Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
GENERAL DEBATE ENDS
CLOSING SPEECHES ON THE ANTI
TRUST BILL.
Crowded Galleries in the House and q
Full Attendance on the
Floor.

General debate on the antitrust bill closed
in the House shortly before o'clock last
evening. The debate had proceeded since
10 o'clock in the morning. More interest was
aroused as 1t proceeded and the closing
speeches by Mr.. DeArmond (Mo.) and Mr..
Littlefield (Maine) were delivered to crowd
ed galleries and to a very full attendance
on the floor. The closing, however, was de-
void of brilliant pyrotechnics and sensa-
tional clashes. The other speakers were
Messrs. Lawrence (Mass.). Parker On. j.,
Tirrell (Mass). Jenkins CWis.), Douglass
IN. V, Henry (Texas). Fleming (Ga.). Nc
Clellan IN. ", Williams (Miss) and Kle-
berg (Texas)
Mr.. Williams (Miss.) replied at some
length to the assertions Of Mr.. Sibiey Pa.)
a few days ago that ''the day of individ-
uaiism and competition had passed"
Mr.. DeArmond (Mo) closed the general
debate for his side. He said he realized
how difficult it was to deal adequately with
the trust question Human greed with the
best human intellect at it's command was
not to be easily baffled and therefore a So
luton of the problem required sincere and
honest endeavor. He was one of those, he
said. who believed that a revision of the
tariff could accomplish much. He did not
believe that the tariff sheltered all trusts.
Still. If it would break the bones of any
of the giant trusts why, he asked, should
the remedy not be applied? Some on the
other side, he said. openly admitted that
the tariff should be revised in certain par
ticuars. Why should not the bars be let
down when the tariff had been made a
sheitering place and a breeding ground for
trusts. His side proposed an amendment
to clothe the President with the power to
suspend duties on trust-made articles when
ever necessary to protect the public. Why,
he asked, would not the other side join in
the enactment of that amendment.
DO you prefer he asked, addressing the
republican side to trust the trusts rather
than your own President?'
Not Seeking to Destroy.
Eve are not seeking to destroy" Mr..
DeArmond said, but to preserve; to act
as a bulwark to prevent the concentration
and constantly multiplying monopoly which
will finally crush out the American indi-
vidual and make husk and shadow of
what was once his proud American citizen
Ship
Mr. DeArmond said the bill reported from
the judiciary committee was quite differ
ent measure from that originally introduced
by Mr. Littlefield when the gentleman
from Maine started out" said he, The had
blood in his eye and tomahaWk In mis-
hand But by the time he and his colleagues
caught up with the trusts they were smok-
ing the pipe of peace. The sky was clear
and the pickingS were to continue good Tor
the trusts" Democratic laughter and APP
plause)
If it was desired to do something effective.
Mr.. DeArmond said. the minority amend
ment should be adopted Corporations
should he made amenable to local courts as
Individuals were. The taxing power OF the
government should be employed as it was
to suppress state banks The bankruptcy
act could be used to throw trusts into court
II they violated the law.
He believed, he said, that members should
seriously, without seeking party advantage,
strive to place an effective law upon the
statute books. The administration and the
republican majority in Congress will go far
enough to satisfy the people that it seeks
to do something for the peoples good. but
not far enough to hurt the peoples enemy.
Democratic applauSe.)