Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-11
SENATOR MEL SON
AT TER TRUSTS
BILL TO AMEND
CONSTITUTION,
ALSO THE SHERMAN LAW
Would Make Corporations report to
Interstate Commerce Commission
Taxing of Immigrants Comes Up
for Debate-Foraker Favors Mark
ing Confederate Graves in North.

Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Mel
son yesterday introduced a bill for ali
amendment to the constitution so as
to give congress power to control
trusts; also a bill to amend the Sher-
man antitrust law by more stringent
provisions. The provision Ior an
amendment to the constitution gives
congress the power to define, regu-
late, prohibit or dissolve trusts, mo-
nopolies, or combinations whether ex-
listing in the form of corporation Or
otherwise, and congress shall have
power to license, regulate and control
all corporations engaged in trade,
commerce or other business among
the several states or with foreign ma
TONS"
The bill for the amendment to the
Sherman law makes all mergers or
combinations in restraint Of trade il
legal and provides for punishment of
the offense by fine of $4,000, 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 part Of
the trade of the several states CIR ter
ritories, providing fine of $4,000 or
imprisonment for one year in each
case. Corporations engaged in inter
state commerce are required to file
with the interstate commerce COM
mission each year a statement Of
their business and also a statement
giving the names of the persons to
whom stock was originally issued and
the price received for it. The senate
adopted all the committee amend
ments to the immigration bill, with
the exception Of the one prescribing
an educational test and also endorsed
the action of the committee IN Strik-
ing out the section prohibiting the
sale of intoxicants within the capitol
building. 1t then laid aside the bill
until today to pass number of I'm
objected pension bills.
A bill was introduced by Senator
Lodge making railroad companies Ii
able for damage on account of the
injury, or death of employees, notwith-
standing the injury or death may
have been due to cOntributOry negli-
gence on the part of the employees.
An amendment fixing So head tax
on immigrants coming into the United
States furnished the principal topic
for debate. Senator Gallinger insisted
there was less necessity for it now
than there was a year ago, but it was
adopted without division. A new
amendment was added designed to
stop alleged injury on the part Of per
sons seeking admission to the United
States and a committee amendment
making the head tax a lien on the
property Of transportation lines bring
ing immigrants to the United States
was stricken out. An amendment
also was agreed to accepting
aliens on transit through the United
States and aliens once admitted and
who have paid the tax.
Ehe senate confirmed Charlemange
Tower as ambassador to Germany
Robert S. Mccormick to Russia and
Bellamy Storer to Austria-Hungary.
the nomination of S. Freeman of In
diana, agent at Green Bay, Wis, was
also confrmd.
Senator Foraker introduced bill
directing the secretary of war to mark
with marble slabs the graves of con-
federate soldiers who died in north
ern prisons or hospitals during the
civil war.
The senate committee agreed to re-
port the house resolution appropriate
ing $4,000 for the anthracite coal
strike commission with an amend
ment that the officers of the govern
ment serving on the commission shall
not receive double compensation.
The president sent to the senate the
general international agreement for
the suppression Of traffic in girls for
Legitimate purposes. He also with
drew the Dominican reciprocity trea-
ty, this action being taken at the re-
quest of the Dominican authorities
In the House.
The ways and means committee re
ported favorably a resolution to ad
iourn December 20 to January 5. A
bill was introduced by Mr.. Lacey OF
Iowa to repeal the desert land law
and Communication provisions of the
homestead laws.