Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-24
FIRST GUN.
Continued from page ~

THE people can hardly hope for any
consideration i'm the operation OF THESE
selfish schemes"
He recommends no relief and suS-
gests no remedy. Nevertheless the
Congress to which this comprehensive
statement of fact was submitted, MD
jOrity of the members of when De-
Ionged to his school of political thought
appointed Il commission to investigate
the subject. The purpose of the COM
mission was to convince the people tiidl
their interests We're not being neglect
| ed at least during the campaign, ana
| that If Mr.. Cleveland WAS fe-elecleu
some remedial legislation would 1ol-
| low. To that end this COMMISSION heiu
meetings from time to time through
| out the campaign. Mr.. cleveland WAS
| not reelected, however, but When con-
grcss recOnvened. in u paragraph OF
| five lines he refers to the subject OF
trusts. and closes with this sad and
terrifying announcement: corpora
tons which should be the carefully re-
strained creatures of the law and the
servants of the people, are fast becom-
| ing the peoples masters" But he rec
ommends no relief and suggests no pos
sible way of escape.
Two days before the inauguration of
President Harrison, the commission to
which l have referred, made it's re-
mort, setting forth what evidently APP
peared to the commission as Il most de-
Ilora BILE condition.
Your committee respectfully re-
port that the number of combinations
and trusts formed and forming in this
country is, as your committee has as
Gel tanned. very large, and affects a
large portion of the important manu-
featuring and industrial interests of the
country They do not report any list
of these combinations, for the reason
that new ones are constantly forming
and old ones are constantly extending
their relations so as to cover new
branches of business and invade new
territories"
Their words Of encouragement which
follow must be read in the light of the
fact that two days later Il Republican
Congress, elected some months before,
was to convene. Listen.
Your committee further report that
owing to present differences of opinion
| between the members of your commit
| tee, they limit this report to submit
ting to the careful consideration of
subsequent congresses the facts shown
| by the testimony taken before the COM
lnittee"
Both the President and the committee
acknowledge the existence of harmful
trusts and combinations, but neither
holds forth to the people any ray of
hope except ut the hands of those who
were about to fill their seats.
The Republican Congress was not
long inactive. The very first bill in
PRODUCED in the Senate of the Fifty
first Congress was John Sherman's
antitrust bill, Senate File No. l. 1t
passed both Houses and received the
signature of benjamin Harrison.
The passage of this act was followed
by several suits for its enforcement, and
several decisions by the Supreme Court
were secured. declaring it constitu-
tional and applying il to various cOndi-
tions. Then. on March 4, 1898, Prcsi-
dent Cleveland was again inaugurated,
and in his inaugural address he refers
to trusts. saying:
These aGgregatiOnS and combina-
tiOns frequently constitute conspiracies
against the interests of the people. and
in all their phases they are unnatural
and opposed to our American sense Of
fairness. To the extent that they can
be reached and restrained by Federal
power. the General Government should
relieve our citizens from their interfer-
ence and cXactions."
He suggests no modification of the
Sherman Act. and recommends nothing
in its place. hut in harmony with the
teachings of State sovereignty states
manship Of which he always had been.
and therefore always will be- a diligent
student he suggests that it is very
doubtful whether the Federal Govern
mcnt has any Jurisdiction in the prem
iScs.
That was in his inaugural address.
He does not again refer to the subject
of trusts in message or proclamation
until December. 1896, after the election
of William Mckinley, when he can
throw the responsibility upon another.
In this. his last message. he denounccs
combinations of every description in
language as Incorporate and infiamma.
tory as was ever employed by his par
tvs more recent candidate for the Pres
idcncy. He says:
Their tendency is to crush out in
dividual independence and TO hinder
and prevent the free use of human
faculties and the full development of
human character"
He then discouraged Federal legis-
lation by saying:
The fact must he recognized. how
ever. that all Federal legislation on
this subject may fall short of it's pur-
pose because of the complex character
of our governmental system, which.
while making the Federal authority
supreme in its sphere. has carefully
limited that sphere by meets and
bounds that can not be transgressed
The decision of our highest court on
this precise question renders it quite
doubtful whether the evils of trusts
and monopolies can be adequately
| treated through Federal action unless
they seek. directly and purposely. to
include in their objects Transportation
or Intercourse between States or be-
tween the United States and foreign
countries"