Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-11-30
OUR WASHINGTON LITTER.
BY Clyde III. Tavenner

~ Clyde r.. IaVenner
That Morgan, Rockefeller and other
trust magnatee consider themselves
too sacred to be prosecuted for yio-
lating the law has been known for
some time
But that they considered themselves
too sacred to be even investigated was
not known until the Stanley inyesti-
eating committee was politely asked
by the steel trust attorneys to please
abandon its inquiry because of the
Wickersham suit to dissolve the trust.
Should this request be gratified it
would mean that the Wickersham suit
is G0dsend to the trust, inasmuch
as it sidetracks an honest and search
ing investigation of monopoly that
Attorney General Wickersham himself
claims to be Illegal That the trust
fears a continuance of the investiga-
tion by committee that is not pack
ed with special interest servers, more
than it does q suit to dissolve con-
Quoted by an attorney general who
was former trust attorney, has been
known for some time
Thanks to Democratic majority on
the Stanley committee, the investiga-
ton will proceed. But wishing to be
entirely fair to all concerned, the
committee has discontinued public
hearings until full committee can
pass on the proposition 1t is al
ready known that the committe fav-
ors continuance Of the probe.
Commence Court Attack
Owing. to the fact that nearly every
time the Interstate Commerce com
mission decides case favorable to
the shippers, the Taft Commerce court
reverses the decision to the benefit of
the railroads, there is movement
among Democratic and progressive
Republican congressman to legislate
the Commerce Court out of existence.
Judge Thetus w Sims, of Tennes-
see, already has a bill prepared for
the abolition OF the court and he will
ask his Democratic colleagues in the
House to pass this measure.
Democrat from New Mexico.
Although the regular or stand pat
Republican organization has carried
a majority Of members of the New
Mexico legislature chosen three weeks
ago, Indications are that one Demo-
crat and one progressive Republican
will be elected Senators.
Democrats Friendly to Labor.
Legislation helpful to the cause of
the workingman will be passed by the
Sixty second Congress. The labor
leaders have assurance that the Dem
ocratic majority in the house will
take up the subjects of employers
liability, extension of the eight hour
day in government work, restriction of
the power of Injunction, strengthening
Of the safety appliances law, and pro-
hibition of the so-called Taylor sys-
tenn in government work.
w. b. Wilson, of Pennsylvania,
chairman of the labor committee of
the House, is himself an active men,
Der of the miners union. which is an
assurance that labor problems will
receive fair hearing before his COM
mittee.
A Democratic. Way.
Congressman r. Il. Henry, chair
man of the Rules Committee of the
House, will make an effort during the
coming session of Congress to SO
amend the Sherman antitrust law
that trust criminals as he terms
them, may be put in Jail when they
4 violate the law He is convinced
there is no other remedy for the trust
evil
Fines and dissolution suits are
child's play for trust magnates," he
said, explaining the bill he will in
troduce. "Felon's stripes is the only
remedy for these commercial outlaws
who violate the law. My bill 1egis-
lates the rule of reason out of the
Sherman law, and specifically defines
just what constitutes a trust, so that
there can be no further evasion on the
ground that the statute is ambiguous
The Henry bill will provide impris-
Onment for not less than two years
for each violation. The Texas MEM
Der has assurances, he says, that his
bill will become a law.
ECONOMY of Production!,
Tainted news articles are being
sent out from Washington to the eff
feet that if the steel trust is forced to
dissolve, it will be too bad for the poor
consumers, for they will henceforth
be deprived of the ECONOMY of pro-
duction" resulting from the one man
management of the steel business OF
the country. The literature goes on
to say that great saving iii the cost
: Of manufacture has been effected by.
the scientific systenization Of Steel
manufacture by the trust.
The fact is, however, that the pres
ent prices of tin plate, wire and wire
products are from 10 to SO per ceRt
higher than the price that prevailed
before the formation of the tin piate