The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-06
TRUSTS UNDER FIRE
BILL AIMED AT THEM DEBATED
IN THE HOUSE.
GUARDS INDUSTRIAL LIBERTY
Is WHAT REPUBLICAN SPEAKER
SAID OF THE MEASURE,

Powers of Massachusetts Led the
Debate for the Republicans and
Clayton of Alabama for the Demo-
crats-Tariff Reductions Oner no
Remedy, Powers Said Clayton
RidicuIed the Idea of the Republi-
cans Really Wanting to Curb the
Trusts.
Washington, Feb. 5.-The antitrust
debate opened in the House to-day
There was fairly large attendance in
the galleries. The rule under which
the House was to operate precipitated
lively discussion. Messrs. Richard
son of Tennessee, Fleming of Georgia
and Clayton of Alabama protested Wig
orously against the rule for considera-
ton of the bill, because it did not per-
NIT them to secure a record vote on
substitute, but the Republicans replied
that they were willing to accept the re-
sponsibility.
The bill to expedite prosecutions oc-
casiened no debate. 1t passed the
House, as it did the Senate yesterday,
without word of debate. Mr.. Powers
of Massachusetts made the opening ar
gument for the Republicans on the Jul
dietary Committee bill, and Mr.. Clay
ton of Alabama opened for the Demo-
cratic side.
Mr.. Powers, in his speech, declared
that the pending bill might be entitled
properly "A bill to defend the Ameri-
can people in their industrial liberty"
The consolidation of industry, he said,
was the result of an economic revolu-
ton, and could not be stopped All that
could be done was to insist that these
combinations should be kept we'll with
in certain limits; that no advantage
over his smaller competitor should be
allowed the big corporation in the ship
ment of goods. The proposition of the
other side to reach the trusts by re-
moving the tariff, he said, was shown
to be futile, when it was understood
that there were trusts in 1863 articles
on the free list. In this connection, he
said he believed the time had come
when there should be a general revision
OF the tariff upon othera grounds, not
as a remedy to regulate trusts.
Socialists Grow in Strength.
In concluding, Mr.. Powers said there
was growing socialistic sentiment in
this country, as evidenced by the in
creased vote in the party in Massa-
chusetts last fall from 1000 to 10000.
There were, he said, many intelligent
people who believed the government
should proceed to take charge of the
railroads and other means of interstate
commerce. 1t was important, he said,
that these people should be made to
understand by the enactment of a bill
- haf
posed to hold these gigantic combina-
lions in check.
Mr.. Clayton, a member of the Judi
ciary Committee, who followed Mr..
Powers, agreed with him that there
had been no politics in the considera-
ton of the subject of regulating trusts
in the committee, but the methods pro-
posed by Republicans and Democrats
differed radically. He and his asso-
ciates, he said, beloved that in addi-
ton to the interstate commerce clause
of the constitution, the taxing power,
directly and in the levying of customs
duties, could be and should be invoked
His side was not opposed to publicity,
but they did not regard it as a cure.
But Soothing stroke.
Mr.. Clayton created much amuse-
ment by recalling the attitude of the
Republicans on the trust question in
insisted that they were powerless to
deal with the question without a con-
stitutional amendment. He predicted
that corporate greed would never per-
NIT certain sections of the pending
bill to become a law.
In conclusion, Mr.. Clayton described
the pending bill as the soothing stroke
of friendly hand. What the Demo-
Gratis wanted was action that would
mean something.
Mr.. Thomas of North Carolina, the
last speaker to-day said the pending
bill did not go far enough.
The House adjourned until 10 a. m.
tomorrow, when the antitrust bill
debate will be resumed.