The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1902-12-23
SENATE FAVORABLE.
Public Demand Has Stirred
Members to Action on Anti
Trust Legislation.
WILL FIGHT INCREASE IN NAVY.
Presiden. Roosevelt seems to Have
Won His Battle in Behalf Of Cuban
Have Withdrawn Objections.
Reeiproeity-opposftion Seems to

Reciproeity-opposttion Seems to
Washington. Dec. 22.-wfth sena-
tor Hoar, chairman of the judiciary
committee OF the senate, earnestly at
work on q bill for the better reguIa.
ton of trusts, with other leaders In
the senate working for such iegisla-
ton, and tie judiciary committee OF
the house about to report q BIZ with
the same object in view, the prospect
Of antitrust legislation at the presen.
session Is now far better than at the
beginning.
Certain senators came to washing
ton opposed to such legislation.
among them Senator Hoar himself.
Others came lukewarm and doubtful.
These are now admitting that legfs.
lation will pass. Their chief reason
OF objection was entirely constitu.
tionai. They questioned whether or
not congress had reached its limit in
legislation affecting Interstate cor.
porations. A member of the senate
judiciary committee. who has been
carefully considering the subject, last
night said:
II have been in some doubt as TO
the constitutionality of further legis.
lation regulating what are called in
terstate trusts. There are many d.
cisions of the court bearing on this
question, but none seems to answer
precisely the present case. especially
the qeustion of so-called publicity.
There seems to be persistent de.
mand for further legislation. We
might as well pass 1t and let the court
decide the question of constitution
atty, II It is ever brought to it,
Increase of Navy.
1t is the senate chamber which will
be the battlefield over a substantial
Increase in the navy. The house of
representatives is likely to pass ap-
preparations for at least four fightins
ships, which is further than congress
has ever gone at short session. In.
deed, the house may make the in.
crease six. There is a disposition IN
the senate not to go so far.
Senator Hale, of Maine. who Is
chairman of the committee on naval
affairs, is not disposed to regard the
Venezuelan incident as furnishing any
argument which he did not have be
fore in favor of larger naval in.
crease than congress has steadily pro.
vided for. Senator Platt, of New
York, another member of the commit.
tee. thinks we nave enough warships
now. Senator iale does not go as
far as Senator Platt in inclinine
against liberal appropriations for new
ships, but his view, which must be
met and overcome, is distinctly
against going forward more rapidly
than in theN past. Senator Hale, as
chairman OF tre committee which will
recommend the appropriations. and as
one OF the older senators, is the man
who holds the key to the situation. 1,
discussing the naval increase yester.
day he said:
Il see nothing whatever in yene.
zuela incidents to cause excitement In
the matter of increasing the navy.
One question OF Importance to be de
cided by naval authorities now is
whether or not II would not be part of
good business economy to lay up for
time some of the larger battleships
leaving on board, instead of an entire
crew. only enough men to keen them.
IN readiness for action. This will be-
come necessary. as the new ships are
completed. unless congress authorizes
an increase in the personnel"
Cuban Reciprocity.
President Roosevelt has unidentified.
ly won his long and hard battle In be.
half of Cuban reciprocity. The treaty
now pending in the senate committed.
on foreign relations will probably be
ratified. Today leading members OF
the Michigan delegation in congress,
the origin and head center of opposi.
ton to granting reciprocity to Cuba,
will meet at Grand Rapids and formal
ly withdraw their opposition to ths
treaty. Senator Burrows and sena.
tor Alger will be found voting in It's
favor when it comes up for ratifica.
ton. Senator Elkins, of West yir.
ginta, leader of the ..Boxersr
throughout the last session. has al.
ready announced to the president that
he has withdrawn his opposition.
Only one matter of dificulty re.
mains. The question of the participa.
ton of the house in a reciprocity
treaty affecting the revenues of the
government. chairman Payne and
Representative Dalzell, of the ways
and means committee, have an.
nounced to the president that thew
win not insist on the prerogatives OF
the house.