The sun., 1900-10-15
TRUST REGULATION.
DEMOCRATIC lNcAPAclTY TO DEAL
WITH THE QUESTION.

When one considers the record The
Democrats have made in congress in
relation to the trusts. their present ap-
pealS to the voters and their promise
10 do something further are really ri
diuulous They began on the matter
in 1SSS. when they had both houses of
congress and the presidency, and it
was possible for them to pass any law
they pleased. There were i'll that year
l6 different bills for the regulation aud
control of tile trusts. As all these bills
We're introduced they were referred 10
Democratic committees and We're never
allowed 10 see the light thereafter.
The Democratic committee on manu-
factures after being instructed Jan.
-, 1855. to investigate and report rec
concentrations as to trusts, took tcst
mony at cost to the government of
S11,96S until Sept. !. lSSS, and then
held the question under consideration
until March ., 1889. six months and
day, and then acknowledged their in
capacity to deal with the subject Ivy
recommending submitting 10 the care
full consideration of subsequent con-
crosses the facts as shown by the testi-
mony taken by the committee
The sherman Lnw.
The next subsequent congress, under
Republican leadership and against
Democratic opposition. passed the Sher-
man antitrust law. The Republicans
had also given to the country the inter-
state commerce law and all of its
amendments.
Referring 10 attempted legislation in
the last congress. Nj. Bryan says:
Just d congress was elasia- taroieal and hypo.
critical ATTEMPT vas made tg deceive the rgsiic
ty TILE iaile 4eet9a et an antitrust amendment
ana an anti ri.t Till. The amendment W4@ rdt
necessary 5ad was intended d Deprive tae STATS
y thc power wateli tteE psslss iatl4er than t1
confer upon een-tlss htw authority.
How can congress deprive tic states
of the power they now possess without
assuming any new authority:
Mr.. Bryan says, without impairing
tile present authority of the state con
grrSs can provide that corporations or-
sanized in any state shall not do bust
| hess outside Of tie state"
Ills suggestion i entirely unconstitu-
tional. He says that if elected he viii
recommend similar legislation. He
would do nothing of the kind as he
viii never find judiciary committee
Of competent lawyers who would lie
willing to report such bills.
Democrats Prevent Reform.
The proposed constitutional amend
msnt was rejected by u solid Demo
/ = 81 nli - ~,
cratic members voting against il. and,
although tile Republicans voted solidly
for II, 1t failed for the lack OF the nee
essary two-thirdS. The minority OF the
judiciary committee, composed Of Dem
ocrats, presented n report on the sub
ject. in which they confessed their in
| capacity. They thought that tile only
way 10 reach the trusts was to repeal
the tariff laws and to amend the patent
laws and tiought that even existing
laws We're sufficient if they We're hon
estly enforced. They claimed that tile
proposed amendment 10 the constiJu-
tion interfe.el with state rights and
they objected % ifs reference to our
newly acquired possessions.
Specimens of Political FatiIity.
IIere are some of the Ill advised or
uncoastitutiana bills that Democrats
introduced at THE last session 81 con-
eress
/ senator Rutler lila 4 Lii that would
.aestFar tlie trusts FIJI Iaaking money.
tl.e rational highways pastotliceS. tile
telegraph ana the telephone .puhlic
functions" IL would punish any one
who gara rebates liz forfeitius twice
tht amount Of the rebate lie would
punish tlle carriers for trusts and, le-
claring such combinations illegal.
would give the president power 10
suspend The duties on the articles they
control, He wanted also 10 have tile
rules that one state made in regard
to trusts apply 10 trusts incorporated
in other states that entered tAe state
He also demanded the registration Of
packages shipped by one company 4
point outside the state.
Congressman Pan Of Texas ntroduc,
ca q bill 10 prohibit the shipment ot
articles controlled by trust from cne
state TO another.
Mr.. McRae Of Arkansas put IN bill
! to define and tax trusts and to- author
. ize the free importation Of articles Gov
cred by them.
Mr.. Little Of Arkansas introduced 4
LII TO prevent monopoly and trusts
and 10 secure free competition III trade
among tile states ana territories.
~ III. Henry of Texas-To define
trusts, 70 provide for penalties and
. prnisAments cf corporations persons
I'll associations connected with then
ana % promote free competition ii Tie
United states
By Mn, Gaines If Tonnessee-T reg
ulatc tile class Of trust matter deaiel
to the mail.
~ II, DsHy a Sew Jessey-For ii,
protection Of the public against the ep
Grafton Of trusts, combinations, asSo
Citations ana agreements 10 unduly en-
/ hance o. diminish the value Or tht
] articles Of commerce.
By Mr.. Lloyd Of Missou-i-To place
! an the free list all manufactured prod
uctS where the articles may be cen
trolIed by trusts or combinations o
capital