The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-08

scope. The country must now reco3<
nixe that it cannot have at one and
the same time Investigations and prose-
eutions. ut may have either one or the
other, but it cannot have both.
il The mistake that was made in the
case Of the Martin beef trusts resolu-
ton was the error; of supposing that
the beef trust could be investigated i
under the Martin resolution without
killing the prosecutions that had BEEN
put under way by the department Of
Justice. Similarly with the Tillman-
Gillespie resolution. If the steel trust,
the oil trust and the coal trust are toE
be prosecuted, the interstate commerce.
commission must either ignore the TILL
man Gillespie resolution, or else prof.
coed under it in most careful and
inoffensive manner.
In the case of the Martin resolution,
the country decided that it. wanted the
spectacular investigation, and it got
it. Later on, it decided that it also
wanted the prosecutions also, but in
this it has been disappointed.
Obviously, these congressional In
vestigations serve an important pur-
pose. They bring the light Of day
upon trust methods, and are OF value
ais educating the people. AS the result
of this education there will come in
time the application of some principle
of law to the trusts that will bring
them under proper restraint. Viewed
from this standpoint, the Martin beef
trust resolution has served an important
end The same thing is true Of all
other governmental Investigations Of
this character, when properly con-
Quoted
Public Must Decide.
But it =is also important that there
be prosecutions for the De-
terrent effect which these prosecutions
have upon the guilty, and forsthe allay-f
ing of unrest and discomfort in the
public mind. It is for the country to-
| decide winch of these two things il
| will have, for it is apparent shat it,
cannot, under the immunity statute,
have both.
Speaking Of immunities, 1t is said
here, by men who profess to be in
formed that Mr.. Garfield has already
afforded Immunity to the leading Of
fcials Of the steel trust, oil trust and
coal trust. < According to: the presi-
| dent g special message to congress, in
which he announced that he had signed
with reluctance the Tillman- Gillespie
resolution, he pointed out that for some
time the department of commerce and
/ labor had been at work inquiring into
the methods Of the trusts in question,
and that he would before long submit
la preliminary report of that inquiry
| to congress.
It is said by the gentlemen to whom
I have referred that Mr.. Garfield con-
Quoted this inquiry and that he had
before him many Of the leading spirits
| of the three trusts in question and
examined them at great length. If
this is the case, and another federal
| Judge can be found who will indorss
the opinion recently handed down by
Judge Humphrey in Chicago, a job lot
of immunities has already been granted
covering the scope Of the Tillman-
Gillespie resolution such as will make
the beef trust immunities secured under
the Martin resolution look small and
unimportant.
Too Much Jealousy.
10 quote again the member Of con.
gress who is referred to above: 81
do hope that the time will come when
the country will permit it's servants in
, the two houses Of congress, and more
particularly those in the lower house
: to proceed in reasonable, business
like way in the consideration of thu
public business. At present there arr
too many jealous fellows at home whs
want our jobs. If we fail to jump
into the game, no matter what it is
5 at the first opportunity, and having
/ jumped in if we suggest that the bust
, ness of the country should be conducted
in the same way that private business
{ is conducted, straightway we are &C
cused of wearing some corporation col
;. lar ?
N The net result .of this condition
N speaking broadly, has been. to max
q Towards of members of the house o
2 representatives. That body is NO longe
N deliberative or reflective. It finds GU
N N what the public wants, and then pro
. ceeds to grant the request, whethe
N reasonable or not. The senate is some
N what removed from this direct pressur
Of public opinion, and is therefore NOR
= nearly able to proceed with conservs
= tism and accuracy. And yet, we ma
:. the senate just now emerging from on
/ Of the most severe arrangements eithe
J. house of congress ever has suffered q
y the hands Of the people.
II There are few corrupt senators
that is, senators who represent. specis
L interests rather than the people q
q large-but these men are so far in th
! minority that their influence rarel
counts on any really important que'
4 ton. All that is illuminating. and hell
2 full In the: debate of public question:
q all that is. akin to 81 careful and thor
2 reconsideration of the public business
d goes on in the senate.
i The house has become the mere rel
J lister of public sentiment, to which
y is as sensitive as the Thermometer
m the weather. Many times this publ
m sentiment is wrong, is lily dgested,
N SO crude as to suggest hysteria bordel
N ing on dementia; and yet, the houf
N always bends to it with 3 loud hurral
m Is it any wonder that the speaker an
= the committee on rules must be clcthe