The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-14
AGREED ON AFTER
HOT DISCUSSION
Report on Government Own
ership of Railroads.
THE COVE RNMFNTTO BUY
THE GOVERNM TO BUY
DIRECT LEGISLATION FAVORED
TO OBTAIN THIS RESULT.
REPORT TO Be SUBMITTED THIS MORNING
Platform Demands Government Ownership OF
Public Utilities, Government Money, Re-
ferendum, Direct Legislation, With
drawal Of Protective Tariff.

Chicago. Feb. 13--The Committee on
Resolutions of the National Antitrust
Conference tonight, after stormy
meeting, finally agreed upon report
which will be submitted to the Confer
ence for adoption tomorrow morning.
The discussion was caused by differ
ence OF opinion among the members as
to the details Of how the Government
should obtain control of the railroad, tele-
graph and telephone lines. \ faction led
by Tom l.. Johnson, Louis Post and
other Single-tax advocates insisted that
the value OF franchise in assuming con-
troll should be ignored.
They thought the Government should
take the property without paying COM
Iensation to the owners.
John T. 4Altged, George +. Williams,
Governor Lee and ex-Attorney General
MonDett. of Ohio. We're for Government
ownership OF these utilities but thought
tine cause would be injured by advocat-
ing practical confiScation at this time.
Finally John Il. Altgeld suggested conn
! promise which brought the ~arring fac
| 'tions together and prevented "a hight on
the floor of the convention later. The
provision denying the value Of franchise
right Was stricken out and an amend
| ment substituted declaring that the
owners should receive just compensation
for all property taken irrespective Of
watertd stock or other fictitious Securi-
ties This appeared 10 satisfy the radi
Gals and was adopted.
The committee also unanimously ia
voied direct popular legislation 10 OBJ
tain the result.
The platform unanimously adopted by
the committee declares for Government
ownership Of all public utilities and nat
! ural monopofies Government money, the
referendum and direct legislation. and
the withdrawal of all protective tariffs
from all articles controlled by Il trust.
Among other things after urging organi-
zaticn to deprive trusts of their power
! il says:
1--WE make no assault upon business
combinations. for diminishing productive
cost or augmenting productive efficiency.
What we do attack are combinations for
coercing producers and lessening produc-
! ton. 1t is such combinations that con-
stitute the trust evil and them we would
abolish, root and branch.
When oppressive trusts are examined
they are found TO be combinations nor
for augmentng wealth. but for hamper
, ing ITS production; not for making things
| plentiful and cheap but for making them
scarce and dear.
Their strength lies in q more intense
| concentration of monopoly privileges. In
some instances these privileges are
| owned by the trust itself. In somc
| they result from conditions produced by
| public policy In others they are farned
| cut in more or less secret ways by the
| principal benefciaries to subsidiary
| trusts"
| The platform particularly attacks the
| Standard Oil Trust, to which il says
| ihonopoly-engenderi laws have com
mittcd the regulation Of the peoples
needs and rights in one department. o.
! industry. Their needs and rights in
another have been by similar laws COM
mtted to the beef trust
| \ number of set speeches were heard
| ut the morning and afternoon sessions
| of the conference.
| The night session was in the form OF
mass meeting which was held at the
auditorium and brought out some Of the
strongest speakers, among the delegates
including John T.. Altgeld, +. s. Mon
ncet. Samuel Jones. John S. Crosby.
| George Fred Williams and Tom T..
| Johnson.
| Resolutions introduced by Judge
| Fleming. of Kentucky were adopted by
rising vote, strongly condemning the
currency bill now before Congress.
| \ committee to prepare memorial
! 20 the United States Senate against
| the bill was provided for and the people
OF the country urged TO gather at court
houses. school houses. and other public
1 places To protest against the measure.
! Immediately, Amasi Thornton. Of New
York, notified the presiding officer that
| he would refuse to deliver the speech
| for which he was scheduled today.
| In nm interview later he explained that
! he had been assured that this was 10
be Il non-partisan gathering, that assur-
ance being over the signature Of Prcsi-
! dent Lockwood, whom he believed does
net approve of the partisan resolution
against the currency bill.
/ Mr.. Thornton will not be further
! identified with the convention.
Thomas l.. Johnson. of Ohio, Chair
| man of the Committee on Permanent
Organization. reported in favor of Frank
s Monnett. former Attorney General OF
Ohio for permanent chairman Of the
' conference and permanent vice-prcsidcnts
| representing most Of the States and terri
tories were recommended and approved
! by the convention Among them was
Senator Tllman for South Carolina.