Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-02-12
WASHINGTON NOTES.

Last Saturday several members of the
u. s. Senate received messages from
the President Of one of the great corpo-
rations Of the country, reading
I'VE are opposed to any antitrust
legislation. Our counsel Mr.. K,
will see You. 1t must be stopped"
During the afternoon information
concerning the receipt Of the messages
leaked out and become the subject OF
some quiet cloakroom discussions at the
Senate. The news also reached the
House. some Of the prominent Represeni
tatives learning the gist ofthe dispatches.
Then it became known that this was
not the first time the Standard Oil Com
pany, through its attorneys. had en-
deavored to influence legislation in Con-
gress OF this session. The attorneys OF
the company. IL was stated, had op-
posed vigorously the enactment Of the
measures submitted by Attorney
General Knox to the subcommittee Of
the House Judiciary Committee.
Subsequently, when what il known as
the Littlefield bill, was reported to the
House, it was said that the Standard
counsel began 10 devote their opposition
particularly to the Nelson amendment
to section six Of the Department Of
Commerce bill-tIie amendment which
contains practically the publicity fea-
lures Of the Knox antitrust bill. They
did not want that incorporated in the
measure. and, it Is saiu, used their ut
most efforts to prevent its favorable
consideration.
They were unsuccessful, as the bill,
with that amendment, was agreed upon
unanimously by the conferees Of the
two branches Of Congress. The ac-
ton Of the conferees was received. 1t is
understood. with satisfaction by the
officials cf the Administration, as it is
regarded as long and essential step
toward the kind OF antitrust legislation
that both TIE President and Attorney
General Knox believes will be. effective.
1t is this legislation particularly that
the Standard Oil Company so vigorously
objects to, and which 1t hoped might be
headed off or emasculated, through the
appeals made TO Senators. before it
reached the stage of actual passage
IL Ii said by authority that the Ad-
ministration hopes that the Elkins re.
bate bill, which was passed by the Sen
ate this week, will be passed also by the
House"
The Littlefeld antitrust bill was
passed by the House Saturday by vote
Of 247 to 0 after several amendments
had been proposed and voted down.
On Thursday last the President sign
ed the bill which anne nds the bankrupt
cy law Of 1893. Ii permits creditors TO
retain money received from % bankrupt
prior to his bankruptcy; provides that
II a voluntary bankrupt seeks TO go
through bankruptcy more than once in
six years he shall not be discharged and
and that the appointment Of receiver
for an insolvent corporation is an act OF
bankruptcy.
On Friday last President Roosevelt
definitely refused to act as arbitrator in
the Venezuela matter; Mr.. Bowen con
tinued to confer with the ENJOYS and
the matter will probably go to the
Hague commission.
On Tuesday, the House, by an oyer
whelming vote. concurred in tho con
ference report on the Department of
Commerce bill, the important feature
OF which Is the Nelson amendment, re-
During publicity with regard TO the
affairs Of corporations, and while the
Democrats in the Senate will likely
'chcw the rag" to use a common ex-
preston over the matter, II IL believed
that it will go through without much
delay. The House Democrats protested
against the Nelson amendment as made
quate and ineffective, but that was
more as matter OF form than anything
serious, as 1t would not do for them,
from party standpoint, to admit that
the Republicans could or would do any
thing right.
The Senate bill TO prohibit railroad
rebates, introduced by Senator Elkins.
OF West Virginia, was favorably re-
ported to the House with some slight
amendments, over which it is believed
the two houses will not dispute, and
rule for its consideration will follow.
There seems TO be no doubt that the
Houee will speedily pass 1t. These two
measures, with the bill introduced by