The Washington times., 1913-12-09
NEED DRASTIC TRUST
LAW, SAYS MURDOCH
Progressive House Leader Out
lines Greatest Problem of
Present Session.
By JOHN SNURE.

Inc Dig thing to be sought in legiS-
lation this session of Congress is A law
cealing with the trusts which will be
IL dical and effective
This statement was made today by
Representative Victor Murdock Of Kan
Sas, leader Of the Progressive party
forces in the House
We believe that the currency bill
y I'll bring the people no more relief
than the tariff bill has reduced the cost
of living said Mr. Murdoch Both are
SEort ladders. They are The mincing
half steps in the right direction that the
politicians, anxious to retain themselves
Ih power, take in order to divert the
people.
Need Scientific Study.
o, The politicians seek to divert the
people from the real issue by such half
measures as the tariff bill and the cur
rency without loosenins their own hold
on their jobs. Knowing both branches
OF Congress and the partisan habit of
view OF the Democratic leaders, the
ProsressiveS believe that the trust
measure which the Democrats will
linaily adopt will be equally impotent
bill.
We believe in considering monopo-
lies scientifically" said the kansas
CONGRESSMAN. They cannot all be
treated alike We divide monoplies into
two kinds. not good and bad. but on
another basis. In the first place there
is the monopoly which has a basis in
some natural cause OF condition of
things Possession of the supply of raw
material is an instance of one of these
causes. Then, there is the monopoly
which Is Ibased on artificial practices OF
a wrongful sort such as cutting prices
SO as TO starve out-rompetitors, rebates.
and so on.
we have a real trust program. one
which, in my opinion, would give the
public actual relief. one important
feature of il is-this. that when combi-
nation is dissolved. the trade commits
son would be required to put over the
concern a supervisor to see that il
stayed dissolved.
You know perfectly we'll that the de-
cree in the Standard Oil case has not
broken up the oil monoDoly and that
the decree in the Tobacco trust case has
been Ineffective. The trade commission
which would be provided for under the
Progressive party plan would have COM
plete power TO get at the facts concern
ing any combination OF monopoly, and
/ believe the plan OF putting a super
visor over the dissolved combination
would bring about. genuine dissolution
Will Not Let Up.
Mr. Murdoch does not purpose to let !
up on the Money trust He regards the |
currency bill which passed the House as |
falling far short because it failed to deal |
with the condition of things in respect /
10 control of moneys and credits by a !
few men as disclosed by the Pujo in
vestigation in the last Congress.
Another subject which Mr.. Murdoc1 |
says the Progressive party members in |
the House are going to give close at
1ention this winter is the open commit
tee meeting, together with abolition of
the secret caucus.
THE business of the public should be
done in the OPEN said Mr.. Murdoch.
There is no excuse either for the secret
committee meeting or the secret caucus.
The Progressive party men in the
House are going to fight for the open COM
Inittee meeting at every opportunity. |
This week, Kelly of Pennsylvania sue
ceeded in getting a motion adopted that
the meetings OF the Rules Committee
with reference to the creation OF a Suf |
fTage committee. as demanded by the
should be held in the open.
This is an illustration of what will
be done in the case of other committees !
'The feeling against doing business be-
hind closed doors, in the dark is grow
ing
An easier way of amending the Con
is still another one of the fore
most demands OF the Progressive party
forces. They will omit no chance TO help l
this movement along" Mr.. Murdoch said
today.