Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-05
VIEWS AS TO TRUSTS
Attorney Generals Sugges-
tions Awaited With Interest
TO CLEAR SITUATION
LIVELIEST INTEREST IN THE
COMMUNICATION MANIFESTED.
Opinion in Congressional Circles
Comment on Senator Hoar's
Measure.
O CLEAR SITUATION

AS an Indication of the earnestness of the
administration in behalf of antitrust legis-
lation and the intention of republicans in
Congress TO cooperate, the committee on
judiciary of the Senate and the committee
on judiciary of the House were advised to-
day that Attorney General Knox had pre-
pared and would submit at once some Sug-
gestions which. in his opinion. ought to be
Incorporated in any antitrust legislation
contemplated by Congress.
The action of the Attorney General In
this instance was in response to a request
made by the subcommittee of the House
committee on judiciary having the anti
trust bill in charge. The request was pre-
ferred some time ago and the Attorney
General has been working upon it diligent-
Iy. Inasmuch as the Senate committee on
judiciary now has the subject of antitrust
legislation before it in the bills introduced
by Senator Cullom. Senator Hoar and
others, the views of the Attorney General
requested by the House committee will
likewise be transmitted to the Senate COM
mittee
Liveliest Interest Shown.
The communication from the Attorney
General had not been received up to late
hour this afternoon by either committee.
The liveliest interest is manifested by men,
bers of the House and Senate committees
in the Attorney Generals letter 1t is as
sumed that he will go into the subject at
length, and that the recommendations
which he will make for antitrust legisla-
ton will be unassailable in so far as the
judgment of the highest legal authority can
make them bomb-proof.
AS soon as the Attorney Generals COM
munication is received the House subcom-
mittee will hold meeting and take it up,
and will probably make 1T public unless the
information conveyed should be of highly
confidential character, which is deemed i'm
probable.
Congressional Opinion.
In congressional circles the opinion pre-
walls that the first practical antitrust bill
will come out of the House committee. In
dications were plentiful today that the Sem
ate committee on judiciary will not be so
apt to act quickly some of the intro
ducers of antitrust measures hope. There
are signs of approaching conflict Of opinion
In the Senate committee apparent from ex-
pressions dropped by prominent senators
in the course of conversations on the sub
tect. Senator Hoar's bill does not receive
unanimous approval of republican senators.
The senator will be afforded the widest lati-
tude of senatorial courtesy in regard to ex-
preston of views upon his measure, but it
Is said that when 1t comes to consideration
OF the bill in committee other senators will
exercise the right to present dissenting
views upon the various propositions in
volved in the bill.
1t already is apparent that even should
MIR. Hoars bill pass the Senate it would
not have easy shedding in the House. The
men in the House who are charged with
the responsibility of preparing antitrust
legislation for the consideration of that
body already are on record as opposed to
legislation so far reaching and. as it is
claimed. so radical that proposed by
Senator Hoar.
To Clear the Situation.
The suggestions of the Attorney General
are expected to clear the situation materi-
ally. Senator Hoar's bill was distinctly dis
avowed as being an adm inistration meas
ure. and the tentative legislation suggested
by the House committee was not claimed to
bear the imprint OF administration approval.
Whatever the Attorney General may recon-
mend in this line undoubtedly will be re-
ceived as official. and republican leaders in
the House and Senate VIII be confronted
with the responsibility of enacting it into
law or permitting 1t to perish with the dy-
ing Congress.
The Senate committee on judiciary pro-
poses to go ahead Immediately with the con-
sideration of the trust question. Senator
HOar secured from the Senate TODAY consent