The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-04-09
REPUBLICANS ii TRY TO =: j: ::
PROTECT THE TRUSTS.
HOUSE KILLS BILL TO FORCE &C.
'TloN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
Use Teehniea!ities Ito Prevent Discus
4sion.-Refuse to Consider Plan :Ad-
s,vaneed BY Foes of Combinations
4Repubiieans Show Their ~Hand.-Use
Parliamentary .;Taeties:to Stop lnvesti-
sation: Into Trust Methods.

WASHINGTON April 1.-The Re-
publican majority in the house of rep
resentatives does not intend that the
administration shall be compelled to
proceed against the criminal trusts.
Friends of the administration yester-
day strangled an amendment to the
.sundry civil bill. Though not subject
to a point of order raised by Hemen-
way of Indiana this action is indica-
tive of a fixed purpose to leave the
prosecution Of trusts entirely in the
hands Of the department of justice and
Republican managers on the floor of
the house do not wish any running
amuck."
Representative Burton of Ohio chair
man of the committee of the whole,
was in such haste to shut off consid-
GRAFTON of an amendment that would
have compelled United States attor-
neys to proceed against trusts within
the scope of the recent supreme court
decision that he estopped debate by
an immediate ruleing.
Representative Hitchcock of Nebras-
ka, presented two amendments to the
sundry civil bill. Both were designed
to compel United States attorneys to
enforce the antitrust laws within their
respective jurisdiction Or forfeit their
salaries. The first amendment was
| subject to a point Of order, but if the
republicans had wished the antitrust
laws enforced no point of order would
have been made.
Republicans Show Their Hand.
| Legislation desired by the Republic
ca nmajority, though it may change
existing laws or be new legislation,
| never meets with parliamentary OBJ
| struction from the majority side. But
! it is quite different when the trusts are
| to be hailed into the court and the
principals prosecuted.
| Representative Hitchcock protested
against the application of strained
teehnicalities in behalf OF the trusts.
The emphasized the fact that the
amendment was simply "a Limitation of
! appropriations.
| 1.-THE appropriation" he said, us for
y the salaries Of some ninety-two United
States district attorneys throughout the
country. The laws of the United States
particularly Sec. Of an, act approved
July 2, 1890, specifically makes it the
duty Of United States district attor-
| neys as follows:
| Attorneys Must Obey Laws.
| The several circuit courts of the
United States are hereby invested
1 with jurisdiction to prevent and re
strain violations of this ACT"
1T is notorious. It has been again and
again declared upon the floor and
ieve never eontrad icted ): that prac!
tteeally no at tempt has been made By
United States, district. attorneys in. any
of the states of the union, with posi-.
bly, one exception, during the past year
to enforce this law and protect the peo-
pie against the hundreds Of trusts
which have been deliberately and, pub
licly in operation during the past three
or four: years in open violation of this
and other provisions of United States
laws"
The fate Of the amendment had been
decreed, however, by the Republican
leaders, and without discussion from
the Republican side. and without delay
Representative Burton declared the
point Of order was sustained