Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-02-20
ANTITRUST LEGISLATION.
COMPLETED BY CONGRESS WITH PASSAGE
OF ELKINs BILL.

Appropriation and Philippine Currency Bills
New Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
Appointed
In the senate Friday the District OF
Columbia appropriation bill was passed
and consideration of the statehood Dill
resumed. Mr.. Depew spoke on the
anti. polygamy provision in the bill and
claimed to see the work of the Mormon
apostle in the preparation of the meas
ure. He declared that the concentrat-
ed influence of the Mormon hierarchy
would be used to prevent any amend
ment which would completely exclude
polygamy. He said it is undisputed
that the vote of the Mormon church Is
absolutely controlled by the central
hierarchy of that organization. Other
senators spoke regarding much less Sc
riously the evils arraigned by Mr.. De-
pew. The house, after an hours de-
bate, by vote of PAL to 6, under spec
ial order which cut off opportunity To
offer amendments, passed the Elkins
bill to prohibit rebates to shippers.
The democrats protested against the
rule as they had purposed to offer the
provisions of the Littlefield bill as an
amendment to the bill, 1t was practl-
cally admitted that with the passage
of the Elkins bill the antitrust legisla-
ton for this session of congress would
be complete.
The senate Saturday concurred in the
house amendments to the Elkins anu
rebate bill and it went to the president
for his signature. This, with the bill
to expedite trust cases and the limited
publicity provisions of the department
of commerce bill, which have already
become laws, completes the program of
anti trust legislation, agreed upon by
the senate and house leaders and the
administration. The house bill reduc-
ing the tariff on imports from the Phil
ippines, proposing to make the tarl11
% per cent. of the Dingley rate, was
considered and it was proposed to
amend ii so as to make.the tariff on sugar
and tobacco half of the Dingley rate
admitting all other articles free OF
duty. This matter was discussed at
some length. The house passed the
sundry civil appropriation bill and then
devoted itself to private pension bills
4 and bills to correct military records.
325 bills were passed in an hour and
five minutes.
The senate Monday passed the In
dian appropriation and Philippine cur.
rency bills. A resolution was agreed
to calling on the president for informa
ton regarding the present status of the
Isle of Pines and what government is
exercising authority and control in said
island; what instructions, if any, re-
garding said island were given when
the military occupation of Cuba by the
United States was terminated: and
what action, il any, has been taken for
the protection Of the interests of citi
zens of the United States who have
bought property and settled in the Isle
of Pines The amendment to the Phil
ippine currency bill providing for a
conference between gold and silver
standard countries to fix CONNER
cial exchange, was agreed to without
division. In considering the In
dian bill Senator Vest referred to
the placing of the Philippine meas
ure on the army appropriation bill,
and said it was the most extraordinary
provision on the statutes of the United
States since the beginning of the gov
eminent, and in contravention of the
constitution. The senate ought to be
consistent The commission of Indian
affairs, he declared, had undertaken
to starve the Indian, in violation of sol
emn treaties, and the attorney general
had sustained him. He thought the
Indian had been shamefully robbed.
Senator Morgan read communication
from Rafael Reyes, Colombian minis
ter to Mexico, denying that the presi
dent of Colombia had sold out or abdi-
Gated for 81, 600. coo. Mr. Morgan, to
whom this statement was attributed.
denied having made it in the senate
The house passed the senate bill to
amend the railroad safety appliance
law to compel common carriers to equip
their cars with automatic couplers,
etc. The president sent to the senate
and the senate confirmed the nomina
ton of George B. Cortelyou of New
York, secretary TO the president, to be
secretary of commerce and labor under
the act creating the new department.
The senate judiciary committee decid-
ed to report the Littletield antitrust
bill to the senate with a number of
important amendments.
The senate Tuesday agreed TO the
conference report on the army appro-
priation bill and discussion of the
statehood bill was continued, Mr.. De-
pew speaking in opposition. Toward
the end of the session Mr.. Teller de-
clared that himself and the country
had been insulted by some of Mr. De
pew's references to the unequal repre-
sentation in the senate. Mr.. Hoar
from the committee on judiciary re-
ported the Littlefeld antitrust bill as
amended. Mr.. Plat of the committee
stated that it was not unanimous re-
port and that he was opposed to the
measure He said large portion of
the bill has been more wisely and APP
propriately treated in legislation re-
Gently enacted. Concerning the new
features, he said, even if they were
witt in the constitutional authority of
congress, they are mischievous and
will work great injury to business in
terests The house began considera
of the naval appropriation bill and
general debate of the measure was
without special feature.
There was lively debate in the sem
ate Wednesday over Senator Quay's
resolution declaring it to be the sense
of the senate that there should be
vote on the statehood bill before the
adjournment of Congress. To this prop
osition Senator McComas reotfered Sen
ator Platt's closure resolution intro
duced two years ago, and a motion was
made to refer the whole proposition to
the committee on rules. The discus
sion of the subject brought out the
4 fact that the senate was strongly OPP
posed to closure in any form. Senator
Morgan continued his remarks on the