The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-08
WITHOUT A NAY VOTE
THE HOUSE PASSED THE ANTI
TRUST BILL.
DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENTS
EITHER RULED OUT OR VOTED
DOWN BY STRICT PARTY VOTE.

Bill Fixes Penalty for Failure to
Do SO-COmmissiOn Can Compel
Answering of Questions and Upon
no Ground Can Refusal Be Made.
SuIzer Charged That Clever Trust
Lawyer Drew Bill.
Washington. Feb. by a unani-
nous vote, 245 to 0, the House to-day
passed the antitrust bill. The closing
chapter was devoid of excitement.
For three hours the Democrats of
fered a series of amendments design
ed TO place teeth" in the bill, but they
were either ruled out of order, or voted
down by a strict party vote. On only
one vote We're the political ranks
broken. 1t was on an amendment of
fered by Mr.. Thomas, Republican of
Iowa, to make the filing of returns
incumbent upon all corporations, man
datory. On that amendment seven
Republicans voted with the Demo-
Gratis.
The bill as passed requires corpora
lions hereafter organized" to file re-
turns covering it's articles of incorpo-
ration, financial composition, condi-
ton, etc, with the Interstate Com
meree Commission, on penalty of be-
ing restrained from engaging in in
terstate commerce, prescribing penal
ties for false returns, etc. The Com
mission is given authority in its dis
erection to call for similar returns from
existing corporations doing an inter
state business.
The Commission is given power to
compel the answer to questions, and
a fine of not to exceed $1,000 is i'm
posed for failure to obey the Commits
sion in this respect. Rebates by car
riers is made punishable with a fine
of not less than $1,000, and corpora
tons violating the provisions of this
section are forbidden the use of the
Observation-Disclosures of interstate COM
merce. Carriers are prohibited from
knowingly transporting articles pro-
duced, manufactured or sold in VIOLA
ton of the Sherman act.
No Witness Excused.
In cases of prosecutions no person is
| to be excused from testifying on this
/ ground that such testimony would tend
| to incriminate him, but for such testi-
mony the witness is not to be prose
| cuted.
The circuit courts are given juris-
diction in cases of violation, and it is
made the duty of the district attor-
neys to institute proceedings to pre-
vent violations, and individuals dam
aged by violations are given authority
to sue.
The general debate on the bill hav-
ing closed yesterday, it was read for
amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. DeArmond of Missouri offered the
minority amendment to the first sec
ton, providing that all corporations
with a capital of 100000 or more do
ing an interstate business, now or
hereafter" organized, should make an
nual returns.
The bill of the committee, he ex-
planned, only required returns from
corporations thereafter organized" eX-
cept where called for by the Interstate
Commerce Commission. He thought
all corporations should be placed on
an equal footing in this regard.
Mr.. OVerstreet, Republican, of In
diana, speaking for the majority, said
that it desired to steer middle
course" 1t would compel FUTURE cor
porations to file returns, but lodged
with the commission the discretion to
call for reports from existing corpora
lions. The amendment was voted
down, 20 to 90.
SuIzer Fights Bill.
Mr.. Sulzer, Democrat, of New York,
said that clever trust lawyers of New
York had prepared the pending bill.
He said at one time he thought Mr..
Littlefield was sincere, but now he was
reluctantly compelled to give the opin-
ion that the bill of the trust-buster
from Maine was seven pounds lighter
than a straw hat.
Mr.. Sulzer said he believed the Pres
ident was honestly attempting to ac-
complish something. The difficulty was
that his party would not support him.
The pending bill was as Intellectual as
a putty blower would be to stop an
elephant on the rampage"
Mr. Henry, Democrat, of Texas, Of
fered as new section an amendment
to place steel rails, binding Irvine, pa
per and some other articles, on the free
list. To it Mr. Littlefield made a point
of order.
A number of other amendments We're
offered to the first section, and all were
voted down. Mr.. DeArmond finally
moved that debate on Section 1 close,
and his motion led to sharp personal
clash with Mr.. Littlefield.
Has the gentleman taken charge of
the bfll?" asked Mr.. Littlefeld.
II will say to the gentleman from
Maine" replied Mr.. DeArmond, that
| do not think there is any suggestion
that anybody is taking charge of the
bilI;' and there might be some rea-
sons to suggest that not very much of
ANYBODY has had charge of the bill
wish to reach a point where amend
ments that we have prepared will he
voted on: and l do not care to play
into the hands of the gentleman from
Maine or anybody else who may be
disposed to filter away time on this oc-
casion.
Mr.. Littlefield.-"Let me ask the gen.
,Iernan does he undertake to intimate
that the gentleman from Maine has
been responsible for any of these de-
lays?"
Mr.. DeArmond.--"I undertake to say
that the suggestion of the gentleman
that somebody was trying to take
charge Of this bill is entirely gratuit-
ous: and the better sense of the gentle
man from Maine. and the better man
ners of the gentleman from Maine.
ought to make him aware of that fact
MIR IJttlefeld.-'T trust the gentle
man knows that the gentleman from
Maine did not intend to be personally
offensive to the gentleman from Mis-
souri,: at least If he does not appreciate
that fact. the gentleman from Maine
desires 10 80 state"
Mr.. Clayton Of Alabama warmly
commended sections s. s. and II. and
declared his belief that the bin con
tContinued on Sixth Page.)