| TO trusts apply to trusts Incorporated
in other states that entered the state.
| He also demanded the registration of
packages shipped by one company to
point outside the state.
Congressman Ball Of Texas introduce
cd bill to prohibit the shipment of
articles controlled by trust from one
state to another.
Mr.. McRae of Arkansas put in bill
to define and tax trusts and to author
ize the free Importation of articles COW
cred by them.
Mr.. Little of Arkansas introduced a
bill TO prevent monopoly and trusts
and to secure free competition In trade
among the states and territories.
BY Mr.. Henry of Texas-To define
tune II
punishments of corporations, persons
or associations connected with them
and to promote free competition in the
United States -
BY Mr. Gaines of Tennesseei7To reg
ulate the class OF unst matter denied
to the mai.
BY Mr.. Dailyto New Jersey For the
protection OF the public against the@ep-
Grafton OF trusts combinations, asso-
tiationSi and agreements to iunduly en-