The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-10

the house today did not develop muA
animation, although there was d fair1y
large attendance IA the galleries.
The rule under which the house was
to operate, however, precipltated .
lively discussion. Messrs. Richardson,
OF Tennessee, Fleming, OF Georgia. and
CLAYTON. OF / abama. protested viger-
ously against the rule for consideration
or the bill. because it did not permit
them TO secure a record vote Oh a sub
st!tute. but the republicans replied that
they We're willing to accept the re-
sponsibility,
The bill TO expedite prosecutions ce-
casioned no debate. It passed the
house. as it did the senate yesterday
without a word OF debate. Mr.. Powers,
opening argument for his side of the
house on the judiciary ommitt bill
land Mr.. Clayton. democrat of Ala
| pama. opened for his side.
! Mr.. Powers. in his speech declared
| that the pending bill might be ent,ryed
| properly "a bill to defend the Ameri-
| ran people in their Industrial liberty"
The consolidation of industry. he said,
| was the result OF an economic ravolu-.
ton and could not be stopped. All that
| could be done was to insist that these
combinations should he kept we'll with
III certain limits: that no advantages
over the smaller competitors should be
allowed the big corporation in tho
shipment of goods. The proposition or
| the other side to reach the trusts by
removing the tariff. he said. was shown
to be futile when it was understood
that there were trusts in l69 articles
on the free list. In this connection.
Mr.. Powers said he believed the time
had come when there should be a gen.
aral revision of the tariff upon other
grounds. not as a remedy to regulate
| the trusts. IN concluding. Mr.. Powers
pointed out that there was a growing
>ncialistir sentiment in this country as
evidenced by the increased vote of the
party in Massachusetts last foil from
1900 to 40 600. There We're. he said,
many intelligent people VINO believed
the government should proceed to take
charge of the railroads and other
means OF inter state commerce. 1t a
important. ne said, that these people
>hould he made TO understand by the
enactment of a bill like the pending
one that congress proposed to hold
these gigantic combinations in check.
NJ. Clayton. of Alabama. a member
nf the judiciary committee. who fol-
lowed Mr.. Powers. agreed with him
that there had been no politics in the
consideration of the subject of regu-
lifting trusts, in the committee. but he
insisted that the methods proposed by
republicans and democrats differed
radically. He and his associates. he
aid. believed that in addition to the
interstate commerce cause OF lno COIL
%etitution. 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 cue. Mr..
Clayton created much amusement b.
recalling the attitude or the republi-
cans on the trust question in the last
congress-. when they insisted that they
we're powerless to deal with the Ques-
ton without a constitutional amend
ment. He predicted that corporate
creed" would never permit certain
sections of the pending bill to become
Z law. In conclusion Mr.. Clayton de.
~cribnd the pending bill as the "sooth
'ng stroke of a friendly hand" wna'
the democrats wanted was action that
would mean something.
Mr.. Thomas. of North Carolina the
last speaker today commended that TIT
"onding bill did not go far enough
The house adjourned to meet at II
O'Clock a. m. tomorrow, when the anti
5 trust bill debate will be resumed.