The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-12-26
The war On the Trusts.

The War on the Trusts.
The speedy enactment Of anti
trust Legislation by the House will
surprise the country at large, but
no more. so than it did the Con-
gressmen Of both parties who
voted FIR it.. Mr.. Bartlett's action
in sprinsing IN amendment to the
legislative appropriation bill pro-
viding for $3.50. 900 TO enforce the
Sherman law came like q thunder
bolt out Of q clear sky. There had
been friction among the authors Of
the various antitrust bills which
were being discussed before the
House Judiciary committee, and Il
seemed impossible for that body to
evolve practical measure out Of .
mass Of testimony and opinion that
was presented to Its attention.
Mr.. Morrell Of Pennsylvania had
already introduced bill which In
its provisions was similar to the
Bartlett amendment. It was Mr..
Morreli's idea that the Sherman
law had never bee /, properly tested,
and that until it had been it was
not possible to determine what
changes were needed to make II
more effective. Representative
Hepburn's bill, which was before
the Judiciary committee, appro.
pirates $500, 600 to Be expended By
the Department Of Justice il en-.
forcing the Sherman law and also
provides for taxing watered stock
and places additional restrictions
upon the trnsts. Other measures
Of various kinds were also being
considered BY the committee aud
daily hearings were being held at
which the relative merits Of the
bills were being discussed. No
decision had been reached when
Mr.. Bartlett threw his bomb
shell. But Mr.. Hepburn was not
II -
to Be lost In the shuttle, for he
promptly offered his bill from
which certain features had been
eliminated. as q substitute to the
Bartlettt amendment, and before
the legislators had recovered from
their surprise the rapid transit
measure had been passed. The
language Of the Hepburn amend
men. Is adopted. is as follows:
! That for the enforcement OF
the act Of July 2. 1890. the sum OF
$500, 600 is hereby appropriated
ont Of any m ,ney Ia the Ire asury,
not heretofore appropriated, 10 Be
expended under the direction Of
the Attorney General In the EN-
ployment Of special counsel and
agents OF the Department OF Justice
TO conduct p o<eedings, suits and
prosecutions under said act in the
cpurts Of the United States, pro.
vided that no person shall be pro.
secuted or be subjected to any
penalty n forfei ure for or on &C
coun. Of any transa .tion, matter OF
thing 'ncernibg which be may
testify or produce evidence, docu
mentary or otherwise, in any pro.
ceeding. suit or prosecution under
said acts; provided further, that
no person so testifying shall be ex.
empt from prosecution or punish.
ment for perjury committed in 50
testifying. This appropriation
shall be immediately available"
The measure now goes to the
Senate for its approval. II has a
long and stormy road 10 travel.
There is already friction over the
bill and of course all this confusion
Is to the liking of the trust mag.
mates. They have powerful lobby
at w Ashing'on and perhaps it's in.
huence is responsible for the many
disagret fnents between the authors
III the rival bills. While il is only
reasonable that the views Of the
vari"us Senators and Congressman
should conflict as to the proper
kind Of antitrust law, there is no
excuse for c,mpl'cating matters 70
as 10 play toto the hands Of The
Il "a