The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-19
TRUST QUESTION
 WORRIES CONGRESS Taft's Message Did Not
 Simplify Matters TARIFF VS. TRUSTS
Democrats Say Tariff Is Foremost Issue and Republicans Are Try ing to Sidetrack it With
 Trust Problem
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

| message on the subject, constituting al
 he had to say in his annual message, car scarcely be said to have simplified the question for the legisltors.
 The democrats charge that the emphasis which the President sought to place upon the trust question by confining himself exclusively to it in his message, is an ef- fort on his part and the part of the ad- ministration supporters in both branches of Congress to sidetrack the tariff, which they will seek to make the paramount topic for congressional consideration at this session, to the end Chat they may use it as their campaign cry in the presidential contest of next year.
 They recognize the importance of deal- ing with the trust issue, but there is less of politics in it than in the tariff issue, with which they always have been more successful in campaigns than with any other It is politics which they intend to play during the coming session for the purpose of making all the capital they possibly can, and for that matter the re- publicans are forced more or less to adopt the same tactics, and they also will play politics.
 For them, however, dealing with the trust problem presents better possibilities and prospects than the tariff, and so there is likely to be a see-saw between the two parties. each striving to gain an advan- tage by making the issue which it selects the paramount one.
 So far as the House is concerned the trust question will be handled by the com mittee on interstate and foreign commerce primarily. That is, whatever legislation is proposed for the further regulation of fiOnc Of nital fOI. amendment to the Sherman law, will come within the jurisdiction of that committee, unless because that committee has so many other matters of importance or for some other reason it should be decided to allow the committee on the judiciary to consider it.
 Properly, however, any proposition to change the sherman antitrust law would be dealt with by the committee on inter state and foreign commerce. That com mittee also has the very important mat ter before it of legislation for the gov ernment of the canal zone and of the pro- mitigation of regulations for the operation of the canal. Already the members of the committee have gone to the isthmus to take up that matter and inform them selves upon it. Therefore, that committee will not at the outset of the session jump in and act upon the Presidents recom- mendations with regard to dealing with the trust question. ...-r.rs .
 The Senate committee on interstate com merce, under d resolution of instruction adopted at the extraordinary session, for several weeks has been hearing the state- ments of those interested in big business, college professors with theories to expound and elucidate, and economists of more or less note and importance, with regard to their ideas of the proper methods of con- trolling large combinations of capital A dozen different ideas and schemes have been advanced but no two seem entirely to harmonize. Senator Clapp, the chair man of the committee, is an arch insur- gent and has as his associates upon the committee several men of the same pro- gressive stripe, but even they are not agreed as to what should be done, or what form of legislation should take to meet the existing conditions.
 The main idea, which runs through all of the discussion and inquiry upon the subject is that there should be some sort of federal regulation and control of big corporations doing an interstate business. But the method of going about it is the rock upon which both the theorists and the practical men founder. Even such men as Judge Gary of the United States Steel Corporation have admitted willing ness to consent to federal regulation, and have expressed the desire to conform to regulation, if only they could be advised of their status and what their powers ana
 limitations would be.
 Publicity of the doings of interstate cor rorations is a part of the programme which most of those who have discussed the subject seem to agree upon, and from kid gloved federal regulation all the way to measures which border close upon so- cialistic the suggestions have run untu there is quite as much confusion upon the subject now a when the inquiry be- gan.
 Some have advocated voluntary federal incorporation, such as has been recom- mended by the President, while others have declared that such plan would be innocuous and ineffective, and have urged compulsory federal incorporation with a sort of commission not unlike the inter- state commerce commission, for the reg ulation and control of corporations with the power to deal with them in much the same manner as the interstate commerce. commission deals with railroads. Even the fixing of a standard of prices has been advocated
 | Whether the committee can get together upon any sort of measure for handling the | problem is a serious question. Even those who are most earnest in their belief that additional remedial legislation is neces sary are not optimistic. They fear tha there are too many diverging opinions and | that the subject will be made footbai | in the political game for any constructive
 measure to be passed at the present ses
 sion.
 l Even should measure get out or th | committee with a majority vote, It VII | be obliged to encounter a great man, amendments in the Senate, with the resul | that it might be made entirely unsatisfac | tory to those who are trying, honestly, t l seek a solution to this, one of the mos | important economic questions of the day l Moreover. should measure pass tn | Senate it would then be subjected to over | hauling in the House, whichis democratic I and where the ideas might not altogethe | coincide with those of the republican Sen ate. It seems likely that the House, pre- ] ferring to make the tariff the leading is sue will devote it's attention primaril to changes in the tariff schedules an' leave the Senate to t.ke up the trust ques ton first
 | So. while the House is passing tarif bills and sending them over to the Senate the Senate is likely to be discussin l amendments to the Sherman law and pro
 posed methods of regulating interstat ] commerce. It Is. therefore. feared tha 1 the upshot of the whole matter will b chiefly talk, and that when the adjourn ment comes next summer, 1t will be foun that no antitrust measures have bee ] added to the statute books.
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