The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-02-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

"AohANSAONy ACDs 11tA, ASO0.
Events have moved rapidly in the past
week and as a result the antitrust pro-
gram suggested by the Senate leaders has
been practically completed. This pro-
gram has received the entire approval of
the President and only the adoption by
the House of the Elkins bill remains to
round out all that the republican leaders
propose to do in the line of trust control
~
The legislative accomplishments for
trust control will consist of, ~ an appro-
priation of $500, 900 for the employment
of expert legal assistance in the prosecu-
ton of antitrust cases; (2) the passage of
law expediting antitrust cases in the
courts, including the appeal of such cases
to the Supreme Court without trial by the
courts of appeal; t3l the prohibition of
rebates and equal liability for grantor aud
receiver, provided by the Elkins bill,
which has still to receive the approval of
the House; (4) the amendment of the bill
creating a Department of Commerce and
Labor whereby there is to be appointed
Commissioner of Corporations whose duty
it shall be to gather statistics regarding
industrial corporations for the use of the
President and the Attorney General and
the publication of such as the President
may indicate.
~
According to an agreement reached by
the Committee conferees, and with the
approval of the President, the Interstate
Commerce Commission is to remain in
tact and with the powers conferred on it
by the Elkins bill will be greatly Increased
in importance aud ability to remedy such
evils as have heretofore attended the
management of transportation companies
and corporations. Senator Elkins, speak
ing of his bill, pointed out to your cor
respondent that it was merely form of
the bill for which he has long been labor
ing, but which heretofore included an
authorization of the railways to pool"
for the maintenance of rates and confer
red power on the Interstate Commerce
Commission to prohibit unreasonably
high rates. 1.-THE bill in its present
FORM" said the Senator, "meets with the
approval of everyone who understands its
provisions. 1t is simple and can easily
be comprehended. There is nothing
about it which will run counter to the
decisions of the courts and it is in no
danger of being condemned as unconsti-
tutional. 1t was unanimously adopted
by the Senate, which proves that it pleas
es the democrats as we'll as the republi-
cans. have every confidence that the
bill, when enacted into law, will do me
credit"
Xxx
The Littleield antitrust bill passed the
House on Saturday, after many brilliant
speeches on the subject of trusts, their
antiquity and the difficulties in the way
of remedying their evils. Representa-
tive Little6eld, speaking of the antiquity
of the trust problem, traced it back to the
year 1900 B. c. and said of it, Like the
poor it is always with u.s." The passage
of the bill by the House was really more
of form than otherwise as it had already
been announced by the Senate leaders
that it could not pass the upper chamber
and would not even receive consideration
by that body. The House committee on
Commerce met Tuesday to discuss the
Elkins bill and it is expected to pass in
the near future, Notwithstanding the fact
that many members feel considerably
chagrined at the side tracking of their
favorite measure, by the Senate.
*x*
The prospects of an extra session of the
Senate continue to increase as the 9TH of
March approaches with no further con-
sideration of the important treaties now
before that body. The Statehood debate
hangs on in dispirited fashion and the
lack of interest displayed would be- in
itself, sufficient evidence that compro-
mise on the subject is expected. Senators
Aldrich, Hale, Lodge and Quay, have
held two conferences on the subject and
all predict compromise at an early date,
although they have not yet been able to
get together. The plan which it is ex-
pected will be adopted will provide for
two states, one to be composed of Okla.
homa, with the provision that Indian
Territory shall be added when the Dawes
Commission concludes the allotment of
the Indian lands, the other of Arizona
and New Mexico. This plan is by no
means satisfactory to the democrats but
they may conclude that it is better than
nothing or than an extra session of Con-
gress which might not mean anything for
the aspirants to Statehood.
*xx
There seems to be little doubt that the
Senate will meet in extra session after the
4th of March for the ratification of the
treaties now before it. There is consid-
cradle opposition to the Alaskan treaty
and Senators Turner and Foster of Wash.
ington have informed your correspondent
that they will vote against its rati-
location. At the same time, Senator
Lodge, who has just completed canvass
of the Senate on this convention, informs