Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-06
HOUSE TAKES UP TRUSTS
Passes Elkips Bill Without Debate and
Discusses Other Measures
GENERAL STAFF SUBJECT OF CONFERENCE
Proceedings Lack Much Interest, ms
Legislative Day f. Cut short out
of Respect for MoOdy's
sf' Memory.

Dill debate which opened IN the mouse To-
day did not develop much animation, al
though there was a fairly large attendance
in the galleries.
The rule Under which the house was to
operate, however, precipitated a lively dis
c%ussion, the > democrats protesting vigor-
ously because, tt aid not permit them to Sc
cure a record vote on a substitute. but the
republicans replied that they we're willing
to accept the responsibility.
The Elkins blli to expedite antitrust
prosecutions occasioned no debate. 1t
passed the house, as It did the senate, yes
terday, without a wcrd.
Mr.. Powers tMass) made the opening
argument for his" side of the house on the
judiciary bill. and Mr.. Clayton tAla)
opened for his side. Ths former c~ontended
this the measure was a step in the direc-
ton OF the regulation OF trusts. while Mr..
Clayton insisted that it was all sham and
pretense and that the bin, feeble as it was,
never was intended to go on the statute
books. The other speakers today were
Messrs. Lot Thomas tIa.) and Charles
Thomas IN. c..
Gives POstOmce Cash.
The postofice appropriation bill was
passed before the trust bills were taken up
The death Of MEeMoody IN. c. was an
nounced at the close of the session, and
out OF respect to his memory the. house ad-
journed until tomorrow, when the anti
trust debate will be resumed.
When the house met the motion of Mr.
Talbert Is. C.) to amend the motion Of Mr..
Underwood (Ala.) to recommit the postofice
appropriation bill so as to add instructions
to the committee to eliminate the appro-
priations for special facilities from Wash
ington to New orleans and from Kansas
City to Newton, Kan, was taken up.
Mr.. Talbert's amendment was voted down
100 to 121. Mr.. Underwood's motion Their
was defeated without division and the bill
passed.
Mr.. Hit (ll.) presented the conference
report on the diplomatic and consular APP
preparation bill, which was adopted.
The army general staff bill was sent tC
conference, Mr.. Hull tIa.), Mr.. Parker
IN. ~ and Mr.. sulzer IN. " being named
as conferees. i@r
Mr.. Grosvenors (o.), from the committed
on rules, presented the special order for tbs
consideration of the antitrust bills. II
provided for the consideration Of both bills
to expedite cases under the Sherman law
and the LittleHeld publicity bill.
@ Cas- .V z .-t.
ElleIn. BIN silently Passes.
. In accordadce with the provisions of the
rule the senate bill to- expedite cases undeI
the antf-trust law first was laid before thu
house. Mr. battlefield CMe.J offered a yer
bal amendment. to make it conform to thu
bill as reported from the judiciary eommit
tee,G and 9t7Wks adopted. tT' >'i
The bill thta &as passed withoutFa worC
OF debatelah.qUli lrFF- TE 49,
Under the rule the house then resolves
itseHI into1 committee or the whole, ant
took up the publicity chill, it having BEEF
agreed that Mr.. LIttleheld should tontto
the time on one side ana Mr.. DeArmons
f(Mo.l aons tbP-other, GsE ,EtualaA
= Mr., PoWeTte tMRss.3 ~ opened the debate
He declared, the bilk was not a party meas
u-e. Both sides on the judiciary commit
tee had labored earnestly on the subjec
Of trust legislation For fifteen years Their
had been a growing embarrassing deman,
for some act TO control great industrial
combinations. Free and untrammelsd com
petition did mot exist
The public was convinced that the grea
transportation companies gave privilege
to the large producer which the small pro
Queer. did not enjoy. The bill might b
entitled properly "A bill to defend tn
American people in their industrial lii
erty." ,,ss M
The combination of industry was the re
suit of economic evolution, and could no
be stopped. All that could be done was I
insist hat combinations should be KEEP
we'll within certain limits; that no advan
tage over smaller competitors should b
allowed in the shipment of goods. He be
lieved there was no rust that could b
reached by the clause.
On the proposition OF the other side t
reach the trusts by removing the tart
was futile. since there were trusts in 16
articles on the free list, but he believe
the time had come when there should be
general revision Of the tariff on othe
grounds.
Socialist Power Growing,
In concluding Mr.. Powers pointed OF
that there, was a growing socialistic sent
ment in the country, as evidenced by tn
increased vote Of the party in Massa
chusetts last autumn from 1000 to 1000
There were many Intelligent people wh
belieyed the. government should proceed I
take charge OF railroads and other means {
interstate commerce. It was importaI
that those people should be made to under
stand by the enactment OF a bill like III
one before them that congress proposed I
hold those gigantic combinations In chec
Mr.. Clayton (Ala.l, a member of III
judiciary committee. agreed that there hs
been no politics in the committee. but IN
sisted that the methods proposed by r,
publicsns- and democrats differed RADICAL,
He and his associates believed that in aC
dition to the Interstate commerce. clause
the constitution the taxing power in III
levying of customs could and should /
directly invoked.
His side was not opposed to publicit
but they did not regard IL as a cure.
Mr.. Clayton created much amusement /
recalling the attitude Of the republican
on the trust question in the Fifty-sixt
congress, when they insisted that the
were powerless TO deal with the questic
without constitutional amendment. He pr,
dieted that corporate greed would new
permit certain sections of the proposed bi
to become law.
In conclusion he characterized the bi
as 1.-THE soothing strike Of a friendly hand
Mr. Lot Thomas Qa) devoted some tim
to exposing what he called the hollow PR
lenses Of the democrats on the trust que
tion.
When the committee arose the president
veto OF the bill to establish additional tern