Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-01-14
WASHINGTON LITTER.


- f - R''V'uel prurEhi htD1.
ani introduced ia the House ou Jan
nary by representative jenkins,
Chairman Of the judiciary Commit
'-", came a. surprise TO both
l)vm"rais and Republicans. These
arr, Adniiuisi ration bills aud Indicate
'no' her change ut the White House.
Heretofore President Roosrvrlt hss
taken pains to have II announced that
there would be- no Administration
bills aud that Congress would act
"n It's own initiative or not at all.
Ii should be remarked here that
these hIlls indicate hat the PRECEDENT
has allan Toned his proposition 10
amend the Constitution aud slso his
great publicity rrmrdy for trusts.
Brcansr of Democratic agitation
he tide against trusts is now run
ning SD strong aud the Necessity for
some action or show of action, has
become :" Imperative. that two anti
rust bills have been launched by the
Ai"iI., trstion with unususl pub
IIcity. These bills, If they should
hecomr n law, would neither brurfit
the people nor harm the trusts.
The must radical proposals in these
niiIs are:
To amend the inter state com
niece law so as to punish alike rail
roads that give aud shippers who
receive diffrrrnIial freight rates.
To ammrud the Sherman Anti
trust law go that it will reach
rorpOI atIOns and combinations which
produce wholly in one state but
n hose products enter interstate
commerce.
There are indications that the big
railroads would be only too willing
20 have rate cutting stopped. Their
profits would be greatly increased if
secret rebates were not generally
gwen 10 big shippers. Unable to
keep faith with each other. many Of
them Will welcome the and of the
Government. Hence, if successful,
the blll would simply increase freight
rates To some aud would enable the
railroads To collect cXOrbitaut rates,
instra Of compelling them to give
reasonable rates to all shippers.
The proposed laws are rendered
Ineffective and harmless to trusts, by
the provision that the Attorney
Grnrral ''mny file" With the clerk of
a circuit court certificate that I'm
ms opinion the case is of general
appearance" Thus pro,iso is fatal
hen, as always happens under u
Republican Administration. the At
tOrury General is friend and tool
# the railro ads and trusts.
There was filed with Attorney
General Knox, one year ago, n prli
lion against the Continental Tobacco
Company, stating facts amounting TO
a violation of the Sherman anti trust
law. I be facts we're plain aud
showed that The officials of this trust
were cuuspirators aud criminals
The Attorney General exercised his
prvrugnri>e aud 40 criminal or other
proceedings were begun against this
trust.
Similar facts in regard to the
Anthracite Coal trust were put = the
hands of the Attorney General. more
than four months ago. hy Mr.. W. r.
Hearst. Ia All open letter TO the
President, in the New York American
of january Stb, Mr.. Hearst says:
''ln the judgment of lawyers
~ hose professional competency is
quite Hs undIspuIed as that of your
Attorney General, these proofs if
presented IN court would suffice To
dissolve the coal trust and subject
Its memberS To the civil aud criminal
Penalties provided by law. Contin
uuuSly sIncr the submission of thuSt.
proofs. the Coal Trust has robbed
the people, exIOrting famine prizes
for coal, prime Necessity of indus
trial aud domestic life. Vet no action
against hi. trust has beru taken by
your Attorney General for the EN-
fOrcemrnt of the laws and the relief
of the pu' lie.
81 appeal to Won. therefore. Mr..
President, to command your AttOr
uey General to proceed against the
Coal Trust, both ciVilly aud Grim
inally, on the evidence of its unlaw
full acts laid before him by me. ar
explain to the peohle of the United
States his Reason for not doing so, If
reasons suitable for prblic avOwal he
has. The people of the United
SfateS Dr..siJ..pt RnoS...l, b..,a q,