Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-18
LIN Regard to Enforcement OF
Sherman Antitrust Law
Bartlett's Amendments
WANTS TO APPROPRIATE s25o,ooo
Amendment Was Sprung Unexpectedly
During Consideration of Legislative
Appropriation Bill in the House
Hepburn Offers Substitute Amend
ment Which Is Passed.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-Mr. Bartlett, a
Georgia democrat, during consideration
of the legislative appropriation bill in
the house Yesterday, Unexpectedly and
without warning, sprang an amend
ment to appropriate S250,000 tn enforce
the Sherman antitrust law, and then
direct the attorney general to proceed
to the prosecution of all violators of the
law. Altho such a provision was plain
~ amenable to point of order, not a
member on either side of the house
raised objection. Both sides wheeled
into line and all agreed that some ac-
ton was advisable. Some of the re-
publicans, however, raised objection to
the looseness of the language of the
offered as a substitute for it the Ian
guage of the bill he introduced on the
opening day of the session TO appropri-
ate 100000 for the enforcement of the
law. This was further strengthened to
make the appropriation Immediately
available, and as amended the substi-
tute was agreed to without division.
The legislative bill was passed practi-
cally as it came from the committee,
except for the amendment.
The language of the Hepburn amend
ment is as follows:
THAT for the enforcement of the pro-
visions of the act of July 2, 1890, the
sum Of 100000 is hereby appropriated
out of any money in the treasury not
heretofore appropriated to be expended
under the direction of The attorney gen.
eral in the employment of special
counsels and agents of the department
of justice to conduct proceedings, suits
and prosecutions under said act in the
courts of the United States; provided
that no person shall be prosecuted or
be subjected to any penalty or forfeit
ure for or on account Of any transact
ton, matter, or thing, concerning which
he may testify or produce evidence,
documentary or otherwise, in any pro-
ceeding, suit or prosecution under said
acts; provided further, that no person
ecution or punishment for perjury COM
Hl1lleQ III SO leSlilyliiS. i HIS stppiopii
alton shall be Immediately available"
1t is understood the passage of the
Hepburn bill appropriating 100000 to
enforce the provisions of the Sherman
law, gives special satisfaction to Pres
ident Roosevelt. Hepburn and the
president have had several conferences,
and Hepburn has pointed out that law
will be found adequate II It's provisions
can be made effective. 1t Is understood
the president rather favored the pass
age of the Hepburn bin as the initial
measure.
Col. Hepburn Is naturally considera-
bly, pleased that his bin should have
been the one selected from among forty
introduced. He says there is no ques
ton but the Sherman law will prove
effective If it has force behind it. He
says that brains cost money and his
bill proposes to make 1T possible to buy
brains equal to those employed by cor
porations and so-called monopolies. He
says isolated cases under favorable con-
ditions have proven that the govern
ment has all the machinery it needs to
control the trusts if 1t knows how to
make the machinery work.
The passage of the bin came as sur
prise generally. 1t was precipitated by
Bart1ett's amendment authorizing the
use Of s250.000 to fight the trusts. At
this point Hepburn moved the adoption
of his bill as substitute. which pre-
vailed.