The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-10-04
PLENTY OF WORK.
Expected that President Roosevelt Will
Lead Congress Strenuous Life.

LCdu ScS q
Washington correspondence st. Paul
Pioneer. Press:
If the Republican majority in the
coming congress desires to deal with
the subject of reciprocity, or with
tariff revision generally and trade COM
binaticns affecting competition in the
domestic markets, material will be
furnished for basis of action. Pre-
parstory to the message of President
Roosevelt and reports of cabinet min
listers to congress, there is activity in
many branches of the government to
procure information. If a revision of
the tariff is desired, or evidence that
some of our protected manufactures
are selling goods abroad cheaper than
they are selling like goods in the do
nestle market, the industrial commits
sion will endeavor to throw some
light on that question in the form of
testimony from the exporting manu-
facturers themselves.
As to the trust question, there is an
air Of activity around the department.
of justice in connection with this
subject which indicates that prepara-
tions are making to furnish congress
with information that shall be the
basis of action. All through the last
congress efforts were made by The Re-
publican majority to hit upon some
way of meeting these trade combina-
tions with effective legislation which
would not at the same time cripple
trade and industry. The Ineffective
ness of the Sherman law is admitted,
due to the fact that the more recent
combinations have evaded the anti
trust law by organizations peculiarly
new. Inquiries today at the depart
ment of justice and the offices of the
industrial commission elected some
interesting information on all these
questions which promise to 80 much
engage the attention of congress at the
coming session.
The industrial commission is receiv-
ing many replies from exporting
manufacturers to whom were sent q
series of questions relating to the sales
of our products in foreign countries,
and particularly in regard to the
prices obtained abroad compared with
prices of like goods sold in the domes-
tic market. Behind these questions,
and the answers which may be given
by exporters, lies the force of the
movement of the tariff revision. Many
of the manufacturers do not reply in
sufficient detail and others neglect to
answer some of the questions. Ex-
plantations are given for sales abroad
under certain circumstances. But
on the whole it is predicted by mem
bers of the commission that much in
teresting information will be ready for
the consideration of congress in De-
cember. In regard to the trust ques-
tion it may be predicted with reason
able assurance of accuracy that the
officials of the department of justice
will have ready when congress meets
some important recommendations for
legislation bearing upon the latest
form of combinations in industry, of
which the gigantic steel corporation is
the most illustrious example.
1t was doubted by Republican lead
ers in the last congress if the measures
then pending afforded the best means
for correcting the abuses which mi ght
grow out of the gigantic combinations.
Taking all these points into consid-
GRAFTON, and knowing the forceful and
direct way in which President Roose-
welt will set forth his views in these
subjects in his first message to con-
gress, the political leaders here expect
to see congress have before it at an
early day in the session plans for
meeting these most important issues
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