Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-02-16
DEMOCRATIC
SUBSTITUTE
WIN. j. BRYAN, IN THE COMMON
Err, ON TRUST LEGISLATION.
The Great Democrat Gives Some Advice that
is Worthy Of Hearing. Democratic
Congressman Cannot Afford HALFWAY
Measures. Present a Substitute.

The democrats OF the house and senate
will not do their full duty ii they merely
support republican antitrust measure
and then complain that it does not go far
enough. A republican measure satislac-
tory to the trusts Gas any republican
measure is likely to be before it passes
may have enough OF the appearance Of
good to justify deIi. ocrats in voting for it.
In fact, the democrats are so anxious to
legisate on the trust question that they
will in all probability vote for any meas
ure, no matter how feeble or ineffective,
if it at all recognizes the power OF the
government, and the desire Of the people,
to extingush the trusts.
But it is incumbent upon the democrats
to do something more than point out the
shortcomings OF the republican measure /;
they ought to present democratic
measure as substitute, in order that the
country may see the difference between a
real attempt at antitrust egislation-such
an attempt as the Kansas City platform
promised and the peurile and faltering
efforts that are being made by the re-
publican leaders.
Congressman Shallenbergnr, Ct Ne
braska, has introduced bill which more
nearly than any other measure that has
been brought to the editors attention
carries out the Kansas City platform
plan. 1t provides for the appointment Of
the commission to be known IS the for
eign and internal commerce commission.
The bill provides that the commission
shall consist of five persons, not more
than three of whom shall be members OF
one political party. This is intended 10
make it bipartisan, but bipartisan
board appointed by a partisan official is
likely to divide responsibility without
accomplishing the purpose sought. The
president has already appointed several
bipartisan commissions, but the men
appointed to represent the democrats
have almost in every case been pretended
democrats who earned their places by
supporting the republican ticket-men
whose only political service, since AZ
pointment, has been to give a quasi
democratic Endorsement to republican
policies. 1t might be well to have one Of
the commissioners member Of the OPP
posing party as a guaranty that any
partsanship attempted by the majority
would be exposed. But TO make sure
that this minority member shall be really
and positively with the minority the APP
pointment ought to be made from a list
OF names suggested by the democratic
national committee or by the democrats
OF the senate and house acting in caucus.
A minority member who owes his ap-
pointment to his party rather than to the
opposition is much more likely to repre-
places him under obligations to political
opponents.
The Shallenberger bill provides that it
shall be the duty of this commission to
investigate and report on all matters
efl'ecting foreign commerce and the trade
between the states, together with meth
eds and means Of transportation and the
customs that prevail among the corpora
tions in regard to management and issue
of stock, bonds, etc. 1t is also the duty
OF the commission to inquire into the
consolidation OF corporations and associa-
tions and to ascertain whether any at
tempt has been made to restrain trade
or monopoize business.
The bill provides that corporations
proposing to engage in interstate COM
merce shall file statement showing
stock, liabilities, indie btedness, ETC., and
applying for authority to engage in in
terstate commerce, and the commission
is not allowed to grant such authority if
the statement shows any watered stock
or if the corporation is attempting TO
monopolize or control the manufacture,
product, sale or transportation OF any
article OF trade or merchandise.
The president is authorized, upon the
recommendation of this commission, to
suspend wholly or partially for such time
as he may direct, the cOllechon OF import
dues on such articles as compete with
articles produced by any corporation
which is attempting to monopolize an
industry. If any official of corporation
or member OF an association Of individuals
is guilty of perjury in making the state
ments provided for in the bill he shall be
subject to the penalties provided for
perjury. All corporations attempting to
engage in interstate commerce without
first complying with the conditions Of
the act ana obtaining license from the