The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-02-05

4
erful committee on appropriations OF
which Francis x. Warren, Republican.
OF wyoming today 10 the chairman.
Now In the ordinary course Of
events Mr.. Tillmsn. being the senior
Democrat on appropriations. would
be promoted to the ehairmanship
when the Democrats get control He
might also be made chairman o. the
committee on interstate commerce.
Add to these the committees on mines
and mining. naval AFFAIRS and forest
reservations. In all OF which Mr.. Till
man holds the ranking Democratic
position. and II can be seen ut once
what would happen n 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 OH
Ger Of the United States senate. Sen
ator Bacon, who lie a Democrat. is the
judiciary which has to deal to a con-
siderable extent with trust matters
and with all matters concerning
changes In the laws which require q
judicial Interpretation to determine II
they are within the limits Of the con-
stitution. II Is most important COM
mittee. Now Mr.. Bacon happens to
be also the ranking Democratic mem
Der In the committee on foreign rela.
tons, the name of the committee be-
Ing sufficient to show it's 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.
ters 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 CON.
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.
IN The DEMOCRATS say that u the trust
'propyS.n 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 with
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
approach the subject of the regulation
of big business, but a definite state
ment concerning what 1t is sought to
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
be probably until lawyers like Senator
O'Gorman and other Democrats OF
long legal experience shall have given
the incoming administration their
views, and the advisers nj the admin
istration from what may lie called the
political and the economic sides VI
things have aided 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
viii Stdnu inc tcot VI OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
and then will recommend legislation
to meet the end desired. The presi-
dent-elect has said specifically that be
wants to restore competition. This
means a different course OF procedure
from that which some Of the econo'
mists of the country have recoia.
mended.
There are today In congress eight
or ten representatives and senators
with experience in the law and In eco
Monies 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
recommendations OF the Progressive
party as to the methods of handling
big business. II Is known. Of course
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