The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-01
HOUSE WILL TAKE
UP THE TRUST
QUESTION
1t Seems to be General Idea
That Best Solution is TO
Make Appropriation to En-
force the Sherman Law.

washington, November SD.-When the
house conveues tomorrow to enter upon
the final session of the fifty-seventh con-
gress, a perfect deluge of bills dealing
with the trust question in all its phases
will be thrown into the legislative hop
per. It is admitted on all hands that
this will be the most Important topic of
discussion. Indeed. the leaders incline to
the belief that beyond the appropriation
bills and routine legislation, 1t Will be
the only general subject on which there
is a chance of action at the short session.
As yet the leaders have formulated no
measure and there exists a pretty wide
divergence of opinion as to what can, or
should be dope 2 The Presidents recon-
mendations on the subject are awaited
with interest.
The most conservative opinion among
the republican leaders seems to favor
an appropriation for the enforcement
of the Sherman antitrust law. Such an
appropriation, 1t is pointed out could be
placed on one of the regular appropria-
ton bills and put through both houses
without difficulty, whereas any amend
ment to the law itself, no matter how
conservative would likely meet opposi-
ton. Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, chairman of
the interstate and foreign commerce COM
mission, is one of those who believe that
the Sherman law, If enforced is sufficient
to meet the situation, and tomorrow he
will introduce a bill appropriating $5OO,O0O
to be used by the department of justice
in prosecutions under the present law.
Caucus May Be Called.
It is not improbable wnen the leaders
ascertain exactly what can be done, that
a caucus of republicans will be called to
agree on measure. Meanwhile the trust
bills, introduced probably will be referred
to the judiciary committee. There Is
some question of jurisdiction. If a bill
invokes the interstate commerce clause
of the constitution, it probably should
go to the commerce commission, and If
the taxing power of the government to
the ways and means committee. But to
secure uniformity all bills dealing with
the subject have gone heretofore to the
judiciary committee, and this practice
will be followed unless a fight for ju-
risdiction is made.
The leaders already have resolved to
expedite the appropriation bills as much
as possible, in order to allow the largest
margin of time for other matters. Mr..
Cannon, chairman of the appropriations
committee, believes that the legislative,
executive and judicial, and the pension
appropriation bills can be dispensed of
before the holidays. His committee will
go to work at once and prepare the sup
ply bills as rapidly as possible. The leg
islative and pension bills probably will
be read before the end of the session.
The first things the appropriation COM
mittee will be called to do, however, is to
prepare a bill to provide for the coal
strike commission. Judge Gray, chair
man of the commission, has written a let
ter to Mr.. Cannon asking Tor an appro-
priation of $4,000 to defray the expenses
of the commission to pay its clerical
force and to furnish such compensation
for its members as the President may
fix. The appropriation committee vii.
meet tomorrow, and, it Is believed will
approve the request, and that the Pres
ident's message will be read
There is no programme for the remain
der of the week beyond the bill to defray
the expenses of the coal stfke commits
sion.