The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-17
important Measure Gave lndl-
ana Senate a Chance to
Hold Stormy Session.
NEWSPAPERS ARE SCORED
SENATOR kIMeRouGH OPENS
BATTERIES ON THE PRESS
DEMOCRATS TRY TO CONFUSE
SENATOR KIRkMAN.
(By Demas S. Coe.)

(By Demas S. Coe.)
indianapolis, Ind, Feb, 10. tSpi.)-
The senate today wrestled in VAIN
with the Hawkins antitrust law ana
left II suspended in the air when adj
iournment time had come, with noth-
ing to show for it save the most dls-
orderly session that either branch OF
the general assembly has participated
in. 4
Many amendments were offered,
some good, some dangerous TO the
good parts of the bill, and it reflects
credit on the friends of antitrust leg
isIation to say that they managed 10
save the bill from being amended 10
death Yesterday afternoon chanse'
which so affects the bill that no ac-
ton can begin in the supreme court
(which had been designated In the
bill as a court of original procedure
along with circuit and superior
courts } was regarded as damaging
piece of work, but the amendment,
adopted this morning served 10
strengthen the measure. One amend
ment. i'm fact the only one of import
ance. provides that the attorney-gen-
eral shall have a special fund or
$4,000 for the next two years, with
which to investigate cases and to pro-
secute violations of the provisions
of the bill. There was a prolonged
and heated debate and persona'ltles
were INDUCED in to some extent.
President Miller was compelled 10 re-
sort to calling down the unruly SEN
ators on both minority and majority
sides and the scene of turmoil that
ensued at one time looked as IL the
session might break up in a glgantic
row. Senator Kimbrough, OF Muncie,
a bridge manufacturer and one OF the
best men in the upper branch, was
opposed to the bill in any form. lie
declared this morning that 1t would
result in throwing out of business
nearly every concern in the state. He
made the point that the bill was so
drastic against combinations and did
not draw a line anywhere, that the
business man who bought out his
competitor and tried to run the two
concerns, would be guilty of wrong
dong ana WOuiu bG SubJCNt0u W iiAO
and perhaps imprisonment.
Senator Hawkins, the author OF the
bill. pointedly asked Senator Kim
brough what about the bridge trust.
Senator Kimbrough denied that there
was such a trust in Indiana and said
If there was that he was not ldenu-
fled Herewith.
Every newspaper in the state says
there is replied Senator Hawkins.
II don't care what the newspapers
say declared Senator Kimbrough.
"arN right here / might say that no
trust that exists is as internal as the
newspaper trust. Right here in In
dianapolis there is an understanding
between the Indianapolis Star and
the Indianapolis News as to press
reports. These papers have an abso-
lutte 'einch' on the reports of the AS
sociated Press
Senator Kittinger also denounced
the measure and Senators Slack. Carl
Wood and Kistler of the minority
opened fire on the bill and while IN
dicatiug that they might vote for II,
said that it was weak in spots ana
would not catch the big fellows.
Senator Farber roasted the democrats
declaring that the republicans who
did favor the bill, expected no help
from the minority as the history OF
antitrust legislation showed that such
hope would be absolutely without
ground.
Senator Kirkman took whack at
the democrats also and he traced the
history of antitrust legislation, IN
state and nation, in an effort to show
that the democrats had always pro-
missed but had as Yet failed to enact
any law that would throttle trusts.
He referred TO the Sherman antitrust
law which he said was a republican
measure and which the democrats de-
clared would never amount to any
thing. 1T has been the only effective
means that this government has ever
had to proceed against the trusts"
said Senator Kirkman.
The democrats tried to muddle SEN
ator Kirkman, calling for him to go
back TO the time of the Columbus
landing, etc. but he refused to be per
turbed and talked until his time had
been exhausted and was forced there
fore to desist.
Senator Stephenson sought TO mutt
late the bill by cutting out the most
important section. that of designating
what unlav combinations are. The
attempt was defeated by close vote.
The senate adjourned at 1880 without
having got the bin TO roll call and
further consideration was postponed
until next Tuesday morning at 1890