Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1903 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

The Anti-Trust Program. Anti-trust legislation is still in a chaotic state. The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives has reported a bill which will probably pass the lower liouse. It was collaborated by the Littlefield subcommittee and Attorney General Knox,” and the latter is said to be fairly satisfied with it, which Is an indication that*the trusts do not fear it. It is mainly intended for spectacular purposes, for it is well known that the Judiciary Committee of the Senate will not report it, as Chairman Hear favors his own bill, and the other Republicans members are nearly all favorable to the corporations. The Senate leaders have their own trust program to overcome the obstacle of the statehood bill, which lias the right of way and cannot be displaced, having a majority in its saver. The oligarchy that rules the Senate found themselves helpless to prevent Senator Quay from passing the statehood bill, unless they resorted to a long filibuster, which is now in progress. But the adroit politicians who always control legislation in the Senate have evolved a plan of strategy that they hope will show that they are still omnipotent. President Roosevelt has informed Senators Aldrich anil Spooner thnt some sort of anti-trust legislation is undoubtedly necessary to save the Republican party from ruin and they have agreed to put some kind of a bill through the Senate, if Speaker Render-

son will force it through the House. The fact that the President sent for Henderson and converted him to the mild form of anti-trust legislation that was considered necessary is now’ a matter of history. Henderson’s reward is to come later. The plan of the Senators is to do by Indirection what is impossible in a direct way. The way being blocked for the passage of an anti-trust bill through the Senate, it is Intended to have the Conference on the Department of Commerce bill, which has passed both houses. Insert In the measure, through an amplification of its provisions regarding the Bureau of Corporations, r,ll that part of the antitrust program relating to publicity. Tiie rest <>f the program relates to rebates and discriminations and Is covered by a bill introduced by Senator Elkins, and by him reported favorably from the Committee on Interstate Commerce. As Senator Elkins is an out nnd out friend of the railroads, and is known to be interested in corporations. the measure is hardly likely to be Inimical to trust Interests. The importance of this program, says the Boston Transcript, lies in Its relation to Senate strategy. "It eliminates the Judiciary Committees in both House nnd Senate, making the Committees on Commerce and on Interstate Commerce the real vehicles of decreed Republican policy. " Tills had long been desired by the leaders. Its next advantage comes in getting the essentlon of the anti-trust program before both houses as a privileged matter, through the medium of a conference report. Tills gives it 'pi’eeedenee over even Statehood." All thnt Is not of much consequence to tiie people. It Is Intended to again fool them Jiy making them believe that their servants in Congress, and especially their President, are trust-busters. The result of the legislation will show’ that the bills are entirely Inoffensive to the trusts, and this Is foreshadowed by the Senators nnd Representatives, who arc trusts agents, being favorable to the bills. The Democrats will probabljFTote for the measures, for not to do so would lay them open to the charge that they sre opposed to anti-trust legislation. Taxes Pnrpoaely Mn<le Too High. The Republican leaders In Congress seem determined not to reduce the

tariff on trust products, eit'en on those that it has been proved.are being sold at a higher price herp than abroad. The Republican leaders also intend to keep the high rates of the Dingley tariff on even those schedules which were “purposely made too high” so that the protected trusts sbouifi not lose their grip of the home market, if some reductions were made in reciprocity treaties. Steel Trust’s Foreign Policy. On Nov. 24 the New York Commercial said: "The United States Steel Corporation and its competitors have instructed their foreign agents to look for a market for light finished steel products. The production of sheets,, tin plates, steel wire products, etc., Is greater than domestic consumption. Rather than close the mills and thus be compelled to reduce the price to home consumers, the surplus will be sent abroad at a price below that quoted in the home market.” The Commercial said that “this policy has frequently been resorted to. Among concerns that benefited largely by this method in the past were all the corporations that are now under the domination of the United States Steel Corporation." On Nov. 28 it was announced that tiie steel trust had cut both its domestic and foreign prices on wire, wire nails, tin plate, wrought iron pipe, etc., $5 per ton. During the recent campaign the Republicans were denying

strenuously that our exports were sold cheaper to foreigners than at home and were positive that the tin plate trust was not selling abroad. As a matter of fact it began this nefarious business more than three years ago. Foreigners have all along been getting our steel Roods at from 20 to 50 per cent less than we are compelled to pay for them. If the foreigners pay our taxes it is only fair that they should get our goods cheaper. If we pay the tariff taxes we should be the preferred customers of the protected trusts. Congress should investigate to learn who pays these taxes. If, perchance, it should find that we pay them it might discuss tli<> propriety’ of taking them off. A Lesson in Yankeelatnl. Of all sections New England is faring worst in regard to the cost of fuel. It is in New England that the socialists have polled their biggest vote and shown most growth. The next elections in that part of tiie country may furnish some striking object lessons for men who are radical In the use and abuse of tiie power of corporations, but are very conservative In other things.—« Cleveland Leader.

The tariff ties the consumer s hands while the trusts pick hts pockets. Senator Burton, of Kansas, is an enthusiastic hunter, nnd has many trophies to prove his skill.