The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-18
FORCED THE PLAY
SHREWD STAB MADE AT THE
TRUSTS BIZ BARTLETT.
A MARCH ON REPUBLICANS
WAS STOLEN BY THE GEORGIA
CONGRESSMAN.

Trust Law, Though Roosevelt Had
RecOmme nded It-Bartlett Sprang
Sensation when He offered a
Provision for an Appropriation of
$25O,0OO for the Purpose.
Washington, Dec. 17.-Judge Bartlett
of the Sixth district, led the Demo-
cratic party to-day to what will
stand on the records as a distinct VIC
tory in the play for position between
the two parties on the trust question.
The Georgia congressman introduced
an amendment to the pending appro-
priation bill intended to place in the
hands of the Attorney General of the
United States sufficient funds to carry
on all possible prosecutions under the
antitrust law.
The Republicans had taken no steps
in this direction, although this was
specifically recommended by President
Roosevelt in his last message and they
We're carried off their feet by Judge
Bartlett's action. finally joining with
him and his party associates in sup
porting his proposition. 1t is probable
that this will be the only substantial
antitrust legislation by this Congress,
and the credit for inaugurating it must
be given the Democrats.
What Bartlett Proposed.
When the appropriation bill contain
ing the usual items for the Department
of Justice was taken up. Judge
Bartlett submitted the following
amendment: For the purpose of en-
forcing the antitrust Jaws of the
United States, and to enable the At
torney General of the United States
to prosecute suits and legal proceed
ings against persons or corporations
who still violate the antitrust laws of
the United States now in force, or that
may hereafter be enacted, the sum of
$250,000, or so much thereof as may in
the judgment of the Attorney General,
be necessary to be expended under the
direction of the Attorney General, and
he is hereby directed to proceed against
any and all persons or corporations
who may have violated, or may violate,
any of the provisions of the antitrust
laws of the United States"
Judge Bartlett supported this in a
strong speech. He carried home to the
Republicans their failure to take some
positive action in antitrust legislation
of any kind, arguing that here was an
opportunity to do something, and they
had neglected to take advantage of it,
The only excuse which Chairman
Cannon was able to advance
was that it had not been us
ual to put an appropriation of
this character in this particular APP
preparation bill, but he was compelled
to acknowledge that it might properly
be put there. The Republicans saw
that they could not afford to combat
Judge Bartlett's position, so they en-
deavored to steal his thunder by a
slightly changed wording of his amend
ment, and by increasing the amount
of the appropriation to 100000.
Thought Language Loose.
Some of the Republicans, however,
raised objection to the "looseness of
the language of the amendment" and
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa offered as a sub
stitute for it the language of the bill
he introduced on the opening day of
the session to appropriate $50000 for
the enforcement of the law. This was
further strengthened to make the APP
preparation Immediately available,
and, as amended, the substitute was
agreed to without division.
Mr.. Bartlett wanted Mr.. Hepburn to
incorporate in his amendment a pro-
viso directing the Attorney General to
proceed with prosecutions, but to this
Mr.. Hepburn objected, saying it con-
tanned a reflection on the Attorney
General.
Mr.. Bartlett said the Attorney Gen.
eral should be criticised because he
had not enforced the antitrust laws.
There had been no representative of
the peoples interest in the White
House, cabinet or on the Federal
bench, in the fight against trusts.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio said the
Sherman antitrust law was a Repub-
lican measure, while a Democratic ad-
ministration had cast doubt upon its
constitutionalitv.
Hepburn's Amendment.
The language of the Hepburn
amendment is as follows:
That for the enforcement of the
provisions of the act of July 2, 1890,
the sum of $500, 900 is hereby appro-
priated, out of any money in the treas
ury not heretofore appropriated. to be
expended upon the direction Of the
Attorney General in the employment
of special counsel and agents of the
Department of Justice to conduct pro-
ceedings, suits and prosecutions I'M
der said acts in the courts of the
United States; provided, that no per-
son shall be prosecuted or be subject
to any penalty or forfeiture for or
on account of any transaction, matter
or thing concerning which he may tes
tify or produce evidence, documentary
or otherwise, in any proceeding, suit
or prosecution under said acts: pro-
vided, further, that no person so tes-
tifying shall be exempt from prose-
cution or punishment for perjury
committed in SO testifying. This APP
preparation shall be Immediately avail
able"
Judge Bartlett promptly accepted the
substitute in order to secure the point
he was after. He was heartily congrat-