The Washburn leader., 1908-04-10


common carriers and the bureau of
corporations for all others-that is. all
the law abiding trusts are to have the
opportunity of proving themselves
such. and the others are to be prose.
cuted. Also immunity is to be granted
after one year from the passage of the
act to all those duly registered-tha is.
immunity from prosecution for acts
committed before the passage of the
law. The object is to give corpora
hons which may have been irregular
a chance to reform. using moral sua-
sion rather than force in the first in
stance. The commissioner of corpora
tions will have the right to decide
which are the good and which the bad
trusts, and the president will have au-
thority to prescribe the information re-
quired. One other important feature
of the bill is exemption of labor unions.
oranges, etc.. from the operation Of
the antitrust law and expressly con-
ferring the right to organize and to
strike. But the right to carry on a
boycott is not recognized.
Ia Toilette BoiIs Down List.
Senator La Toilette finished his three
day speech against the Aldrich bill aft
er having been interrupted two differ
ent days by the deaths Of Senators
Whyte and Bryan. Again, as before.
the galleries were packed with specta~
tors and the attendance on the Demo
cratic side was good. but many of the
Republicans studiously remained away
from the chamber. Referring to his
previous statement that the industries
Of the country We're controlled by less
than 100 men. he denied the published
charge that it was sensational and said
he had been too conservative. in fact.
he asserted, much smaller number
actually were the rulers comprising
the Standard Oil-Morgan group. He
said this was composed Of fourteen
men and gave their names. These
Especial interests" he said. were en-
croaching on public rights in every
section Of the country and that the
System" knows no party. for lit is
supplanting government" He urged
that the Aldrich bill would only
strengthen this money power.
Senate Passes Aldrieh Bill.
The Aldrich financial bill to provide
for an emergency issue Of taxed cur
rency notes in time Of money stringen-
cy was passed by the senate March q
by AZ yeas to 16 nays. In substance 1t
authorizes national banks to issue such
notes on depositing collateral Of United
States or state bonds or the bonds of
certain described counties and munic-
ipalities, these notes to be subject to
q progressive tax which will compel
the banks to withdraw the notes from
circulation when the emergency has
passed. Before the final vote Senator
Teller, acting for Senator Bailey. who
was absent, proposed the Democratic
substitute for the bill and when this
was voted down offered as an amend
ment the salient feature Of the Bailey
bill. which provided that the govern
ment and not the banks should issue
the emergency currency. Both bill and
amendment were defeated by strict
party. votes. La Toilette and all the
Republican radicals voting with their
political associates
Minority Prods the House..
Following the announcement that the
Republican leaders in congress had
found a basis Of agreement with the
president for legislative programme
and in advance Of the presidents mes
sage. Leader Williams Of the house
minority gave notice that henceforth
he and his followers would obstruct
all business by unanimous consent
with view to forcing the hand of the
Republicans. He said he had waited
like Democratic lamb for the.slaugh-
ter" waiting for the majority to do
aoy,rothin1 and had come fo fha con