The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

WASHINGTON, Jan. I4th, 1903.
Antitrust legislation, the consideration
of a Cuban treaty, beet-sugar conven-
ton and diplomatic reception at the
White House have served to make the
past week in Washington replete with in
terest. History has been made rapidly.
Senator Hoar having introduced his now
famous antitrust measure has made re-
markable speech in its support. Attor-
ney General Knox has forwarded to the
Judiciary committees of Congress his
views as to the character of legislation
essential to proper control of the trusts
and has supplemented them with two
bills, which were introduced on Friday
by Representative jenkins. Congress
sioual sentiment in regard to trust legis-
lation has, at the instigation of the Pres
ident, undergone a remarkable change
and even some of the more conservative
senators now admit the possibility of some
revision of the statutes bearing on this
subject.
~
There remains little doubt but that the
House will enact two or three measures
in accordance with Mr.. Knox's views on
the trust question. One will be favorabIy
reported by the Judiciary on Monday. 1t
provides for the facilitation of court pro-
cedure in cases brought against trusts by
the Attorney General. Two others now
in the hands of the committee on Judic-
larry, and drafted by Mr.. Knox, provide
respectively for an amendment to the
Sherman law which shall make the
grantor of rebates on transportation
charges culpable and imposes for such
violation of the law fine of 5000. 1t
further provides that the recipient of such
rebate shall forfeit the privilege of having
its products carried in interstate conf
merce and forbids common carriers from
carrying the products of any corporation
which sells its goods at cut prices with a
view to destroying competition; the Sec
ond provides for the establishment of a
commission which shall be bipartisan
and which shall have full power to enforce
the Sherman law as it is now proposed to
amend it. The fact that neither of the
Knox laws contains any provision for that
publicity SO strongly advocated by the
President is the occasion of much surprise.
~
The Senate has practically defined its
position as follows: If the House can
frame and pass one or more simple meas
ures, merely amending the present stat
utes, which will call for little or no
debate and which can command the
practically unanimous support of the
republican members of the Senate, the
latter will attempt to enact them.
Otherwise the Senate will not have
sufficient time to accomplish legis-
lation for trust control. The Statehood
bill is still dragging along. Almost ever
since Congress reconvened Senator Nelson
has been making speech which he an
nounced on Thursday would take several
days more, and then the chamber, worn
out with its labors, adjourned until
Monday.
~
The coal situation has come in for con-
siderable attention from the Senate DUR
ing what is called "the morning hour"
the interval between noon and D. nj.
Several bills have been introduced
removing the duty on anthracite coal and
Senator Lodge offered measure suspend
ing the duty for the next ninety days.
All have been referred to the Finance
Committee, however, and it is unlikely
they will again see the light of day. A
sharp and eloquent debate between Sem
ators Vest and Aldrich was precipitated
by resolution offered by the former in
structing the Finance committee to pre-
pare bill removing the duty on anthra-
cite. Senator Aldrich reminded Mr.. Vest
that the democrats imposed 40 per cent
duty on anthracite coal in the Wilson
German bill, to which Mr.. Vest replied
that they were forced to by traitors in
their own ranks. Later Senator Vest refer
red to an interview in which the late
Nelson Dingley is quoted as having said
that the Dingley rates had been made
purposely too high SO as to permit the
negotiation of reciprocity treaties without
injury to American industries. This
called forth glowing tribute to Mr..
Ding!ey from Senator Hale.
~
1t is impossible to foresee the end OF
the Statehood controversy or to foretell
the result. Both sides claim to be con-
fdent but Senator Beveridge and his com.
mittee appear to be afraid to precipitate a
vote. Senator Quay assures your cores.
pendent that he is ready for vote at sny
time and that he has enough affirmative
votes pledged to insure the admission of
the three proposed states. To some mem.
bers of the Senate the prolonged discussion
is relief as it serves to forestall un-
welcome legislation.
~
One day last week the handsome pub.
lie library which Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
presented to the City of Washington was
formally opened. Mr.. Carnegie was here
and made an address. after a few re-