Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-11
57TH CONGRESS-.
House Adopts Conference Re-
port on Commerce Bill.
LittIe6eId of Maine and Nine Demo-
Gratis Vote Against Measure.
Morgan Makes Extended Speech
Against Statehood Bill.

Washington, Feb. 10.-The House,
today, adopted the conference report
| ON the department of commerce bill
| by vote of PSI to 10. One Republican,
| (Littlefield of Malne;, and nine Demo-
Gratis voted against this action. Several
Democrats took the position that the
Nelson amendment" to the bureau of
corporations was a weak and ineffect-
ual attempt to provide the machinery
for corporation publicity.
| Mann, Ills, on behalf of the Republic
cans contended on the contrary that
| it was a better measure OF publicity
than had been presented in any other
bill.
The remainder of the day was devot-
| ed to the sundry civil appropriation
bill. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
pr1ation committee gave notice that at
the proper time he would move two
amendments, one to provide for the
purchase of a site and the erection of
L throe-Story 400-room office building
for members, to be connected with the
Capitol by subway and to cost So, $780,
MOO: and the other an appropriation of
2,500,000 to carry out the original plans
for identifying and charging the main
wing of the Capitol.
The notable feature of the general de-
bate on the bill was a speech by De-
Almond, Mo-, on the bill to pension ex-
slaves. He spoke in sarcastic vein
but the subject assumed serious
phase when Richardson, Tenn, said
that adventures in the South were US
ing the bill to impose on ignorant and
'redulous negroes and called on Cannon
to give assurances that the passage of
'uch measure was not contemplated.
This assurance, Cannon gave.
AT the opening session of the House,
steel, Ind.,. called attention to the
speech of Conry, Mass, printed in the
record, Tuesday morning, under the
general leave to print granted ON the
antitrust bill. The speech dealt with
The subject Of Mr.. Conry's contested
election case in Massachusetts, and
Steel claimed that it was violation of
the order which confirmed remarks to
be printed to the subject of the anti
trust bills. He asked that the speech
De stricken from the records. AS Conry
was absent, at the request of his
friends the matter went over.
Sunday. Feb. %, was set aside for
paying tribute to the memory of the
ate Rep. Tongue of Oregon. Eulogies
of the late Representative Rumple of
iowa, will take place on the same day.
Hepburn, chairman of the interstate
commerce committee, then called up
he conference report upon the depart
nent of commerce bill.
Richardson Ala, a conferee on the
Dill, to whom Hepburn yielded, ex-
1Ioipad his raa SONG for 6aclipin0 IN
support the Nelson amendment cover
ing the bureau of corporations. He did
rot believe any man could sustain
himself by opposing every bill aimed at
the trusts because it was of Repuhli-
IAN origin. But he did not believe the
Nelson amendment was aimed at the
rusts.
Richardson, continuing, said it was
a travesty upon what it claimed to be-
It was an ultra delutioned DOSE. Was
hat the Wanted publicity, he asked
He did not doubt the honesty of the
present executive, he said. but suppose
mother man more friendly to trusts
should be elected. Then, what would
the Nelson amendment amount to?
Ball, Texas, who followed Richard
son, ridiculed the program of the ad-
,IllnlStfIllOn regarding ANTITRUST
legislation. The administration, he
said was represented as anxious to Sc
cure the passage of the Nelson and Ell
'dns bills and it was pretended that
the Standard Oil Co. was sending tele-
grams to prominent senators against
their passage. He did not believe it.
Mann, Ills, declared that the Nelson
amendment would give to the bureau
of corporations greater power to in
vestigate the affairs of trusts than was
sought to be conferred by any other
bill presented to Congress-
I Adamson, Ca, said that while he
realized the Nelson amendment was a
''delusion and a snare. thinner than
thin air. yet as notice had been served
that it was the only measure on the
program Of the trust busters" it
would receive his vote. The previous
question then was ordered and the
roll was called on the adoption of the
conference report.
The report was adopted, 251 to 10.
Those voting in the negative were:
Ball, DEM, Texas; DeArmond, Dem
Continued on page 81