The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-22
CAUSES LIVELY DEBATE
QUESTION OF WHO Is REsroNa-
BILE FOR ANTITRUST LAWS.
Mr.. Williams Attacks Ghe Republicans
On Their Attitude to Monopolies-
The Postoficc Appropriation Bin
Considered.


adjournment today. Mr.. Southwick. OF
New York. precipitated a brief lively
debate by having read an editorial from
The New York World. giving r publ
cans credit for antitrust legislation
and the merger prosecution. II was
offered by way OF reply to Mr.. Williams
who asked yesterday IL the merger de-
cision was to be used by the Republi-
cans as a theatrical trick.
Mr.. Williams. after the editorial had
been read. declared that the securities
prosecution was instigated by Governor
Van SAINT, whom he styled "a blanket
Indian Republican. who refused To
consult 'headquarters-'"
The EDITORIAL reed by Mr.. Southwick
contained the statement hat the anti
trust law was framed by a Republican.
passed by a Republican Senat and
signed by a Republican President and
that II had remained a dead letter on
the statute books during the second
term OF President Cleveland.
AT the conclusion OF the Fading, the
Republicans vigorously ~applauded.
Mr.. Williams said he was more than
delighted TO see the Republican mator-
ity on the floor cheer the hounds on TO
hunt down the combines and trusts
OF this country" He would. he said.
be even more delighted IL he lid no,
know that you are very mu1h ike the
month OF March-you come in like ions
and go out like lambs" which created
laughter on the Democratic si6e.
ready, he continued, Mr.. Knox a been
careful 10 be interviewed and 10 permit
the ountr to know that You are not
running amuck' against trusts gener-
ally; that the Northern Securities case
just settles the Northern Securi les
case. and that Ii does not mean any
things particularly anyhow" and he
seemed TO be fully anxious that the
country should understand he does not
mean anything particularly anyhow.
One statement in the article referred to.
he said. credited this administration
as being the author Of the prosecution.
1t happened TO be, he declared. one
Van San out in the west somewhere
who started the case and he said. for
very shame. after he had gt,en the
case upon the docket, the administra-
ton prior to an election, could not hold
itself still" It was the only thing the
Republican party did not stand pat on
until after the election. he sad, amid
Democratic applause, and you would
have stood pat on that IL you had
dared" Governor VanSant was a 'blln-
ket Indian Republican" he continued,
and he didn't consult headquarters,
but p~recipitated the litigation.
Continuing. Mr.. Williams said he had
seen blanket Indian Republic ms be-
fore and had seen them gu G.
when the time came and" he vgor-
ously declared. IF You dare 10 attack
the men WHO are furnishing your cam
paign expenses and carry IL far
enough to persuade them that you are
in earnest, you will be quelled too. IL
you don't. you will be quelled by the
people," Mr.. Williams warned his
hearers to continue to pross"u,e and
attack combinations which restrain
trade and stife competition.
Mr.. Tawney, Republican. Minnesota.
stirred up a hornets nest when he tn
CURED OF Mr.. Williams IL he could state
how the Democrats In the 5lst Congress
voted when the Sherman antitrust law
was up for consideration. He dec AIRED
that every Democrat voted against IL.
Tht House at once was in an uproar.
Mr.. Gaines Democrat. Tennessee. ges-
ticulating wildly asserted that every
one voted for the bill when IL pissed
the House n that it passed tho House
and Senate unanimously. HIS remark
was met by laughter and jeers from
the Republican side. He stated that
the first bill had been introduced by
Senator Teller and be@an % give a his
tory OF the legislation when he Was
interrupted by Ar. fawney. who said
that when Mr.. McKi--ey presented the
rule for the consideration OF the anti
trust law. the Democrats oppos d {.
"Ah, get out" shouted Mr.. Gaines.
amid great confusion.
An inquiry from Mr.. Grosvenor as 10
la had become OF the postoifce APP
preparation bill partially restored good
humor.
Mr.. Williams. getting thte floor again.
said it was not true the Democrats
opposed any legislation calculated TO
down trusts or combines.
Throughout the day the p~ostofice ap-
Precipitation bill was under discuss on
and little progress was made The mi
nority leader Mr.. Williams declared the
Postoffice Department was rotten from
turret to foundation stone. and the Re
publicans were trying TO re-org1nize IL
on an appropriation bill.
Mr.. Williams made a point OF order,
which was sustained, against the pro-
vision in the bill designating certain
postal employees as cashiers" might
superintendent" etc He said that IL
was simply a means OF putting favor
ties into places at salaries higher than
they already received.
Mr.. Maddox. OF Georgia. requested
OF Nh. OyeTstreet. chairman OF the
postoffice committee. an explanat ion OF
an item OF s. 900 for advertising. sly
ing: LAS IL has been said there are
a lot OF rascals in the department. we
probably will be a little more particu-
larry hereafter"
Mr.. Overstreet said IL was for adver-
Using for bids and the provision was
adopted Messrs. Maddox. Williams
and others questioned various other
items in the bill. and the latter got into
a sharp controversy with Mr.. Payne.
the Republican leader. over Mr.. VIII
lilms' assertion that the postofice de-
partme1t was rotten fron tarret to
foundation. which Mr.. Payne charac-
terized IS extravagant Mr..
Williams insisted that Nr. Bristow had
practically admitted other diyfs ons
needed investigation.
The House adjourned untfl tomorrow.