The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-16
THE REMEDY FOR TRUSTS.
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
PROPOSES ONE.
VIII Introduce Constitutional
Amendment Giving Congress Full
Power to Control, Prohibit or
Dissolve Trusts and Monopolies.

WASHINGTON, May 15.-The trust
question led to an animated discussion in
the house committee on judiciary today,
a constitutional amendment finally being
adopted by a party vote giving congress
power to define, regulate control. pro-
hibit or dissolve trusts monopolies or
combinations, whether in the form of a
corporation or otherwise. This amend
ment and bill restricting trusts were
framed some time ago by special sub
committee on trusts. After many delays
the work of the subcommittee was brought
before the full committee today with a
view to bringing the trust question be-
fore the house After several attempts
to amend the resolution, which were de-
feated on party lines, the committee
adopted II, also by party vote the
Democrats voting in the negative.
The constitutional amendment as agreed
to and presented to the house proposes
the following as article Is or the con-
stitution:
section 1. All powers conferred by this
article shall extend to the several states,
the territories the District of Columbia
and all territory under me s9Vstetsn's
and the Jurisdiction of the United states,
"Sec. 2. Congress shall have power TO de-
fine. regulate, control, prohibit or dissolve
trusts. monopolies or oom n, nnrnors.
tion or otherwise The several states may
continue to exercise such power IN any
manner not in conflict with the laws Oh
sec. 3. Congress shall have power to en-
force the provisions of this article by ap-
propriate legislation"
The Majority Report.
The majority report favoring the consti-
tutional amendment says In part:
"In our judgment 1t is the plain duty OF
those intrusted with the law-making
power to propose and submit to the people
of the United States such remedy as VII, M
L., tn voc need
fepress absolutely all Illegal and danger
Gus combinations which restrain trade or
destroy competition, or which may UNJUST
ly harass or press labor.
Labor has its best friend In dggregated
capital, corporations and comnnatlohs
when fairly and honestly formed and con-
abuse of corporate power and combined
capital that merits condemnation and de-
nunciation and demands remedy Such
abuses exist. Hence the necessity Tor the
existence of a competent controlling and
restraining power-a power of absolute
suppression it may be in given case F"
Report Is Very Long.
The report Is very long. 1t argues in
placing trust-made goods on the free. list
which remedy, it is asserted, would be
worse than the disease in striking down
protection in an experimental effort 20 de-
stroy a monopoly or repress combine
ton"
ANTITRUST Law.
At the afternoon session of the house
Judiciary committee an antitrust bill was
ordered to be reported in addition to the
constitutional amendment previously
agreed on. The bin differs from that prev
iously framed and is amendatory to the
Sherman law. Corporations or oc'ations
managed for the purpose of controlling or
monopolizing the manufacture, production
or sale of any article, or for the purpose of
increasing or decreasing the cost to the
consumer or user are declared Illegal IL
is then provided that such an organization
may be proceeded against and restrained
from carrying on interstate commes%'c and.
II declared illegal may be forbidden the
use Of the malls and interstate commerce
in Its products or property are then pro-
hibited.