The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-09
TRUSTS THEREAFTER ORGANIZED"

BY vote of 245 to o, the lower house of congress
unanimously the Littlefeid anti trust bill
The principal provision of the bill is require pub
icity by company reports the government regard
to corporation operations and finances But the peculiar
feature that the bill is general compulsory in its
operations only in regard thereafter organ
ized!"
The interstate commerce commission may in its dis
cretion call for reports from other corporations if
should feel specially moved that way; but the mandatory
feature applies only the the future and not 70
those of today
Congressman De Almond, in behalf of the Demo
cratic minority asked for amendment to incorporate
the words, now hereafter organized But the Re
publicans could stand for that Publicity of the
present trusts which have given such valiant service
the Republican would be right and the Dem
ocratlc amendment was voted down-7o 90.
The people OF the United States who have labored
under the deluson that Republican antitrust" 1egisla
ton was aimed at existing need indulge in
illusion longer 1t is only the trusts thereafter or
ganized the trusts that do exist and may never
exist that the Republican whip is cracked 1t is the
trust OF the misty and visionary future that is the bad
trust; and all the trusts of today good trusts
cording to the latest Republican interpretation
The Democrats demanded that PUBLICITY" that
great slogan of Republican administrative REFORM
be applied to existing trusts-the Standard Oil trust
which last declared nearly $Ioo 900 of dividends
on SIoooooooo of stocks, well the trust with
its $500 of capitalization andthe coal
and kindred trusts, favored by Republican tariff laws
but the vote of 70 to o. with "a members lodging OF
absent Kill the proposition place the octopuses of the
present day and generation the publicity programme
There are today something like total of 800 trusts
IN the United States, capitalized about $1,000 900
10 force publicity from this grand army of octopuses
layman would naturally think would be vastly accept
able to the Republican administration to the officials
OF the country generally, who interested with the
enforcement of the Sherman and interstate commerce
laws. That what the Democrats thought: but how
mistaken their ideal There fifty or more Re
publican members who lodged the issue by retiring to
the cloak room otherwise voting but there was
no long and loud Republican demand such trust pub
Eclty-not enough demand the partsofthe entire Re-
publican delegation to maeriaze ntosene good affirm
atve $3.50 @as
There were upwards of 200 trusts capitalized at
$o,ooo,ooo,ooo that protected by@Repubcan tariff
schedules and the result of such protection charge m
higher prices to American than foreign consumers
The Democrats thought it good thing to compel these
government favortes to make publicity reports But
the Republican management thought otherwise by ma
Jorlty which settled the business.
Mr. Overstreet, in behalf of the majority said they
wanted to steer middle course" SO the govern
ment could call upon existing it saw fit This
means, of course, that if is bad" that is to saw
supports the oher fellows" it will get publicity and if
1t is good supports the administration it will be
protected