Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
corresnondence of the Alexandria Gazette.

House bill number three, introduced
on the first day of the session that has
lust closed, is the Littlefeld bill for the
regulation of trusts. 1t was introduced
after a consultation with President Roose-
welt and embodied the views ON this sub
iect which the President submitted to
Congress on the following day in his
message. 1t was never reported from
the committee. The fact that Mr.. Lit
tlefield has been selected by the Presi-
sent to conduct his antitrust fight next
session on the lines laid down in the
Pitfsburg speech makes this measure OF
special interest at this time. That speech
shows that the Presidents views have
changed since he wrote his first message
10 Congress and it is not likely that Mr..
LittIefeld's position has altered. The
bill that he introduced on Dec, 2, of last
wear may therefore be taken ALPHABETICALLY
the administration measure which Con-
gress is to be urged to adopt next winter.
Ii declares that "every contract, combl-
nation in the the form of trust or other
wise. or conspiracy in restraint of trade
or commerce in any part Of the United
States" is illegal, participation In which
"shall be deemed guilty of a crime
punishable By fine of not less than 5000
nor more than s., 600, and by imprison-
ment not less than months nor more
than two years Every person who shall
attempt to monopOlize, or combine or
conspire with others to monopolize, any
part of the trade or commerce among the
several States or with foreign nations
shall be deemed guilty of crime and
subject to the punishment specified
above. If any person believes his
business or property has been in
iured by any such combination or con-
spiracy he may bring suit in any cir
emit court of the United States and
shall recover three-fold the damages
by him sustained" Any railroad or
transportation company, which shall
knowingly transport goods manufactured
by trusts within the meaning of this act
shall be subject to penalty of not less
than $500 nor more than 1900, and
any of its officers or agents who shall re-
ceive such goods for transportation with
in the United States or to a foreign
country will be liable to similar fines
and in addition, imprisonment for from
one to six months. In civil or
criminal proceedings under this act no
oerson shall be excusable from testify
ing or from producing books, contracts
or agreements before the courts on the
ground that the testimony required of
him NAV tend to criminate him or sub
iect him to a penalty. In addition to
the foregoing stringent provisions, 1t Is
understood that Mr.. Littlefeld will pro-
,.ide in the bill he will introduce next
December a new section requiring all
corporations doing an interstate business
to make quarterly or monthly returns OF
their business to the Treasury Depart
ment and to keep their books always
open to inspection by government Of
iicers just as national banks are now
required to do.
Chairman Griggs, of the democratic
Congressional committee, who returned
here today from his Georgia home, char
acterizes the report that the President is
determined to correct the trust evil and
now engaged in drafting legislation
that will meet the required ends as po-
itical bluff, "The republican party, "
he said, "has been in power for six
years. Congress has been in session for
seven months. Nothing has been done
ia the way of antitrust legislation in
the six years or in the seven months.
Just as soon as Congress adjourned,
however, when the President knew that
the party had to go before the people,
he makes strong speech against trusts
in Pittsburg. He can't fool us and he
can't fool the people He made the
speech and that is all there is to it.
Why did he not send message to Con-
gress on the question of trusts. The
democrats in the House had pledged
their support to the antitrust legislation
and we voted against adjournment until
such legislation could be drafted and
passed upon. At the eleventh hour the
President comes in and tries to save the
day." Chairman Griggs will go to
New York on Thursday for the purpose
of confering with Chairman Cable of the
national democratic committee and
Treasurer Lewis Nixon.
The War Department is advised that
Lieutenant Colonel Charles r. Barnett,
of the Quartermasters' Department, COM
mitted suicide last Saturday by jumping
from the fourth story of the fire escape
at the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Mich.
The resignation of Judge Ramos OF
the Porto Rican federal court has been
received and accepted by the Attorney
General. Judge Ramos was identified
with Porto Rican political organization
known as 'the mob, +" whose hostility to
organized labor was complained of by
the American Federation of Labor.
Negotiations with Colombia in regard
to the Panama canal have not vet COM
menced, the State Department combining
ITS efforts at present to finishing the
rough draft of its proposition. Agree
nents conditioned upon the granting OF
authority by Congress was reached sew
era, months ago and this agreement is
sun binding. 1t covers the case in a
general way but in many particular:
was necessarily indefinite. The work
of the State Department officials is new
along the line of making this preliminary
agreement definite. No obstacles have
been or are likely to be presented by
Colombia. In fact that country seems
as anxious as this country to conclude
the bargain and while more liberal term:
are not being sought by the United
States, it is probable that in minor mat