Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-05-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. O.. May IS, 1911
BY CLYDE H. TAvENExR.

BY CLYDE II TAvENEER.
In six weeks tho Democratic House
of Representative has passed more
progressive and ANTITRUST legisla-
tion than the Republicans passed In
fourteen years administration OF that
branch Of Congress.
The achievement up.to. date In
cludes the passage Of o bill provid-
ing for the publicity Of campaign
contributions before instead Of alter
elections; the election OF United
States senators by direct vote Of the
people; reciprocity with Canada
and the farmers free list bill, with
other similar Legislation to follow
promptly.
Agitation for much of this legisla-
ton has been going ON for years.
The republicans heard the demand
OF the people for relief, but could
not enact such Legislation as has
been passed by the Democratic
House because they had for years
been receiving enormous campaign
contributions from the tariff trusts
and other interests which are OPP
posed TO progressive legislation Of
the character passed by the Demo
Gratis.
The Republicans have not only
been obliged not 10 interfere with
the monopolies and profits Of the
tariff trusts. but because Of having
accepted campaign funds from the
great corporations they have he0n
practically compelled to SNtend 10
them immunity from Investigation
as we'll as prosecution.
iss6Fethan q score Of resolutions
providing for the investigation Of
the steal trust, the sugar trust and
the other big Industrial combines
were introduced In every session Of
Congress while the Republicans
were 10 power Those resolutions,
one and all. we're referred 10 com.
mittees that had been especially
packed by Speaker Cannon with
men friendly to special privilege.
with the result that all such resolu.
tions died III committee.
Now IL Is different. For tho FIRST
time since the trust question has
boon acute, the House Of Rspresen-
tatives has on ANTITRUST majority.
The results that the big commit
tees are manned by men who are
tree 30 20 ahead and Investigate,
and II the evidence warrants, 10
take the psoper steps toward bring
ing about the prosecution Of illegal
combinations ia existence Ia re-
straint Of trade.
For the first time lie q good many
years the Capitol Of the United
States will soon be the scene Of hon.
est investigations of the industrial
trusts OF the country.
Heretofore IL has been impossible
for the government 10 control the
trusts because the trusts controlled
the government. Now II Is 10 be
determined whether the govern
ment OF the people or special pri-
village shall occupy the saddle.
WHAT FREE LIST BILL Is.
Upon close investigation the
farmers free list" bill becomes q
mighty interesting measure. Il
INTAKES many articles the farmers
use, but il means about as much to
all other consumers. II puts 100
articles of common use on the free
list and IL is estimated that IL will
save the public some 5000. 600, 900.
TIE measure won't hit the revenues
hard, either. The tariff Ia nearly
prohibitive on the 100 articles con-
carned. so that the custom gets only
81 800, 900 from this source.
INCoEsIsTEET ACTION
Most Of the Republican members
Of the House Of Representatives who
voted against reciprocity sought to
defend their votes by declaring the
measure was against the best inter-
ests Of the farmers, and that as they
prided themselves upon being
friends of the farmers ct every turn
in the road, they could not bring
themselves to vote for the recipro-
city bill.
Then came the farmers free list
bill, which untaxed agricultural Inn
pIements and nearly everything the
farmers use. Here was golden
opportunity for the friends OF the
farmersl
But, 10 and behold, when IL came
time to vote, 109 Rebublicans who
had been so loud in proclaiming
their affection for the farmers, vot
ed against the farmers free list
bill.