Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-30
CONGRESS AND THE TRUSTS.

AS both the Democratic and Repub-
lican platforms are sure to contain
strong antitrust planks this year. the
voter will have to depend upon side
lights for guidance in making up his
mind as to the sincerity OF those de-
clarations. The American voter has
learned that there is many a slip be-
tween platform declarations and actual
legislation when a majority in Con-
gress has been returned on such plat
form, and he will accordingly weigh the
parties in this trust matter by deeds
rather than words.
AS a lamp to the feet Of the sincere
opponent of trusts the record OF the
Republican majority in the present
Congress touching trusts ought to be
of practical benefit. There have been
introduced in the lower House at this
session % bills and resolutions aimed
at trusts. and of this number 20 were
by members of the Democratic minori-
ty. Practically all of these bills have
gone to the Judiciary Committee, of
which Representative Ray (Republi-
CAM Is CHdlIIldII. bcyOHu lDe QOOI Ol
Mr. Rays committeeman nobody has
been able to trace these bills. AS none
of them has ever been reported back
to the House for action the inference
that they are accommodating dust in the
pigeon holes of Mr.. Rays desk is too
obviously just to need emphasis.
Of course this continual application
ures did not fail to attract attention,
and finally the comment became so in
sistent that Speaker Henderson felt
impelled to name a special sub-Com-
mittec on Trust Legislation. but as yet
1t has not even gone through the for
mality of meeting. Mr.. Ray. feeling
that he, too, must do something to help
along the impression that his party is
hostile to trusts, offered Il resolution
looking to an amendment to the Con-
stitution giving Congress additional
power over industrial combinations.
The resolution was referred to his COM
mittee. where 1t Is still taking q slesta
along with the other antitrust bills.
With full control OF every branch of
the National Government, such is the
record OF the Republican party on
trusts. Even the recommendatio tons of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
have received only the most perfunct-
DRY attention.
In the Senate even less has been done
looking to the control and suppression
OF trusts than in the House. When
Senator Hanna. the Republican boss
and President-maker, was asked if
there would be any antitrust legisla-
ton at this session of Congress he re-
Piled:
why. ] am not thinking OF such
thing. Trusts and antitrust laws are
not bothering me at the present time"
To the same query Representative
Ray, who. as we have seen, has
strangled all antitrust measures in
the House, replied:
There is no doubt~in my mind that
trusts are Il good thing for the pco-
pie when properly conducted. 1t is
only in the abuse OF their power that
they become harmful and unpopular"
1t is of such stuff that Republican
opposition to trusts is made.
However the Philadelphia Conven-
ton may illuminate, It's antitrust man
ifesto will not deceive the American
people this year. They have not for
gotten how shamelessly the Republican
party rcpudiatcd its pledge to interna-
tional bmetallism. nor have they over
looked its open attempt to sell the ma
tons honor to the trusts in the Porto
Rican matter. They have seen Re-
publican Attorney General make the
Sherman antitrust law a dead letter,
and they have heard Republican lead
ers laud the trusts, that are robbiny
them. dc; ''sood things" They cannot
be quelled by any antitrust frills OF
the Republican platform.
-
What the Nebraska people. in con-
vcntion asse mbled. choose to do for