Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-10
At THE White HOUSE
President Believes Nelson
Amendment Will Pass.
ALSO THE ELKINS BILL
WHAT HE SAYS OF ANTITRUST
LEGISLATION TO CALLERS.
Cabinet Today Discusses the Subject
and Also the Venezuelan Situation
Dept. of Commerce Officers.

The President is understood to be greatly
pleased with the prospects that the Nelson
amendment to the department of commerce
bill is to become a law. To his mind it in
sures that much successful antitrust legis-
lation as certainty, and he thinks that It's
enactment can be followed by the passage
of further legislation before the close Of the
session of this Congress. After the Nelson
amendment, which provides for publicity of
the facts in connected with the business Of
corporations, Congress is in Position to pass
the Elkins bill. He sees nos good reason
why the Nelson amendment and other val
liable legislation should not be placed upon
the law books at this session. But first Of
all he wants to see the Nelson amendment
become law, as he looks upon that as
step in the direction of other steps.
These are the views the President has ex-
pressed to a number OF congressional callers
who have gone to the White House to talk
with him. The intense interest felt in the
trust question by the President and his con-
sstent advocacy for many years Of suitable
and effective legislation naturally causes
members of Congress to visit him to discuss
with him the varying features of the situa-
ton. as presented in Congress. They have
all found the President firm in the convic-
ton that the administration, as represented
in all branches of the government, must
make good the promises to the country for
years of further and satisfactory trust
laws At least one portion of the trust
problem will be covered by the Nelson
amendment.
Nelson and Elkins Propositions.
In the last two days congressional visitors
to the White House have tended to ex-
pressons indicating that the net results Of
the trust agitation will be the adoption of
the Senate program, which is the passage
of the Nelson amendment and the enact
ment Of the Elkins bill, Strengthening the
interstate commerce laws, preventing re-
bates by railroads and discrimination. Sew
eral influential members of the House,
which had solidly voted for the Littlefield
bill, have expressed a belief that there will
be no legislation except the Nelson and
Elkins propositions. Senatorial callers at
the White House, are almost unanimously
of the same opinion.
They say that these two nlans for the
control and management Of the trusts will
result in good. Together, with abundant
appropriations to be placedsdn the hands
of the Department of Justice for the carry
ing out of laws now on the books some
thing may finally be accomplished in man
aging great aggregations of corporate char
acter.
Representative Littlefeld spent some time
with the President this morning. He does
not believe the Nelson amendment is strong
enough 10 accomplish all lnAt Is desired IN
the way of publicity. He will continue to
fight to have his bill become law. The
passage of the Nelson amendment, which
has been accepted by the conferees OF both
houses, does not necessarily put bar in
the way of the Lttlefeld bill, although
some of the main portions of the latter
cover the sal me ground as the Nelson
amendment. The passage of the latter,
however. will practically necessitate amend
ing the Littlefield bill. and, with unanimity
of opinion as to the Elkins bill, the chances
are decidedly aginst the Littlefield bill go
ing any further than al present, it is said.
Members of the House recognize this, it is
declared
Is Littledeld Bill Unconstitutional?
Eminent jurists in Congress and outside
have told the President they are confident
that the Nelson amendment and the Elkns
bill are both within the rights of the Con-
stitution, and therefore will receive the
sanction of the courts of the country. On
the other hand doubt has been expressed
as to the constitutionality of a good many
portions of the Llttlefield bill The admin
lstratlon does not it is said want to see
any bill put on the law books of the coun-
try that will be declared unconstitutional.
That would open the administration and
the republican party to the charge !.
having carelessly bungled the antitrust
laws it attempted to make
The Littlefeld bill, it is generally admit
ted to Congress by Attorney General Knox
but the weaving has been done in such
way as to cause doubts of conStitutionality.
Ihere Is no question that the Littlefield
Dill cannot be regarded as an administra
ton measure, as has often beer charged.
While not necessary that the administra
ton should be called upon to express it's
choice among the various measures, the
chances are said to be exceedingly strong
that if it were called upon to make choice
the Littlefield bill would not be the one
selected. This fact has been known for
some time.
Senators Aldrich, Beveridge and Spooner
were among the senators who talked with
the President today about the situation IN
Congress.
Department of Commerce Offices.
Although the department of commerce has
not become reality, it is practically GER
tain, and the President is already receiving
requests for appointments to positions in
the department. Congress has not even
provided positions in the new department,
but SO soon as the bill creating the depart
ment is signed the approprda tons commit
tees Of both Houses will agree upon appro-
priations to provide salaries for a secretary
Of the department, threes assistant secre-
taries. private secretaries and whatever
other offices are needed. The bulk of the
clerks and employees will be merely trans
ferred from one Departmental anot her, ard
the appropriations will be changed accord
1ngy. The offices that will be most asked
for will be those Of assist amt secretaries to
the head of the departments Senators Kean
and Dryden of New Jersey to-day called on
the President to ask him to appoint Ira
Harris Of Englewood, N. j. as an assistant
secretary In the new department The Pres
1dent merely said that he would give the
recommendation consideration. Mr. Harris
was formerly an officer In the navy.
Reluctant to Remove Irish.
The President has given some of the Cal
ifornia representatives In Congress to I'M
derstand that he has not decided to ap-
point another man as naval officer Of the
port of San Francisco in place of Colonel
John P. Irish The President is reluctant to
replace Colonel Irish, and the prospects are
that he Will not do SO, despite the efforts
of the California delegation to have Repre-
sentative Woods named as naval officer.
The President will reach decision shortly.
Representative Foster Of Vermont pre-
sented to the President E. r. sGebhardt and
wife OF Shelburne. VT. Representative Alex
ander and others presented friends.
Favors the Late President.
Senator Spooner presented some friends
from Wisconsin. among them being DR.. A.