Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-10-16

ll ~ view OF bne Wiue interest at present
IL the trust problem, and the probable
action of Congress- in regard to it, the
New York Evening Post recently sent
70 all the members of the United States
Senate and House of Representatives
the following questions:
(ij Do you think that the powers of
Congress under the Constitution for
controlling or restraining industrial
oorporations, have been exhausted in
the SO called Sherman Antitrust act?
IL Are you in favor of amendments
10 che Constitution to give Congress
additional power to control corpora
tioAs?
e. DO you favor the reduction or
repeal of import duties on articles
whose production in the United States
IN controlled by monopolies?
a. Do you favor the appointment of
o Tariff Commission to predare changes
Of the tariff for the consideration of
Congress?
$50 Do you favor the ratification OF
psciprocity with France now pending
IN the Senator
From the 444 members Of the Senate
and House of Representatives 70 replies
were received. The greater willing
ness OF the Democrats to put their
views Of the trust problem on record
ut the present time was seemingly in
dicased by the fact that 40 answers
came from the 1872 members of that
party in the two houses, and only 30
from the 254 Republicans. In Massa-
ehusetts, to take an extreme case, there
zee three Democratic and ten Republi-
can Representatives. Answers came
from all of the Democrats, but from
only one Republican. But two of the
fifty -four Republican Senators answered
che questions at all.
An examination of these answers, the
Post says, shows plainly that party
lines have not yet been closely drawn
on these particular questions Thus,
while thirty-eight Representatives and
Senators express themselves in favor Of
q constitutional amendment giving
Congress power over corporations
thirty seven are against it. Fifteen OF
the affirmative replies come from Demo.
Gratis, and five Of the negative replies
from Republicans. Several of the
affirmative answers, moreover, carry
some qualification. The appointment
Of a tariff commission to report changes
in the tariff TO Congress is not favored,
30 far as the replies indicate. A good
majority, forty eight to twenty three,
are against it, six Democrats favoring
such a commission, and eleven Republic
cans opposing it. Only about one-half
Of those who sent replies answered the
fifth question relating to reciprocity
with France. OF the thirty-one in
favor of the pending treaty, twenty -one
were Democrats and ten Republicans
while in opposition there were only
three Democrats and six Republicans.
On only one question were the mem
beers of either party found to be in per-
feet unanimity. All tho Democrats in
House and Senate who answered the
third question were in favor of reducing
the tariff on monopoly made articles.
The Republicans who put themselves
on record were almost equally divided,
thirteen in favor and fourteen against.
A single glance at this conspectus Of
opinion y/the Evening Post editorially
concludes, lis enough to show that the
people, not the politicians have made
the great issue of the campaign. What
it is, there can be no doubt 1t is the
undoing of tariff iniustices. For these
the Republican party stands con.
fessedly guilty. Its acknowledgment
Of responsibility ia implied in its very
promise of amendment. Trust us, Re.
publican leaders are everywhere i'm
ploring, to set right the sgrievous
wrongs of the Dingley tariff But the
answer is coming back to them from
the people, like the sound Of many
waters, Why did't you do it last
winter? Why did you sin away your
day Of grace?' How deeply these aues
tions arc cutting into the Republican
party, how vital and preponderating
they are becoming in the last weeks Of
the campaign, and how certain they are
to be the subject of burning debate
when Congress meets, the Congressional
symposium which the Evening Post
prints today abundantly demonstrates. %