Evening journal., 1903-02-07
ANTITRUST BILL
IN THE HOUSE
Speeches Were Delivered to
a Large Floor Attendance
and Crowded Galleries
VOTE ON MEASURE TAKEN TODAY


Washington. Feb. z. - General
debate on the antitrust bill
closed in the house yesterday after
noon. More interest was aroused as 1t
proceeded. and the closing speeches by
Ar. De Armond (Dem), Missouri. and
Mr. Littlefeld (Rep.), Maine, were de-
liyered TO crowded galleries and to a
very fun attendance on the floor The
closing however, was devoid Of brill
liant pyrotechnics and sensational
clashes To-day for three hours the
bill was considered under the I'VE min
ute rule. after which the vote will be
taken
MIR. De Almond. of Missouri, closed
the general debate for his side. He
said he realized how difficult It was to
deal adequately with the trust ques-
tion. He was one of those, he said,
who believed that revision of the
tariff could accomplish much. He did
not believe that the tariff sheltered all
trusts. Still. il it would break the
bones Of any of the giant trusts. why,
he asked. should the remedy not. be ap-
piled? His side proposed an amend
ment to clothe the president with the
power to suspend duties on trust-made
articles whenever necessary to protect
the public. Why, he asked, would not
the other side join in the enactment
OF that amendment?
DO you prefer" be asked, address
ing the Republican side. ito trust the
trusts rather than your own presi-
dent?"
Mr. De Almond said the bill report
ed from the judiciary committee was
quite a different measure from that
originally introduced by Mr.. Littleheld
When the gentleman from Maine
started out said he he had blood in
his eye and tomahawk ia his hand.
But by the time he and his colleagues
caught up with the trusts they were
smoking the pipe of peace The sky
was clear and the pickings were to
continue good for the trusts" Demo
cratic laughter and applause) II II
was desired TO do something effective,
Mr.. De Almond said, the minority
amendment should be adopted.
Mr., oLittlefeld closed the debate for
the majority. He said that no one se-
riously believed, with the existing con-
stitutional limitations. that bilk could
be prepared that would fully and ade-
Quately meet the situation. But he be-
lieved the committee had presented a
'fair, reasonable, and constitutional
measure" aud as such he hoped II
would address itself to the members
Of the house
Mr. Littleheld created considerable
amusement by reaaing a most extrava-
CANT denunciation of combinations and
the announcing that the extract was
not from the speech Of any gentleman
on the other side but from speech OF
Sir John Culpepper, delivered in the
English parliament 262 years age.
They had 'em then. said he. "just as
We have 'em. now. fIaughter) call
your attention to the fact that there
was no protective tariff in those days.
lie traced the history of combina-
tions back TO 2S00 3. c. to show, he
said, that combinations always had ex-
listed, and that there had been an out
cry against them. IL showed further,
he said. how old and how difficult the
problem before congress was.
Speaking OF the bill, Mr.. Littleheld
said II was not contended that the
publicity feature was a specific or cure
all for monopoly. but only that IL was
step in the right direction, helpful to
the public in the three connections
where corporations touched the peo-
pie, namely, as investors, creditorss
and consumers.
MeGovern and Bernstein Co the Limit