The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-12-18
ANTITRUST BILLS
Congressman ShaIlenbergsr Explains to
House Committee-the VesexueleaR
Imbroglio-Postal Robberies

Washington. D. c., Dec, Is, 1907
Especial Correspondence 1T is but
natural that the American people are
just now very much interested in the
trust question, an interest born of suf-
fering experienced from their exac-
tions. A number of antitrust bills
have been introduced in congress, one
of these by Representative Shallen-
berger of the Fifth Nebraska district.
The house committee on judiciary has
been holding a series of hearing on the
question, and before this committee
Mr.. Shallenberger was yesterday sum-
mOned to explain the provisions Of
his bill, an outline of which was be-
fore given in these columns.
The publicity feature, spoken of in
the presidents message, is a promi-
nent factor in all these bills, and
Messrs Shallenberger and Littlefield of
Maine engaged in quite lengthy dis
cussiOn as to the efficacy of the remedy
proposed, Mr.. Shallenberger taking the
position that not only should publicity
be given to trust management to pro-
tect prospective investors, but to that
81 CdtCl anu 1uLSIGSLGu CLASS, JuSt
whole people.
In his address before the committee,
Mr.. Shallenberger called attention to
the fact that there were at least eight
distinct evils in the trust system, the
three principal of which were the de.
structiOn Of competition, fraudulent
and overcapitalization and the favorit-
ism of the tariff and the railroads. He
went on. to explain the feature of his
bill, by which he proposed to do away
with these evils, and the intent of the
Eon-partisan tariff commission to re-
port on the subject
A large crowd was present at the
hearing, and Mr.. S. was freely COM
plimented on the merits of his bill
and his knowledge of the subject in
hand. The Washington papers were
all quite extended in their comments
This has not been a busy week in
congress. The opponen of the ON
nibus statehood bill have taken UP
the time of the senate in filibustering
to prevent vote thereon, but, now
that the bill has some republicans
led by Quay, to assist the democrats,
there is fair possibility of its pass
age
The bill to pay the expenses of the
anthracite coal commission has passed
both houses; the pension, legislative,
judicial and executive appropriation
bills, in all of which there is a slight
increase, have passed the lower house;
while the immigration bill has re-
ceived senate approval.
The death of Tom Reed is deeply la
mented in many quarters, as he was
recognized by those best capable to
judge as being the ablest republican
of them all. 1t cannot be denied that
his last days were somewhat embit-
tered by the fact that he could not
reach the goal of his ambition-the
presidency. He was out of harmony
with the majority of his party on the
Philippine question and this induced
his withdrawal from public life.
comparison between the Panama
and Nicaragua routes for an American
isthmian canal has been made by the
bureau of statistics. The total length
of the Panama route is 1900 miles,
~
miles. The relative cost of construct
ing the canals is, Nicaragua, $780,
S64,O62; Panama, $144 ,233,35S The an
nual cost of maintenance and opera
tion is, Nicaragua, $3,30O,0OO; Pana-
ma, $2,0O0,O00. The annual cost of
maintaining the Suez canal is about
$4,000 An average steamer would
require twelve hours to pass through
the Panama canal and thirty-three
hours, to cross the Nicaragua But the
sea distance between New York end
San Francisco by the Nicaragua route
is 49S nautical miles less than by way
of Panama.
Secretary Hay yesterday Informed
the cabinet that the Panama negotia-
tions had been practically completed
with the exception of fixing the in
creased price which Colombia is anx-
ious to secure for the concession.
The bureau of engraving and print.
Ing had money to burn last month and
save money hv bI1rniuc~ II LIort,, xLo,,