The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-04
HOAR'S TRUST PLAN
Bill Prepared by Massachusetts Sen.
atOr Is Being RoundIy Scored.
is NO APPREHENSION
On the Part Of The Corporations Al
legged 10 Be Affected.
SAID 10 BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Chairman jenkins Of the House Com.
mittee Passes that Criticism.
THE CONGRESS HAS NOT THE POWER
To Restrict Commerce Between tho
States but Merely to Regulate Il, He
Says-Will Be Strong Opposition,
,AID 10 BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Chairman jenkins Of the House Com.
mitfee Passes that Criticism.
THE CONGRESS HAS NOT THE POWER
To Restrict Commerce Between tho
States but Merely to Regulate II, He
Ssys--Wilt Be Strong Opposition,
tspocial 10 The rost }


Washington, January 3 The much talked
Of antitrust bin just completed by Senator
Hear OF Massachusetts has been very gen
orally discussed here today. Like the Cul-
lom bill and one or two other measures al
ready introduced. the Hoar bill has been
heralded as the Administration measure"
and on that account has attracted unusual
attention. Senator Hoar introduced The hiu
by title some time before the body Of II was
prepared and this element Of mystery added
to the general interest
Now that 1t has been made public. the bill
is lclug roundly scored from several Differ
cnt quarters. Tho local evening papers
clnin that Wall street Is alarmed. but well
informed mon of both parties here say they
soc uo reason Tor any apprehension on the
part OF the money interests.
Chairman jenkins OF the house judiciary
committee said this afternoon that, IN his
opinion, the trusts had nothing 10 fear from
the bill and the people nothing to gaia.
! lie urges a large number OF objections
ngainst the measure. the principal one ot
which, perhaps is that congress has 90 con
sttHuonal right to pass such Legislation.
The principal constitutional objections
/ he said ARE that the bill Is clear exer-
else OF the police power OF the government
, never conferred upon congress. but exDtesa'
ly reserved TO the States. In other words.
It assumes to exercise powers eu!Oyed only
| by the States. 1t operates as Il rcstraint
upon commerce, something beyond tae pow
! er OF congress TO do, MS congress has only
power to regulate commorca between the
States and not restrict Il IL inteTfsres vita
the liberty Of contract guaranteed TO tho
citizen by both State and Federal consttu-
tous, It deprives the citizen Of property
4 without any compensation. II Is an attempt
to legislate IN the interest Of one class
against another, 1t exempts class OF per
sons and corporations engaged in interstate
commerce, which the supreme court OF tbs
United states says congress has no power
to do-that Is, to create exemptions"
1t Is evident that even should the author
OF the bill decide to push II, which is not
altogether probable, much cpposltic1 from
his own party viii develop. Eycuhing
considered, there Is more reason now than
ever before for the assertion that there VIII
be no elective antitrust legislation at this
session. and probably no ANTITRUST lesisla-
! ton OF any kind.
The following statement comes from an
administration source. It can be asserted
Oh high authority that any statement that
Senator Hoar's bin is an administration
I measure IS mistake So far as can be
/ ascertuned, Il smbodies simply his own
! views. The attorney general had no hand
| IN It's preparation. ana, IN fact, had never
| seen II until Its publication.
The attorney general has been requested
| by senator Hoar and also by the judiciary
! committee Of the house 10 prepare and pre-
| sent his views us TO the nature OF further
legislation necessary IN his judgment, ana
lion before MONDAY, when congress eou'
| yenes.