New-York tribune., 1903-02-06
TRUST BILLS IN HOUSE.
THE DEBATE OPENED.
Bill to Expedite Suits Passed and
LittLefeld Measure Taken Up.

Washington, Feb. 5-The antitrust debate
which opened in the House to-day did not de-
velop much animation. although there was a
fairly large attendance in the galleries. The
rule under which the House was to operate
however. precipitated lively discussion Ihe
Democrats protested vigorously against the
rule for the consideration of the bills, because
II did not permit them to secure a record vote
q substitute but the Republicans replied
that they were willing TO accept the responsi-
hility The rule was adopted, 40 to 10l,
party vote. The bill to expedite antitrust
prosecutions oocasioned no debate 1t passed
the House, as it did the Senate yesterday with
a word of debate.
Nr Powers (Rep., Mass.). made the opening
argument for mis- side of the House on the Lit
tleheld bill He declared that the pending bill
was not a party measure. Both sides OF the
Judiciary Committee, he said. had labored
earnestly on the subject OF trust regulation
For fifteen years there had been growing and
increasing demand for some act for the con-
trol Of great industrial combinations Free and
untranrnelled competition did not exist The
public was convinced that the great transpor-
tation companies gave privileges to the large
producer which the small producer did not en-
JOY The pending bill, he said, might be entl-
tied properly. a bill to defend the American
people in their industrial liberty"
The combination of industry, he said, was the
result Of an economic evolution, and could not
he stopped. All that could be done was to
insist that these combinations should be kept
well within certain limits; that no advantage
over its smaller competitor should be given to
the big corporation in the shipment Of goods.
F4e believed there was no trust that could not
be reached under the commerce clause Of the
constitution. The proposition Of the other side,
70 reach the trusts by removing the tariff, he
said. was futile, since there are trusts in 169
articles on the free list Mr.. Powers said he
believed the time had come when there should
be z general revision OF the tariff on other
grounds. not as remedy TO regulate trusts.
IN closing Mr.. Powers said that there was
growing socialistic sentiment in this country,
ss evidenced by the increased vote of the party
in Massachusetts, last fall from 1000 to 10000
There were he said, many intelligent people
who believed the government should proceed
70 take charge Of the railroads and other means
of interstate commerce. 1t was important that
these people should be made to understand by
the enactment of q bill like the pending one
that Congress proposed TO hold these gigantic
combinations in check
Mr.. Clayton Dena-, Ala-) a member Of the
judiciary Committee. who followed Mr.. Powers.
agreed with him that there had been no politics
in considering the subject of regulating trusts
in the committee but he insisted that the meth
DDS proposed by Republicans and Democrats dlf-
fered radically. He and his associate, he said,
believed that IN addition TO the interstate COM
nerce clause OF the constitution. the taxing
power directly and in -he leyying Of customs
duties could be and should be invoked. His side
was not opposed 10 publicity, but did not
regard ii as a cure. Mr.. Clayton created much
amusement by recalling the attitude Of the Re-
publicans on the trust question in the LVIth
hen hey
pOWerless TO deal with the question without
constitutional amendment. He predicted that
corporate greed would never permit certain
sections of The pending bill to become law.
In conclusion AIr. Clayton described the pending
bill as the soothing stroke Of a friendly hand.
What the Democrats wanted was action that
would mean something.
The other speakers were MeSsrS. Thomas
CRep.. Iowa) and Thomas (Dern-, N CO
The Postoffice Appropriation bill was passed
before the trust bills were taken up.
The death of Mr. Moody, Of North Carolina,
was announced, and out Of respect TO his mem
ory the House adjourned until tomorrow, when
the antitrust debate viii be resumed.