The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-12
TRUST CONTROL
LEGISLATION
The Elkins Bill Pleases Both the
Railroads and the Trust
Busters.
The Three Presidential Measures
and What Their
Status Is.
From The journal Bure.u, Room IS, Post Build.

From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build.
ing, Washington. #.s.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE trust legisla-
ton is in good shape. 1t isapossible that
a rule may be necessary to get the Elkins
bill up for vote in; the house ON final
passage, but for the present it is under-'
stood that a rule will not be asked for.
The bin may be reached On the call Of
committees. Should it not be SO reached,
the speaker will be appealed to, and will
probably do the proper thing. This is
| now the prevailing opinion.
The railroads. which are more interested
| than any other corporation in the Elkins
| BILL are understoodito believe that the bill
| will work to their benefit. The leading,
railways of the country for Years have
been anxious for legislation which would
enectually prevent rebates and Il other
forms of rate cutting. It was impossible
for them to agree among themselves as
! to this matter, and attempts at agree
ment proved to be failures in every in
| stance. The Elkins bill gives the courts
the right of injunction against both
parties to a rebate, the shipper and the
common carrier. and the railroads as a
whole will be glad to have it enacted. It
is also a part Of the presidents plan for,
| trust regulation. and since it thus pleases
both sides. there ought not to be any
serious question as to what the house Will
do.
The Work Is Moving On.
The three trust measures upon which
the president has set his heart are in
this position One Of them, the bill pro-
viding for the expediting Of suits in the
federal courts is already law. The de-
partment of commerce bill, with the Nell
son amendment, drawn by the attorney
general. has gone to the president for his
signature The third measure Is the FL
kins BILL whicltis in good position, the
senate having passed it without OPPOSE
oy,1 no howl two
ported the senate bill. Within the next
few days the bill ought to come up In the
house for final passage which will COM
, plete- the presidents scheme, and mean
that the government has taken a gen
uine step in the direction Of trust regu-
, lation, and has not marked time, or in
, any other way attempted to deceive the
people
; 1t should be said in this connection
? that these three measures do not embody
I everything which the president desires in
the way of trust legislation. They do EN-
5 body, however, everything which it was
possible. to secure at this time. and sc
e he is pleased. With as good a beginning
as this, it ought not to be difficult In the
future to strengthen government contro
r of the great corporations as experience
Y may suggest. The three measures re-
l ferred to will be enough to justify the
Y claim Of the republican party to a renewa
: of public confidence. 1t is very generally
believed here that the presidential cam
: paign of 1904 will be decided as soon as
n the president shall have signed these bill!
: and made them laws.
: At only one point did the president
scheme fail. He was very anxious to Sc
cure the transfer of the interstate com
merce comm ission to the. new departing en-
:. of commerce. and a provision to that ct
y feet was inszthe Departmental merct
~ bill when it went, to conference Ths
u trusts which were hostile to the entir'
e plan OF the bill and did not want the de
81 partment created, yelled their opposition
IL by an attack on the interstate commerce
provision, and for several days the result
u was in doubt. The president. after care
s. full consideration of the question, decides
" that he would rather sacrifice that provi
K, sion than to imperi the bill as a whole an
IS so the house conferees, at his suggestion
yielded. The bill, with this transfe
l. stricken out, then received the unanimou
l. vote Of the conferees. -.
J. At the next session Of congress it may b
OF said with authority that the president wi
" renew his effort to have this transfe
"a made. 1t will probably be recommends
in his message. He is convinced that thi
re movement is in the interest of the. thing
8, which the people demand and have. RICH
to expect. and will not be satisfied unit
k, it has been. accomplished. - -... ..D. (
n --..! 1854 -'-s,. S,'f'. w. w. ,Jermane