The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-01-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, January &c, 1908.

was accomplished in Washington late
Saturday afternoon, when Secretary o.
State Hay and Sir Michael Herbert signeC
a treaty providing for the final settlement
of the Alaskan boundary difficulty, the
last occasion of dispute between Great
| Pritain and the United States. Three
eminent jurists are to Re appointed by
six will constitute joint commission, by
the decision of which each is bound by
treaty to abide. The ttlement of this
last remaining dispute between Great
Britain and this country removes every
ground for difference between the two
nations, and makes for that perfect har.
moDy which has been the object Of Secre
tary Hay ever since he took charge oi
the diplomatic relations of the United
States.
Congress now has before it careful J
considered, skillfully drawn and conser.
vatlve antitrust bill, which, while II
would not ipjure any so called trust do
ing Legitimate business, would, If placed
on the statutes and enforced, prevent the
unjust and nefarious practices which have
III the p1st operated to build up gigantic
monopolies and drive competitors out oi
the maj ket. The bill reported by the
| house judiciary committee has received
the approval of the attorney general, who
states that it contains provisions which
| q MI f0 M
the present law against trade discrimina.
| tion, and that 1t In no one instance vio
lates the constitution of the United States
While the democrats will urge the adop.
tion of more drastic provisions than those
contained In the proposed law, they will
support it In lieu of something more In
accord with their ideas.
Briefly, the proposed law provides fol
public ty for corporations doing en- inter.
state business, prohibits rebates or dis.
elimination In rates and service by trans.
| portation companies, and forhids con.
spiracy, cutting prices, etc., with view
to running competitors. Reviewing the
| measure, Representative Powers Of Mas.
sachusetts said to your correspondent
"It lies fully within the constitutional
| authority of congress, but 1t marks dis.
| tinct advance In the legislation already
provided to prevent rebates and discrimi-
nation, and the destruction of competition
by large corporations and combinations.
Publicity for corporate statistics Is left
largely In the discretion of the Interstate
commerce commission, which will not
make public such facts and figures as
could be used to the disadvantage of le-
gitimate enterprises. No corporation lie
endangered by the provisions of the bill,
unless 1t Is engaged In operations in vio,
lation Of the law now on the statute or OF
its spirit"
The Littlefield antitrust bill will Jubt-
less pass the house at an early date with
few dissenting votes. 1t remains to be
seen, however, what the senate will dc
with it. 1t is we'll known that the upper
chamber contains champions-it might
almost be written-of the great corporate
interests of the country, and they ale to
be found In both parties. Under the
rules Of the senate few men are all pow.
erful, and the question which now inter
ests the vast army of consumers is wheth.
er the senate will permit an adequate and
effectual trust bill to be placed on the
statutes.
When the senate first convened this
winter the leaders were unanimous In
their statements that there would be nc
antitrust legislation. Later the presi.
dent announced that If there were none
he would call congress in extra session
Then the leaders experienced change OF
heart and announced that there would be
some statutory revision" but that the
senate would await the action of the
house. When the house had about con.
cluded its antitrust bill, framed In &C
cordance with and almost under the per-
sonal super vision of the attorney general
three new trust measures were announced
as In preparation In the senate commit
tees. One Of these has been reported and
referred back to the Interstate commerce
committee. Are these senate measures
intended to complicate the situation and
head off" the house bill Is the question
everyone In touch with the situation is
asking.
Much has been made of the statehood
deadlock In the senate, but within the
past week the supporters of the statehood
bill have demonstrated that they have a
majority of the senate with them, thus
placing the opponents of the omnibus bill
In the position of filbusterers. Senat' +
Quay and his friends are ready fer a vote
at any time, and have so announced.
They have proven the futility of further
debate on the question, and made evident
the fact that the opposition is either de-
termined to f1lbuster until the fourth of
March, or to avail themselves Of the
statehood debate to prevent all legislative
enactment at this session.
The Cuban treaty Is on the executive
calendar of the senate, and merely awaits
an opportunity for ratification. That a
sufficient number of senators favor the
convention to insure its ratification Is now
certain. When there will be an executive
session Of sufficient duration to permit Its
further consideration rests with the op-
ponents of the statehood bill.
The treaty with Colombia has finally
and unexpectedly been concluded, and
has been sent to the senate. By its pro-
visions the United States is to pay bonus
to Colombia of $40 900 900 and an annual
rental of $3.50, 900. beginning five years
after the mutual ratification Of the treaty.
At the end of sixty years the entire prop
erty Of the Panama railway company will
revert to the United States. This coun-
try will collect and retain all tonnage and
other fees collected, not only on the canal,
but also In the ports of Colon and Panama.
Wonderful Nerve
Is displayed by many a man enduring
pains of accidental Cuts, Wounds, Bruis-