The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-15
Russian Treaty

Washington, December 14.-The aDro- gation of the Russian treaty of 1892, be- cause of determinations against American Jews and others, may become the law of the land before the Christmas holidays recess of Congress. The SulzerL resolution, already passed by the House, directing termination of the treaty after years | notice, was brought up today in the Sen ate.
 The result of running debate on the question Of whether to resort to the com mittee on foreign affairs or to act imme- diately was an assurance from the com mittee that it would report Monday. The Senate may then adopt either the resolu- tion with slight change or the Culberson resolution, practically identical.
 Senator Culberson wanted action with out reference to committee. He contend ed that notice of abrogation cannot take effect until ono year after "the first day of January following the action of Con- gress," and therefore if the resolution should fall of adoption. before the holi- days, 1t could not go into effect until 1914, or more than two years hence.
 Senators Cullom and Lodge pleaded for the reference to the committee Both pledged thei- utmost efforts to obtain committee action to permit the Senate to act on Monday.
 T have no doubt that we can do it. said Senator Cullom. MT Lodge added his assurance to the same effect
 Senator Rayner was somewhat doubtful tba a al1i1ifu fo within that time. The time has come for determination of this question: he said. "The argument is all one way. The treaty has been violated for the past 8 years. Time and again we have yielded. We should act now"
 Senator Clark of Arkansas contended that if the treaty was to be promptly dis posed of action should be taken without reference to the committee. He said Con- gress should either act immediately or go into the question thoroughly.
 Senators Lodge, Bacon and Cullom re- fused to accept the view that the state department was on trial.
 "The President has told us," said MT. Cullom that he is at work on the question and will have something ready after the holidays and the Sec retary of state assured me a day or two since that he expected to accom-
 
 country" The resolution was referred to the committee which will meet Mon day.
 No Natural Monopoly
 That there is no such thing as nat ural monopoly in Industry was the dec- laration of Louis D. Brandeis. the Boston lawyer. and antitrust champion, who to- day appeared before the Senate commit tee on interstate commerce in advocacy of Senator LaFollette's bill designed to supplement the sherman law. He de- clared also that if the law prohibiting the practices through which existing great combines grew up is clearly defined and enforced, no trusts will arise in future.
 "Supporters of the LaFollette bil,'' he said, ',believe in competition in industry on economic, social and political grounds. They agree that only unreasonable re- straints of trade should be prohibited But they believe the law is inadequate, difficult of application and unsatsfac- tory in it's remedy. They propose to let the law remain, but to supplement it with provisions remedying these de- fects.''
 Again stating that there are no natural monopolies in industry, MT Brandeis said
 Even the oil trust got control by ruth less and unconscionable violations of law, by criminal rebating by bribery and cor ruption which brought it wealth with which to destroy competitors; by price cutting and like practices. The Steel trust acquired control not through great CT efficiency, but by buying plants and ore supplies at fabulous prices. Not one industrial monopoly is natural growth. Mr Rrandeis mentioned the tobacco, shoe machinery and sleeping car combines as other trusts that had been able to fix prices as a result of acquired mon- opolstic positions.
 Mir Brandeis declared that competition like liberty, should be regulated, lest it lead to monopoly as unrestrained liberty leads to oligarchy He said he favored the strengthening oi tne Sherm m law by ~~ CONTINUED ON PAGE sel