The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-16
TheProgressive House More Antitrust Bills in Six Weeks Than Under Repub-
 lean Control in IA Years
 That Free List Bill-10O Ar ticles Now Under Prohib- itive Duties Placed on fFree List-Will Save the Public Some $300,000,O00 Loss of Revenue to Gov ernment Only $1,500,0OO.
By Clyde H. Tavenner.)


 Washington May 16-In six weeks the Democratic House has passed more progressive and antitrust legislation than the Republicans passed in four teen years administration of that branch of Congress.
 The achievements up to date in cludeS the passage of bill providing for the publicity of campaign contri- buttons before instead of after ielec- tions; the election of United States Senate by direct vote of the people reciprocity with Canada and the farmers free list bill with other sim liar legislation to follow promptly.
 Agitation for much of this legisla- tion has been going on for years. The Republicans heard the demand of the people for relief, but could not en- act such legislation as has been pass ed by the Democratic House because they had for years been receiving enor- nous campaign contributions from the tariff trusts and other interests whicE are opposed to progressive legislatoir of the character passed by the Demo- crats.
 The Republicans have not only beer obliged not to interfere with the mOn- opolies and profits of the tariff trusts but because of having accepted cam paign funds from the great corpora
 
 pelled to extend to them immunity from. Investigation as well as prosecu- tion.
 More than a score of resolutions pro. viding for the investigation of tht steel trust, the sugar trust and the other big industrial combines were introduced in every session of Congres: while the Republicans were in power These resolutions, one and all. were referred to committees that had beer especially packed by Speaker Cannon with men friendly to special privilege with the result that all such resolu- tions died in committee.
 Now it is different. For the first time since the trust question has been acute the House has an anti trust majority.
 The result is that the big commit tees are manned by men, who are free to go ahead and investigate, and if the evidence warrants, to take the proper steps toward bringing about the prosecution of illegal combinations in existence in restraint of trade.
 For the first time in good many years the Capitol of the United States will soon be the scene of honest in- vestigations of the industrial trusts of the country.
 Heretofore it has been impossible for the government to control the trusts because the trusts controlled the government. Now it is to be de- terrnined whether the government of the people or of special privilege shall occupy the saddle.
 WHAT FREE LIST BILL IS.
 Upon close Investigation the tfar- mers' free list'' bill becomes a mighty interesting measure. It untaxes many articles the farmers use, but it means about as much to all consumers. It puts 100 articles of common use on the free list and it is estimated that it will save the public some $500, 0,00O.- 900. The measure won't hit the rev enues hard, either. The tariff is near ly prohibitive on the 100 articles con- cerned, so that the custom gets only s1,500,00O from this source.
 REPUBLICANS FORLORN.
 Dismayed at the reverses sustained in the last election, discouraged over the outlook for the future, and real izing that they can take no stand against the progressive Democratic legislation that will be backed up by popular sentiment, the Republican minority in the House presents a sor- " spectacle. Minority Leader Mann seems to be following no set policy, except one of general obstruction to anything the Democrats may suggest. Differing radically on the issues. the Republicans are not even harmonious on MT. Manns policy of obstruction. Prosressive Republicans like William Kent of California, declare they were not elected to waste time in block ing legislation or in badgering any other party. He was elected to serve the public interest and he intends to do this Several other progressives hold the same view, which makes MT. Mann's position all the more trying. The majority of the Republicans. how ever, do nothing but grumble and op- pose, apparently incapable of under standing that the public cannot be de- ceived by unintelligent partisan ac- tion, which has no higher purpose than that of public deception in the interest of political organization all ready in public disfavor.
 INCONSISTENT ACTION.
 Most of the Republican members of the House who voted against recip- rocity sought to defend their votes by declaring the measure was against the best interests of the farmer, and that as they prided themselves upon being friends of the farmers at every turn in the road, they could not bring themselves to vote for the reciprocity bill. Then came the farmers free list bill. which untaxed agricultural implements and nearly everything the farmer uses. Here was a golden op- portunity for the friends of the far mers. But, To and behold. when it came time to vote, 1O9 Republicans who had been so loud in proclaiming their affection for the farmers, voted