New-York tribune., 1902-12-18
MOVE AGAINST TRUSTS.
HOUSE TAKES ACTION
Votes Half a Million to Enforce
Erasting Lazcs.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUsr


washington Dec. 1.-THE House of Renre
sentatives this afternoon adopted an amend
-,ent to the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Appropriation bill appropriating 100000 to be
expended under the direction of the Attorney
General in the enforcement Of the antitrust
laws The amendment, which embodies the es-
sential features OF the Hepburn bill, which has
been pending before the Judiciary Committee
IF the House, offered by Mr.. Hepburn and
was adopted without division. This appropria-
ton is made in view of the opinions expressed
nv Attorney General Knox and President Roose-
Welt that much could be accomplished under
the present laws in the direction of restraining
trusts If the Attorney General had his dis
posal sufficient funds to enable him to make
necessary investigations and begin prosecutions
He viii now have sufficient money to make a
thorough test Of the existing law and the re-
suits Of the actions which he is expected to in
itiate viii so far toward defining the exact
limitations Of the present law and showing just
-hat extensions and amendments may be neces-
sary. In view of the fact that the Attorney
General believes he can accomplish important
results under the present law. and the fact
that he may succeed in establishing more clear
" the limitations of the present law, it is prob
able that Congress will go no further at the
nresent session than to make this appropriation.
Many conservative men believe that It will be
well to wait for year before undertaking any
comprehensive antitrust legislation. This will
not only give the Attorney General time to
make a further test of the existing statutes,
but will also enable Senators and Representa-
tives to study the question more thoroughly and
decide what form of legislation will best reach
such evils as may be found to exist Though
the consideration of measures which have been
introduced will be continued by the Senate and
House committees, and through one or more
measures may be reported at the present ses-
sion it is not at all probable that final action
will be taken on anything beyond the approprla-
ton voted by the House to-day
ACTION TAKEN UNEXPECTEDLY.
Mr. Bartlett Georgia Democrat. while the
legislative Appropriation bill was under conslo-
Grafton unexpectedly and without warning sprang
an amendment to appropriate S2oo,ooO to en-
force the Sherman antitrust law, and to direct
the Attorney General to proceed to the prose-
cution Of all violators of the law. Although
such a provision was plainly amenable TO q.
point of order, not member on either side Of
the House raised an objection Both sides
wheeled into line, and all agreed that some such
action was advisable Some Of the Republicans
however, raised objection to the looseness OF
the language of the amendment, and Mr. Hep
burn offered his bill substitute. This was
further strengthened to make the appropria-
ton Immediately available, and amended the
substitute agreed to without division The
language of the amendment is as follows:
That for the enforcement of the provisions
of the act of July 2 1890, the sum Of S5oo,Ooo
is hereby appropriated, to be expended under the
direction Of the Attorney General in the en-
plovrnent Of special counsel and agents Of the
Department Of Justice 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
anv penalty forfeiture for or on account OF
any transaction, matter thing concerning
which he may testify or produce evidence, docu-
mentary or otherwise, in any proceeding, suit or
presecution under said act: Provided further,
That no person so testifying shall be exempt
from prosecution punishment for. perjury
-connitted in testifying- This appropriation
shall be Immediately available.
The Legislative bill was passed practically as
It came from the committee. except for the Hep
burn amendment.