The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-10
One 81 he FIFsl Measures 10 be
Pushed BY ne Majority
U. S. Steel CORPORATION
An Investigation Win BE Asked for.
Democratic Leaders Determined
Upon Passage of Stanley Resolu-
ton Providing for an Inquiry into
Country's Largest Corporation.


Washington. March 9.--That one
of the FIRST measures to be pushed
through by the democratic majority
in the house OF representatives at the
next session Of congress will be the
resolution for the investigation OF
the United States Steel corporation,
to determine whether Ii is a combi-
nation in violation of the antitrust
law, was the statement made today
by Representative Stanley, of Ken
lucky. author OF the resolution, who
has been canvassing sentiment among
the members-eiect on this subject.
The proposed investigation was
strongly urged at the session just
closed, but the resolution authoriz-
ing 1t was finally pigeon-holed in the
rules committee. OF which Repre-
sentative Dalzell. of Pittsburg. was
chairman. The minority members OF
the committee. including Speaker
elect Champ Clark, were all com
mitted to the measure and osher
democratic leaders are in favor oil
pushing the resolution through rs
early as possible. Not only is the
resolution favored on its merits, but
az is believed that il will provide
valuable material for use In the next
presidential campaign.
THE attitude OF the members OF
the democratic majority. and also Of
many so-called insurgents who favor
this measure" said Representative
Stanley today, lis that the steel trust
is one OF the most dangerous com
binations OF capital In existence. be-
cause 1t controls not only the manu-
featuring side of the steel industry
but also by far the greater part Of
the raw material required by the
industry. Through It's domination
Of leading transportation lines II
even controls some OF its most Inn
Iportant customers and prevents op
position from that source.
IF the tobacco trust opposes the
farmers they can hold back their
crop. as they have done. until reason
able prices can be obtained. II the
meat packers treat the cattle growers
unjustly Il is within the bounds OF
possibility for the latter 10 slaughter
their own animals. and. II necessary,
TO get into direct relations with con-
sumers. Those great packing plants
In which millions Of dollars have been
invested would be vaIueless heaps OF
junk In the face OF the combined op-
position Of the producer and the con-
sumer. But when the steel trust ad-
yances the price of wire nails. OF
any other OF It's products. three hun
dred per cent. the public is helpless
because the trust controls the source
OF supply and dictates 10 the few In
dependent manufacturers the prices
they shall charge. II can enforce its
viii upon these manufacturers by the
threat to cut OF their supply Of raw
material.
There IL another point on which
Il will be interesting to obtain light
II is significant that while there have
been federal proceedings against the
oil trust, the tobacco trust. the meat
packers and the lumber interests. the
hands Of the department OF justice
seem TO be paralyzed whenever they
approach any OF the interests domi-
mated by the supreme leader OF Wall
street The steel trust. which seems
to the ordinary man a combination
In restraint OF trade as surely as the
Northern Securities company ever
was, bluffed the Roosevelt admins
tration out Of any action by virtual
threat TO precipitate destructive
panic SO far Il has escaped attention
from the present administration. II
will be worth while 10 undertake the
proposed inquiry II only to show that
our government Is not Morganized. AZ
our industries to a great extent have
been Morganlzed."
Talks with the most influential
democratic and insurxent leaders
have verified the statement that the
resolution authorizing the steel trust
investigation will be passed as soon
as possible after the converting Of the
next session.