The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-15
IT'S HURTING KANSAS.
East Laughing at SquabbIe
Over Christening Liquid.
RISE OF YOUNG MAN
Trust Legislation and Why
None Was Enacted.

None Was Enacted.
Especial Correspondence of the Eagle)
Washington. March 14.-There has been
much said in Republican newspapers, as
well a sin those of opposition, in regard
to the failure of the senate in the closing
days of the Fifty-seventh congress to take
UP the Littlefield trust bill. Inasmuch as
the trust question is now. and will be for
the next year and d half, a most import
ant question, widely discussed, it is per-
haps well TO pay little attention to these
statements.
some western Republican papers, some
IL Kansas, have, since the adjournment
OF congress last week, taken it upon them
selves TO chde Republican leaders and
the senate for not taking up the Lit
teileld bill. They have said that the
bill was strongly favored by the presi-
dent and the attorney general. They have
seemed to go upon the supposition that
no trust legislation had been enacted. and
that the Republican party had taken no
action whatever on this question.
None of these positions is well taken.
The president, at 10 time declared him
self in favor Of what is known as the
Littlefield bill He at no time slammed
1t with his approx al. 1t is true there was.
last summer, good deal of talk about
the president making Littlefield his trust
leader In congress at the recent session
his grew out of the visit the president
made to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the
home of hi sattorney general, Mr. Knox.
and his speech there, which dipped into
the trust question extensively.
Immediately thereafter. the antitrust
agitation was started with vigor. and
there was loose talk of how Litlefield
was to take the lead. If he took the lead.
no one authorized him to do so. Neither
the president nor the attorney general
directed Mr. Lttlefield forthwith to pre-
pare a bill that would curb the trusts.
No one who knew, doubted Littlefeld's
profound knowledge. and his native abil-
fly. but all Washington knew the folly of
intrusting the lead of anything to the
Maine man. His record was too well
known. His absolute disregard for con-
servativeness, and his rash conduct on
many grave questions and issues since he
entered congress four years ago are mat
ters OF history in Washington and among
public men. He is a brilliant man. but
stubborn to the letter; unreasonable; sad
l. lacking balance, and possessing not one
whit of leadership qualities
This argument against fr,,St
inaction, nor calculated to set forth the
idea of any such thing In fact. it is
The very opposite. There has been no
congress since that which enacted the
famous Sherman antitrust law, which
has placed on the statute-books SO many
creditable and useful laws regarding curb
ing Of corporations, a sthe Fifty-seventh
congress. and the second session thereof,
just adjourned. Democrats defeated anti
trust legislation in the first session Of
the Fifty-sixth congress, when, for the
preservation of that sacred Democratic
doctrine, staterights, they refused to give
a two-thirds vote to the Republican pro-
position to amend the constitution and
give congress additional legislative powers
as to trusts and combinations. But in
the recent session. they did not prevent
legislation, inasmuch no effort was
made to amend the constitution; and
therefore only a majority, and not two
thirds vote. was needed. Republicans
had til majority.
The laws calculated to affect the trusts
and combinations. are three in number,
as follows:
TIL Elkins amendment to the interstate
ls.s
publicity clause in the act creating the
new department of commerce and labor.
The Elkins amendment provides that
the failure upon the part of any common
carrier To file and publish the tariffs or
rates and charges as required by the in
ters.ate commerce act. or strictly to OBJ
serve such tariffs until changed accord
ing to law. shall be a misdemeanor. and
upon conviction thereof. the corporation
offending shall be subject to a fine of not
sess than 81. coo and not more than $4,000
for each offense. II shall also be IN
alwful for any corporation TO offer,
grant. or give or To solicit. accept. or re-
ceive any rebate. concession. or discrimi-
nation in respect to the transportation OF
eny property in interstate or foreign COM
merce." b,- any common carrier subject 10
the interstate commerce act. A like pen
atty is imposed as above. for this offense.
The person violating this section. whether
officer agent. or what, OF the corpora
tion. is deemed for the purposes Of this
act. TO be the company or corporation
Suit may be brought under this act in
any court of the United States in which
the violation was committed, or through
which the transportation may have been
conducted. Full provision is made for
the presence OF all necessary
witnesses in court, and all papers.
What is known - the 'expediating
act provides that in any suit I'm equity
pending or hereafter brought in any
cirsuit court of the United States. under
the sherman and other antitrust laws
or any other acts of like character, where
the United States IS complainant. the
attornev-geueraI may file with the clerk
Of said court a certificate that. in his
opinion. the case if of general public
Importance. copy Of which certificate
shall be furnished Immediately - each
OF the circuit judges of the circuit in
which the case is pending. Thereupon
the case shall be given precedence ovec
others. and in every way expedited. An
other eNpediting feature calculated to
insure against corporate delay. i this;
That in such suits an appeal from the
fnal decree Of the circuit court VIII lie
only TO the Supreme court, and must be .
taken within sixty days
The enactment Of the law providing
for q department Of commerce and labor &