The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-09
TWO GOVERNMENT
ANTITRUST BILLS
INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
YESTERDAY.


of n COmmIssiOn to Carry Out Its
ProvIsiOns-Main Features of the
Measures
Washington, Jan. S.-Two antitrust
bills prepared by Attorney General
Knox were introduced in the house this
afternoon by Representative Jenkins,
chairman of the judiciary committee.
These bills are said to represent the
views of the administration on the
question, being along the lines Of the
suggestions contained in Mr., Knoxs
letter to Senator Hoar and Mr.. Little
field.
One Of the bills amends the Sherman
antitrust law to strengthen and per-
feet it to meet the views of the attor-
ney general, the chief feature being a
provision that it shall be unlawful for
any person to offer, grant or give or
solicit, accept, or receive any rebate
concession or service in respect to the
transportation of any property in in
terstate or foreign commerce where by
such property is transported at less
rate than that named in the published
tariff of the carrier, fine of $1,000 be-
ing provided; and that the circuit
courts of the United States are invest
ed with jurisdiction to prevent and re-
strain such rebates.
The second bill provides for the ap-
pointment of a commission to carry out
the provisions of the Sherman act, as it
is prposed to have it amended.
1t is provided that the commission
shall be a bipartisan affair, but the
bill as introduced leaves blank the
number of commissioners to be ap-
pointed, the length of their service, and
the compensation they are to receive.
The commission is to have secretary
and neither the secretary nor the COM
missioners are to engage in any cor
porate business while holding office.
The bill confers on the commission
powers somewhat similar, though
much stronger than those possessed by
the interstate commerce commission.
Representative Jenkins said tonight
regarding the measures: ''They were
drawn by the attorney general and rep
resent the views of the president and
the attorney general on the subject Of
trusts. The bills will both have my
support in the house. When say that,
I do not want to be understood as hav-
ing surrendered my convictions that
the only way to efficiently curb the
trusts is through an amendment to the
constitution. But l feel that 1t is my
duty to subordinate my personal views
to the policy of President Roosevelt in
securing any remedial legislation he de-
sires.''
Section 1 and of the bill to amend
the Sherman law provide that it shall
be unlawful for any person or persons
to offer, grant, or give, or to solicit, ac-
cept or receive any rebates, concession
or service in respect to the transporta-
tion of any property in interstate or for
eign commerce by any common carrier
subject to the act to regulate commerce
whereby any such property shall by
any device whatsoever be transported
at a less rate than that named in the
tariffs published and fixed by such car
rier as Is required by said act to regu-
late commerce. Every person who shall
offer, grant or give, or solicit or re-
ceive any such rebate, concession OF
service shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanor and on conviction thereof
shall be punished by a fine of not less
than $4,000.
Section 2-If any joint stock company
corporation or combination or any
agent thereof shall solicit, accept or re-
ceive any such rebate, concession ol
service as Is herein above declared tc
be unlawful, it shall be unlawful there.
after to transport any article owned ol
controlled by such company, corporation
or combination or produced or manu-.
factured by it by whomsoever the samt
may be owned or controlled, from the
state within which such article
is produced or manufactured
If any such joint stock company, cor
poration or combination shall offer
grant or give any special prices, induce
ments or advantages for the sale Of ar
ticles produced, manufactured, owned
or controlled by it to purchasers in any
particular locality in order to restrict
or destroy competition in that locality
in the sale of such articles, it shall be
unlawful thereafter to transport any
article owned or controlled by it, or pro-
duced or manufactured by it. by whom
soever the same may be owned or con-
trolled, from the state within which
such article is produced, manufactured
owned or controlled; provided, however
that the prohibition imposed under this
section shall not apply to any article
purchased bonafide before the decree
made in pursuance hereof against the
joint stock company, corporation ol
combination producing, manufacturing
or heretofore owning or controlling the
same: and provided further, that ever
after decree any such article may be
relieved from the prohibition imposed
upon this section if the owner thereof
shall show to the satisfaction of the
court having jurisdiction of the rSltter
as hereinafter provided, that such arti
Gle was purchased bonafide, without no
tice and within thirty days after the
entry of such decree. Any transporta-
ton company, and any officer, agent ol
representative thereof, knowingly con
cerned in the transporta ton of articles
in interstate or foreign commerce con
trary to the prohibition of this section
shall be punished by fine OF not less
than $4,000.
The remaining sections provide the
machinery for carrying the law into ef
feet, investing the circuit courts OF th'
cLo+A. G6ictiOO in tIt