The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-01


VIII be Thrown Into the Legislative
Hopper-ThIs Promises TO be the Most
Important Topic of Discassion of the
Session.
Washington, Nov. 30.-When the
house convenes tomorrow to enter on
the final session of the Fifty-seventh
congress a perfect deluge of bills deal
9 ing with the trust question in all it's
phases will be thrown into the legisla-
tive hopper. 1t is admitted on all sides
that this will be the most important
topic of discussion. Indeed, the leaders
incline to the belief that, beyond the
appropriation bills and routine legsla-
ton, it will be the only general session
in which there is a chance of action at
the short session. AS yet the leaders
have formulated no measure and there
exists quite a wide divergence Of opin-
ion as to what can or should be done.
The presidents recommendations on
the subject are awaited with interest
The most conservative opinion among
the republican leaders seems to favor
an appropriation for the enforcement of
the Sherman antitrust law. Such an
appropriation, it is pointed out, could
be placed on one of the regular appro-
priation bills and put through both
houses without difficulty, whereas any
amendment to the law itself, no matter
how conservative, would likely meet
opposition.
Mr. Hepburn, of Iowa, chairman Of
the interstate and foreign commerce
committee. is one of those who believe
that the Sherman law, If enforced, is
sufficient to meet the situation, and to-
morrow he will introduce bill appro-
priating 100000 to be used by the de-
partment Of Justice in prosecutions un-
der the present law. 1t is not improb-
able when the leaders ascertain exact
" what can be done, that a caucus Of
the republicans will be called to agree
on measure. Meantime the trust bills
introduced probably will be referred to
the judiciary committee. There is some
question of Jurisdiction. If bill in
vokes the interstate commerce clause
of the constitution it properly should go
to the commerce commission, and If it
invokes the taxing power of the govern
ment it should go to the ways and
means committee. But to secure uni
formity all bills dealing with the sub
iect have gone heretofore to the judici-
ary committee, and this practice prob
ably will be followed until fight for
jurisdiction is made.
The leaders already have resolved to
expedite the appropriation bills as
much as possible in order to allow the
largest margin of time for other mat
ters.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
priations committee, believes that the
legislative, executive and judicial, and
the pension appropriation bills can be
disposed of before the holidays. His
committee will go to work at once and
prepare the supply bills as rapidly as
possible. The legislative and pension
bills probably will be read before the
end of the week. One of the first things
the appropriations committee will be
called on to do, however is to prepare
a bill to provide for the coal strike COM
mission. Judge Gray, chairman of the
commission, has written letter to Mr..
Cannon asking for an appropriation of
$4,000 to defray the expenses of the
commission, to play it's clerical force
and to furnish such compensation for
its members as the president may fix.
The appropriations committee will meet
Tomorrow to prepare a bill which. it is
believed, will be presented and passed
this week. No opposition to it from the
minority is anticipated.
The session of the house tomorrow
will be brief The roll will be called,
and the announcement of the deaths
that have occurred during the recess
will be made.
The house will adjourn until Tuesday
when the presidents message will be
read There is no programme for the
remainder of the week beyond the bill
to defraythe expenses of the coal strike
commission. If the regular order is de-
manded the London dock-charge bill is
the unfinished business.