Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-09
NO NEGATIVE : VOTES
ANTITRUST .frrb;reAssrD By
! HOUSE OF RHsRH8EhTAT1vEs.
All the Minority Amendments Defeat
ed-Provisions Of the
Measnft.

In the House ofrRAp4esentatives Satur-
day Mr.. DeArmonG Nob moved that de-
bate on section 1 Of the antitrust bill, un-
der consideration. close, and his motion led
to a sharp PERSONAL clash with Mr.. Little
field.
HAS the gentleman taken charge OF the
bil?' asked Mr.. LAtuefaeld.
Il will say to the gentleman from Main" -
replied Mr.. DeArmond, ''that I do not
think there Is any suggestion that any
body Is taking charge Of the BILL and
there might be some reasons to suggest
that not very much Of anybody has had
charge of the blu I wish to reach a
point where amendments that we have pre-
pared will be voted on; and I do not care
to play Into the hands of the gentleman
from Maine, or anybody else who may be
disposed to fritter away time on this oc-
casion.'' 20. - vc- ..... ~ .- ~.
Mr.. Littlefeld-'Let me ask the gentle
man. does he undertake to intimate that
the gentleman from Maine has been re-
sponsible for any OF these delays?
Mr.. DeArmond-.I undertake to say that
the suggestion of the gentleman that some
body was trying. to take charge of this
bill Is entirely gratuitous; and the bet
ter sense of the gentleman from Maine,
and the better manners of the gentleman
from Maine ought to make him aware OF
that fact"
Mr.. Littlefield-"I trust the gentleman
knows that the gentleman from Maine
did not intend to be personally offensive to
the gentleman from Missouri at least II
he does not appreciate that fact, the gem
tleman from Maine desired TO SO state
MI Clayton (Ala.) warmly commended
sections 5, 8, and IL, and declared his
belief that the bill contained 80 much
good that 1t would never become law.
Minority Amendments Defeated.
All minority amendments were presented
and voted down. For three hours the demo-
Gratis had offered series of amendments
designed to place teeth in the bill, but
they were either ruled out Of order or
voted down by a strict party vote. On only
one vote were the political ranks broken.
1t was on an amendment offered by Mr.
Thomas Uowa) to make the fling Of re-
turns incumbent upon all corporations man
datory. On that amendment seven repub-
lcans voted with the democrats.
At the expiration Of the three hours al
lowed for the consideration of amendments
under the special order the committee of
the whole rose, and without intervening
motion the vote was taken upon the pas
sage of the bill.
The roll was called upon the demand OF
members on both sides of the House. and
not single vote was recorded against the
bill. It was declared passed by a unani-
nous vote-245 to o.
Immediately afterward, at 1885 pm, the
House adjourned.
The Antitrust Bill.
The bill as passed requires corporations
hereafter organized to file returns cover
ing It's articles Of Incorporation, financial
| composition, condition. etc, with the inter-
state commerce commission, on penalty Of
being restrained from engaging In interstate
commerce. prescribes penalties for false
returns, etc. The commission Is given an
thority in its discretion to call for similar
returns from existing corporations doing
an interstate business The commission is
given power to compel the answer to ques-
| tions and a fine oflnot to exceed 5000 Ia
imposed for failure to obey the commission
In this respect. Rebates by carriers Is made
punishable with a Il fine of not less than
1000. and corporations violating the pro-
visions of this section are forbidden the
use of the Observation-Disclosures of Interstate
commerce. Carriers are prohibited from
knowingly transporting articles produced,
manufactured or sold III violation Of the
Sherman act. In cases OF prosecutions no
person is. to be excused from testifying on
the ground that such testimony would tend
to incriminate him, but for such testimony
the witness is not to be prosecuted. The
circuit courts are given jurisdiction in cases
of violation, and it is made the duty of the
district attorneys to institute proceedings
to prevent violations, and individuals dam
aged by violations are given authority to
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