El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-26
CUMMINS' BILL
IS HIS PLATFORM
He Introduces Measure to
Strengthen the Govern
ment s Antitrust Power.

Washington. D. c.. Feb. 26.-The trust
platform Of senator Cummins OF Iowa.
candidate for the Republican nomination
for president. Is embodied in a bill which
Mr.. CUmmins introduced today, designed
TO strengthen greatly the governments
antitrust powers. The measure would
provide what 1t Is claimed would be the
first authority to limit the size of cor
pOrations and to guard against unfair or
TuinOus competition through prOtracJed
under selling
1t would put into being a trades COM
mission into which the present bureau
would be merged with all its present
powers. The purpose IN limiting cor
pOratlOns of business in a big way with
economy of production, but TO limit them
, IN the very beginning in such a way as
to leave room at least for others of sub
stlntiallY the same magnitude between
which healthful competition may be pre-
served.
The law would apply only to corpora
lions capitalized at $4,000 600 or more
and not interstate commerce common
/ carriers. That the present antitrust
law would not be changed Is made clear
by declaration that whatever is IN
lawful under that law shall continue
unlawful, and that the intent Of the
law is to maintain competitive cOndi-
lions in trade to accomplish which it
shall be literally construed"
Inc measure MOulQ prOQlDlL COM
mon directors and Officers among cor
porauons carrying on a business OF the
same general character and would eX-
clude dummy or nominal directors 1t
, would exclude from commerce all cor
porauOns which control capital stock
or exercise any other means of control
In any other corporation and also cor
pOrauOns capitalized at S10,000,0OO or
more whose directors or officers are
on the board Of directors or among the
OFFICERS OF banking Institutions.
I CereIuI provision Is made against the
notolng company that IS not Itself en-
gagged In commerce Common carriers
aud manufacturing or producing en-
terprlses would be completely disassO-
Z the same time own and operate a trans
portatlon line and engage in manufac-
turing or producing.
Proposes Express OWnership.
senator Gardner, OF Maine, today
introduced a bill under which the gov
eminent would take over the proper
tles OF express companies and operate
them as part Of the postal service, eN-
tending the service to the rural de-
livery The measure Indicates the
probable cost Of taking over the prop
Real property. $14.9S2.16s; equip
ment, 1851, 405; materials and sup
plies, Sl38,2lO; advance payments, on
contracts. S5,S36,666, and franchises,
good Will etc, SlO.S77,S6s. total OF
While the balance sheets OF the com
panies show other assets OF nearly
Sl5O.0O0,000, senator Gardner argues
that these are not devoted to express
service and this property might be re-
talned BY the corporations without
tmpairing its value.
1t is proposed that rates charged for
express service under the government
snail be based on weight and length
Of haul.
ArizOnians Get 3 Hearing.
John Orme and D. P. Jones. OF Phoe-
nix, with representative Hayden. were
given hearing before the committee
on arid lands in the house today, on
extending the payments from 10 to 20
years for the water users.
Hayden and Carey on Committees.
Representative Hayden, Of Arizona,
VIII be put on the indian affairs and
representatives and Carey, OF New
COMMITTEES.
To Probe DupOnt's Election.
Senator Reed, OF Missouri. today in
troduced in the senate a resolution d.
recung an investi ga ton. Of the cleo
tion OF senator Dupont, OF Delaware
No Substitute for Sugar.
we have discussed the entire rev.
enue producing list from agate TO
zinc In an effort to find something
TO substitute for sugar as a revenue
producer" said representative Under
wood, chairman OF the ways and
means committee. and we have come
to no decision"
The committee TO discuss this sched-
ule and ways and means Of produc-
ing sufficient revenue that win be
essential If the sugar schedule is cut
in half, returned to the work again
today The advocates OF free sugar
have suggested many things that
might be Increased in order to pro-
duce the $50, coo, 900 in revenue from
sugar that would be lost should that
commodity be placed on the free list.
But free sugar It was learned, ia the
n IN q rrr1r rn.h a
the committee IS puzzled TO make up
for revenue losses that will result
even from tariff reduction.
The Day in Congress.
In the senate today senator Cum
Minis introduced a trust bill creating a
trades commission and providing au-
thority 10 limit the size OF corpora
lions. and to guard against unfair
competition. Senator Poindexter, after
personal Investigation at Lawrence,
Mass, introduced a resolution to in
struct the labor bureau TO furnish in
formation on the textile strike.
Senator Gardener introduced a bill
providing FOR government acquisition
OF express properties at a probable
cost of SSs.165.S19.
The house met at noon.
- The investigation of political influ-
ence charges against Nal Ray was re-
sumed before the war department ex- /
pendItures committee.
British ambassador Bryce explained [
the British legislation system to the !
judiciary committee in connection with !
the legislative bill
Secretary Myer was heard By the &
naval committee in executive session !
The Florida Everglades land case T
Investigation was resumed by the agri- 3
cultural department expenditures COM
mittee.
After considering the District of Co
lumbia legislation. the house took up
four hour debate on the fortifications
appropriation bill.
Chairman Henry announced that the /
rules committee would act upon repre-
sentative Berger's resolution providing !
for an Investigation OF tie Lawrence
textile workers strikes.
The ways and means committee
again considered the ACCESSIBILITY OF .
Increasing silk duty to make up Tor
the sugar tariff reduction. 1t may re
port the sugar bill in two weeks.
The money trust investigation hear
ings viii begin here within q rev
days.
Secretary NTyer urged the building OF ]