The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1903-01-01
Problems to Face Congress
UPON REASSEMBLING
Reciprocity With Cuba and Admit.
ting Territories.

Upon the assembling of congress after
the holiday recess it must grapple with
three important subjects, viz: trust
legislation, ratification Of the reciprocal
treaty with the republic Of Cuba, and
the question of admission of one or more
territories into the sisterhood of states.
1t is probable that the senate will
ratify the commercial reciprocal treaty
with Cuba that there is litsle likelihood
of any territory being admitted % q
state, and it is improbable that any
trust legislation will be accomplished
beyond the appropriation Of large sum
OF money to be placed at the disposal Of
the attorney general, with which to de-
fray the expenses incident to the most
searching efforts to procure testimony
against monopolies which are alleged to
have formed combinations in restraint
of trade. Republicans assert that the
Sherman antitrust law. If enforsed,
will satisfy the people that the present
administration is in earnest In its desire
to curb the rapaci ty of the so.called
trusts.
MAY AMEND SHERMAN ACT.
1t is possible, also, that an amend
ment to the Sherman act may be made.
calling for the strictest publicity relat-
ing to the affairs of large corporations
in order to reveal the amount of stock
issue and bonded indebtedness and to
ascertain beyond question the real and
legitimate assets as distinguished from
fictitious values or watered stock. This
amendment providing publicity will
not be widely at variance with q reso-
luton introduced by Senator Dubois of
Idaho last winter, when the census bill
was under discussion in the senate.
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
Since the opening of the short session
of congress there has been a gradual
change of sentiment with respect to
Cuban reciprocity among Western sem
ators. Those who last winter opposed
Cuban reciprocity in the shape of q
law, did so because it would open up be-
fore both branches of congress . radical
revision of tariff duties, which they re-
garded as highly impolitic from parti-
san standpoint. and wholly unneces-
sary from the view point of the busi-
ness man and manufacturer. Bowing
however to the will of President Roose.
welt and his advisers, these recalcitrant
senators are willing to vote for the rati-
fcation of treaty which must be ap-
proved or rejected by the senate as it
stands, and its ratification could not In
any way involve the senate in a discus
sion of the tariff question generally
speaking.
MICHIGAN FALLS IN LOVE-
The latest news is that the congress
sional delegations Of Michigan and
Minnesota have decided to vote for the
ratification of the treaty with Cuba.
and if this be true the backbone of
the opposition to a reduction OF tariff
duties on importations Of raw sugar
from Cuba will soon he broken by the
force of the tremendous pressure brought
to bear by eastern manufacturers upon
members of congress. Michigan has
nearly twenty millions of dollars in
vested in the beet-sugar industry, and
when the representatives Of that great
state capitulate it is only fair to presume
that all western beet-sugar states must
soon follow suit. Already tho market
quotations show an advance in the price
of the stock of the American Sugar and
Refining company, popularity known as
the American sugar trust