The Grit-advocate., 1902-12-19

land of Utah. and Assistant Attorney
General willis Vandevanter oil Wyo-
ming, We're among the guests Al tie
banquet given Justice John NJ Harlan
on the night of December 9Th {, cee-
brate the lwentyiifth anniversary of
his connection with the United States
Supreme Court. The dinner was a
brilliant function When the guests
had been seated grace was said bg Rev.
Richard Harlan of Lake Fores-. Hi
nois. eldest son of the justice. who had
come to Washington especially ior the
occasion Justice Harlan was In his
happiest mood, and gave every evil
dence Of his appreciation of the honor
bestowed on him. His two other sons,
James S. Harlan, chief justice of Porto
Rico and John Maynard Harlan Of
Chicago, also We're present, while Mrs
and Miss Harlan and a host of friends
were interested spectators in the gal-'
lery. President Roosevelt delivered a
strong eulogy of the distinguished JUS
tice in whose honor they had met.
Senator Nelson has introduced a
Joint resolution for an amendment to
the Constitution. so as to give Congress
tilG power W tOltiol lIuSlS, dIu also d
bill to control the Sherman antitrust
law by more stringent provisions. The
provision for an amendment 10 the
Constitution was as follows: Congress
shall have power to define. regulate,
prohibit or dissolve trusts, monOpolies
or combinations, whether existing in
the form of a corporation or otherwise;
Congress shall also have power TO regu-
late and control all corporations en-
gagged in trade, commerce or any other
business among the states. or with for
eign nations" The bill for the amend
ment of the Sherman law makes all
mergers or combinations in restraint of
trade illegal and provides punishment
of the offense by fine of $40 900 or i'm
prisonment for one year, Or both,
against each person engaged in the
combination. The bill also prohibits
combinations in restraint of trade and
all attempts to monopoliZe any of the
trade of the several states or territo-
rfes, providing a fine of $5,0 900 or impris-
onment for year in each case Corpo-
rations engaged in interstate commerce
are required to file with the interstate
commerce commission each year a
statement of their business and also a
statement giving the names of persons
- whom stock was originally issned
ard the price received for it.
The House on December Sth paid a
remarkable tribute to the memory Of
eX-Speaker Thomas b. Reed. His death
has created a general desire to show a
signal mark of respect to his memory
For the House to take action on for
mer member has only three precedents
in history; namely, on the occasion of
the death of Benton, Blaine and Alex
ander Stephens when the House adopt
ed resolutions and adjourned out Of re-
spect to their memories. 1t was dcCid-
ed to follow these precedents in the
case OF Mr. Reed The resolution, Of
fered by Mr.. Sherman of New York and
unanimously adopted, recites that
THE Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed died
in Washington, December I. 1902 For
twenty years he had been a member of
this House; for six years its speaker.
His service terminated with the Fifty
fifth Congress. Within this chamber
the scene of his life's great activities
were laid. Here he rendered services to
his country which placed him m, tile
front rank of American statesm4nslip.
Here he exhibited characteristics
which compelled respect and won ad-
miration. Forceful ability, intrinsic
worth, strength of character brought
him popular fame and congressional
leadership. In him depth and breadth
of intellect, with a full and well round
ed development, had produced a giant
who lowered above his fellows and i'm
tho,y, with hi. nd WiS-
dom A distinguished statesman. lofty
patriot, cultured scholar and incisiye
writer, an unmatched debater. a mas
ter of logic, wit and satire: the most
famous of the worlds parliamentar-
ians, the great and representative cit
izen has gone into history
Commissioner Hermann of the Cen
eral Land Office has conferred with the
chairmen of the public lands commits
tees of both House and Senate relative
to the pending bills to repeal the tim
ber and stone act, which he regards in
its present shape as bad Legislation.
But before the law is repealed the com
missioner urges the repeal or modifica-
tion of the forest reservation land law.
which. he says. is the most vicious law
on the statute books. The repeal of
the timber and stone act would cut off
all ways Of procuring title to govern
ment timber lands, save by script fill
ings. The moment this situation is
brought about, the commissioner ar
CUES that lieu base will Immediately
take jump in prices and will ultim-
ately find its way in large quantities
into the hands of corporations or spec
ulators. With all other timber entry
cut off. they would then enjoy the un-
disputed right to secure. in full accord
ance with law, the very best govern
ment timber lands, that is on surveyed
lands Either repeal this lieu land law
entirely or so amend it, says the COM
as to provide that when
lands within reserves are relinGuished
to the government, the tracts selected
in lieu thereof shall be not only of the
same area, but of approximately
the same value as the tracts turned
back to the government. While both
Senator Quarles and Representative
Lacey were inclined to admit the right
of the argument, they gave no assur-
ance that the proposed change will be
enacted this session. In fact. the
chances are decidedly against a change.