Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-07

In accordance with the special rule
under which the House is proceeding,
that body met at 10 o'clock to con-
tinue the debate upon the antitrust
bill. Foss, Illinois, reported the naval
appropriation bill.
Lawrence. Mass, the first speaker on
the antitrust bill, said that he heartily
supported the message. He took issue
with the statement of a distinguished
statesman, Senator Morgan of Ala
bama. in a recent interview that
neither party was in earnest upon this
question On the contrary he believed
that both parties were sincerely de-
sirous of properly controlling and reg
ulating trusts.
Henry, Texas, said that he was not
an extremist. He did not desire to
wage war on the legitimate corpora
tons. but he did believe that monopo-
lies and trusts could and should be
outlawed.
Jenkins, Wis, chairman of the jul
dietary committee, said that the power
of Congress was as limited upon this
qeustiOn as that of any common coun-
ell in any city in the United States.
AS a matter of fact he declared that
there were no trusts in the United
States. The business of the country
was carried on he said, by corporations.
not trusts. He quoted many authori-
ties in support of his contention that
Congress had no control over COM
merce. that it's power was strictly linn
tied to regulation. In reply to a ques-
ton he agreed that the taxing power
1f %1x0
to suppress undesirable corporations.
Fleming, Ga, said he would vote fol
the bill. amended or unamended, but
criticised the weakness of the various
sections. Parker, N. j., said that while
ne supported the bill, he offered vari-
Gus suggestions for amendments to
some of the sections which he believed
would strengthen it. Fleming suggest
ed an amendment to Section 5 so as to
make it applicable to water transport
tation. Gilbert, Kentucky, said that
his private opinion was that the bill
was not only Homeopathic dose but
that it would do more harm than good.
Nevin, Ohio, endorsed the bill as the
best that could be prepared at this
time. He replied to some of the criti-
cisms passed upon it, stating in the
course of his remarks that not over 5
per cent. of the corporations of the
country would be amenable to the pro-
visions of the bill.
After some further remarks by Me-
Clellan. N. Y, Tirrell, Mass, Douglass,
N. Y. Kitchin, N. c., Kleberg, Texas,
Williams. Miss, replied at some length
at some length to the assertions of
Sibley Pa, few days ago that "the
day of individualism and competition
had passed"
DeArmond. Mo-, then closed the gen
eral debate for his side. He said he
realized how difficult it was to deal adj
equately with the trust question. HUI
man greed, with the best human intel
EASILY baffied and therefore a solution
IF the problem required sincere and
honest endeavor. He was one of those,
ne said, who believed that revision
Of the tariff could accomplish much.
He did not believe that the tariff shell
tered all trusts. Still, if it would
break the bones of any of the giant
trusts, why, he asked should the rem
ady not be applied?
DeArmond said the bill reported from
the judiciary committee was quite a
different measure from that originally
introduced by Littlefield. when the
gentleman from Maine started out"
said he. "he had blood in his eye and
Continued on page 80