The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-09
HOUSE DEbATESON
THE STANLEY BILL
ROOsevelt's Trust Views Are
Discussed
STANLEY CRITICISES
Declares Absolute Divorcement of
Ownership of Railroads Is the
One Preventative of
Monopoly


platform and former President Roose-
velt's trust views occupied the attention
OF the House tonight in the closing houi
of the first debate on the Stanley Stee
trust investigation Representative Laf-
ferty of Oregon, interpolated the progress
sive platform into the debate and Repre-
sentative Gardner of Massachusetts,, re-
publican, pointed out what he called In
consistencies In Mr.. Roosevelt's position
He believes in the Sherman antitrust
law and in the recognition of trusts,
said Mr. Gardner HE is riding two
horses going in opposite directions
Have you read the colonel's speech?i
asked Mr. Latferty.
Yes, and 1t is entirely different from
the views he expressed in the Outlook in
November. He does not make himself
clear on anything. He is not clear on I'm.
migration. the tariff or anything else
Representative Sterling of Illinois and
Representative Stanley delivered set
speeches on the steel inquiry. Mr.. STAN
ley indulged in severe criticism of the
methods by whieh the corporation had
the minority report of the committee
which favors recognition Of trusts and
looks to "a government regulation of
prices.
Mr. Sterling said price fixing had
brought on the French revolution and had
been tried to inevitable failure in England
in the fourteenth century. He favored a
h.
Stanley Makes Speech
Absolute divorcement of ownership of
railroads and industrial organizations was
declared by Representative Stanley of
Kentucky for the House tonight as the
one preventative of such a monopoly as he
described the United States steel corpora
tion to be-
Mr.. Stanley spoke for an hour and a
half. reviewing the work Of the special
committee which Investigated the steel
combine. When he began less than a
score of representatives wers present.
The speech was a review of the major
ity report of the committee II was an
elaborate exco-latfon of j. Pierpont Nor
gan, John d. Rockefeller and others. Mr..
Stanley frequently was interrupted and
several of his assertions of facts were
challenged by Representative Gardner OF
Massachusetts, republican, who prepared
the minority report.
The Kentucky representative reviewed
the story of John D. Rocketellers ac-
QUESTION of the Mesaba Iron ore range.
He told picturesquely of the manner in
which Mr. Rockefeler's almony, the Rev.
DR. Gates conducted the negotiations with
the Merritt brothers, discoverers of the
range.
"Was not the statement of lie onda Mer-
ritt on the transaction with Rockefeller
retracted?" asked Mr.. Gardner.
1T was answered Mr. Stanley, ex-
planning that Mr.. Merritt signed a re-
traction when a settlement was made with
his brother for 100000.
Representative Gardner asked Mr. STAN
ley II this portion of the story of steel
was not struck from the report by the
other majority members. Mr.. Stanley
said it was and that he told 1t on the
floor to get it TO the public.
"The gentleman should not convey the
impression that ii was not made public. T"
said Mr.. Gardner Every newspaper in
the country printed it when the testi-
mony was riven'
"Oh, the newspapers are printed toda
and lost tomorrow. / want to get it in
the imperish able record" said Mr.. STAN
ley.
Tells of Carnegie
The Kentucky representative traced the
growth of the steel trust and described
how Andrew Carnegie had forced it to
buy him out by threats OF competition
He said Carnegie was not afraid of Nor
gan or the Moore banking syndicate.
Mr.. Carnegie paid more attention to
making steel billets than to issuing bogus
bonds, he said. He was an IRON mas
ter not stock broker and high class
gambler
The holding company and the protective
tariff were pointed as the bulwarks of
the steel trusts strength The holding
company was described as a spernicious
device" and the formation of the steel
trust by aff Morgan was termed a
scheme that exceeded the dream of the
most avaricious scheme maker that ever
lived"
Mr.. Stanley declared that the steel trust
levied tax on every man, woman and
child in the United States
Every one OF the $1,000. 900 people in ..,s
country pays he steel trust to i've. -
labor and finally when they die said the
speaker.