The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-10
Trust Chorus: HaW! HaW! the
Critter Can't Bite.
WE'VE PULLED HIS TEETH
After: Their Extraction the Peoples Watch
Dog'Gces Gambling through The
House With Clean of Gum
ard Wag Of Tail.
(By the Associated Press.)

vote of "a to 0 the House today passed
the Antitrust Bill.
The closing chapter was devoid Of
excitement. For three hours the Dem
ocrats offered a series of amendments
designed 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 were the political
ranks broken. 1t was on an amendment
offered by Mr.. Thomas CRcp.) of Iowa,
TO make the filing OF returns incumbent
upon all corporations mandatory. On
that amendment seven Republicans voted
with the Democrats.
The bill as passed requires corpora
1iorfs hereafter organized to file re-
turns covering its articles of incorpora-
ton, financial composition, condition, etc,
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion on penalty of being restrained from
engaging in Interstate commerce., pre-
scribes penalties for false returns, etc.
The commission is given authority in it's
discretion to call for similar returns
from existing corporations doing an inter-
State business, power to compel the an
swer to questions, and a fine of not 10
exceed $1,000 is imposed for failure to
obey the commission in this respect.
Rebate by carriers is made punishable
with a fine Of not less than 81, 600. and
corporations violating the provisions OF
this section are forbidden the use of the
instrGmentalities of Interstate COM
merce Carriers are prohibited from know
ingly transporting articles poduced, man
ufactued or sold in violation of the Sher-
man Act. In cases of prosecution 70
person is to be excused from testifying
on the ground that such testimony would
tend to incriminate him, but for such
testimony the witness is not to be pro-
secuted. The circuit courts are given
jurisdiction in the cases of violation, and
it is made the duty of the district at
torneys to institute proceedings to pre-
vent violations and individuals damaged
by violation are given authority to sue.
General debate on the Antitrust Bill
having closed yesterday, the bill was
read for amendment under the five min
ute rule. Mr.. DeArmond. of Missouri,
offered the minority amendment to the
first section, providing that all corpora
tions with a capital of 500, 600 or more,
doing an Interstate business, 'tnow or
hereafter" organized should make an
nual returns.
The bill Of the committee, he explain
ed, only requires returns from corpora
tions, thereafter organized" except
where called for by the Interstate Corn
merce Commission He thought all cor
porations should be placed on an equal
footing in this regard.
Mr.. Overstreet (Rep.) of Indiana, speak
ing for the majority, said that it desired
to steer a middle course" 1t would
compel future corporations to file re-
turns. but lodged with the commission
the discretion to call for reports from
existing corporations.
The amendment was voted down, 10
to Sc.
Nj. Sulzer CDcm.) of New York,
charged that clever trust lawyers of
New York had prepared the pending bill.
He said that one time he thought Mr..
Littleield was sincere, but that he was
now reluctantly compelled to give the
opinion that the bill CT the trust buster
from Maine was seven pounds lighter
than a straw hat" Mr.. Sulzer said he
believed the President was honestly try
ing to accomplish something. The diff
fculty was that his party would not sup
port him. The pending bill was an in
effectual as a putty blower would be
to stop an elephant on the rampage"
Mr.. Henry (Dcrn.) of Texas, offered as
2 new section an amendment to place
steel rails, binding twins, paper aud
scfne other articles on the free list. To
it MIR. Iittlefield made a point Of order.
4. number of other amendments were
offered to the first section, and all We're
voted down. Mr.. DeArmond, of Missouri.
finally moved that debate on section one
close, and his motion led to q sharp
personal clash with ar. Litticfield.
Has the. gentleman taken charge Of
the bilI?" asked Mr.. IittIcfeld.
Il will say to the gentleman from
Maine" replied Mr.. DeArmond, that I
do not think there is any suggestion
that anybody is taking charge of tho
bill ard there might be some reasons
to suggest that not very much of any
body has had charge of the bill /
wish to reach 2 point whore amendments
that We have prepared Will be voted on,
and | do not care to play into tho hands
more of the gentleman from Maine, o.
anybody else who may be disposed 70
fritter away time on this occasion"
Mr.. LittIefcld: Let me ask tho gem
tleman. does he undertake. to intimate
that the gentleman from Maine has
been responsible for any of these ia
lays?'
Mr.. DeArmond: Il undertake to say
that the suggestion of the gentleman that
somebody was trying to take charge Of
this bill is entirely gratuitous and inc
better sense of the gentleman IRON
Maine, and the better manners OF the
gentleman from Maine ought to make
him aware of that fact"
Mr.. Littlefeld: Il trust the gentle
man knows that the gentleman from
Maine did not intend to be personally
offensive to the gentleman from Missouri
at least if he does not appreciate that
fact. the gentleman from Maine desires
to so state"
NJ C1avton of Alabama, warmly com
mendod sections 5, 6, Z and IL, ana &c
o1.,od his belief that the bill contained
400 much good that it would never te-
come a law
An minority amendments were pre-
scented and voted down.
At the expiration of the three houi'