The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-08


state commerce. but also in the pow
erful committee on appropriations or
which Francis f Warren. Republican.
OF Wyoming today is the chairman.
Now in the ordinary course OF
events Mr.. Tillman. being the senior
Democrat on appropriations. would
be promoted to the chairmanship
when the Democrats get control. He
might also be made chairman OF the
committee on interstate commerce.
Add to these the committees on mines
and mining. naval affairs and forest
reservations, in all OF which Mr.. TIL
man holds the ranking Democratic
position. and It can be seen at once
what would happen IL the Democrats
when coming into control should fol-
low the rule OF seniority.
Take the case OF Senator Augustus
o. Bacon OF Georgia. who at present.
with Senator Gallinger OF New Hamp-
shire, shares honors as presiding OFF,
Ger of the United States senate. Sen
ator Bacon, who Is a Democrat. is the
ranking member OF the committee on
judiciary which has to deal 10 a con-
siderable extent with trust matters
and with all matters concerning
changes In the laws which require a
judicial Interpretation to determine II
they are within the limits of the con-
stitution. II is most important COM
mittee. Now Mr.. Bacon happens 70
be also the ranking Democratic men,
Der In the committee on foreign rela-
tions. the name OF the committee be-
ing sufficient to show its Importance
and the great question with which ii
Is called upon frequently to deal A
strict Interpretation OF the rule OF
seniority would make Mr.. Bacon
chairman. when the Democrats come
into control, OF both of these commit
tees. He probably will be content II
he Is made chairman OF one OF them.
but which one his preference will in
cline him to does not yet appear
What the Democrats intend to do
probably is to recognize seniority in
the committees with the gift Of chair
manships only In one case; that Is
Mr.. Tillman will get one chairman
ship. Mr.. Bacon another and so on
down through the list Of the Demo-
Gratis who happen to hold ranking
places at present on several commit
tees.
Trust Regulation the Test.
The recent activities Of President
| elect Wilson in trust regulation mat
tere while he is still governor OF New
Jersey are held by the members OF his
party In Washington to forecast his
course as president Of the United
States. No Democrat In Washington
denies that his party looks upon com
ing legislation In regulation OF big en-
terprise as being of much more i'm
portance to the party and to the coun-
try than tariff. currency or any other
legislation.
The Democrats say that II the trust
problem can be solved to the salts
faction Of the people of the United
States, to the doing away with mo
nopoly, to the lowering of prices witt
no corresponding lowering of wages.
the Democratic party can survive mis-
takes in other matters of legislation.
No one knows yet definitely just
how the administration and the new
| congress, which is to be controlled In
both branches by the Democrats. will
| Of big business. but definite state
ment concerning what 1t is sought tn
be accomplished has been made by
| President-elect Wilson. Just how the
accomplishment Is to be reached has
not yet been outlined and will not
O'Gorman and other Democrats Of
long legal experience shall have given
the incoming administration their
views, and the advisers of the admin
istration from what may be called the
political and the economic sides Of
things have added their views to those
Of the lawyers.
Wants to Restore Composition.
Mr.. Wilson, the Democrats say, after
hearing the advice from both sides
and after studying the question him
self, will try to make sure what laws
will stand the test of constitutionali;y
and then will recommend legislation
to meet the end desired. The pres-
dent-elect has said specifically that he
wants to restore competition. This
means a different course Of procedure
from that which some OF the econo-
mists Of the country have recon-
mended.
There are today In congress eight
or ten representatives and senators
with experience In the law and In eco
nomics generally who are giving their
time to the study Of the big business
problems. These men have learned
the Sherman antitrust act by heart.
and Judging from what has been done
by the present administration, they
have concluded they know what can
be accomplished and what cannot be
accomplished In existing laws.
These Democrats who are engaged
In the study Of trust legislation have
given a good deal OF attention to the
recommendation OF the Progressive
party as to the methods Of handing
big business. II IL known, of course
that former President Theodore Roose
velt is In favor of establishing an in
dustrial commission for the purpose o
regulating big business, much as ia,