New-York tribune., 1903-02-13
LAST ANTITRUST BILL.
MAY Pass HOUSE TO-DAY
WI Complete the Programme OF
President and Senate.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Washington Feb. 12-If the programme on
the boards tonight is carried out tomorrow
the last act in the Senate programme, which
is also the Presidents programme for the regu-
lation of the trusts will be Complete-that Is
the passage of the Elkins Anti-Rebate bill by
the House. Representative Hepburn, chairman
of the House Committee Interstate and For
eign Commerce has had the promise of a rule
for the consideration of the Elkins bill, which
is the last of the four enactments which go to
make up the Senate programme" Opposition
to this measure seems to have disappeared, and
the only obstacle now in its way is the demand
for time Representative Fowler. who is cham
pioning the rubber currency scheme for ma
tional bank circulation, claims priority rights in
the House between the appropriation bills A
conference between the leaders this afternoon
developed the fact that little time is needed on
the Elkins bill, and the programme practically
agreed upon is to put that measure on its pass
age as soon as the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill is disposed of tomorrow. This bill has been
hanging fire for two days and the discussion
period is believed TO have now been passed.
STANDARD OIL STORY DIsCREDITED
Mr. Fowler said tonight that he would be
Perfectly willing to give way to the Elkins bill
with the understanding that there to be
little discussion on it. Il presume would have
to- anyway" he added. showing that he has
received an intimation that nothing is to be
allowed to interfere with carrying out the anti
trust programme of the Senate. Opposition
from the trust sources to this bill has, far as
appearances at the Capitol are concerned. COM
pleteIv disappeared The bill has been indorsed
by the railroad interests from the first, and
the failure TO discover any authentic kilograms
alleged to have been sent by the Standard Oil
interests has utterly discredited that sensa-
tional story in the minds of the legisla tors The
debate OF the bill will not be extended. if the
information of the having it in charge is
correct No opposition has developed on the
Republican side of the House. and Democratic
interference will be made only for the purpose
of putting on record the extreme views of that
side of the House on the general subject of trust
legislation.
FOUR THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
With the passage of the Elkins bill, the ac-
complishments by Congress in the way of fur
ther regulation of corporations, largely because
of the insistence of President Roosevelt will
have been these:
First-An appropria ton of s.O0OOO, to be used
by the Attorney General in the employment of
expert legal talent in the prosecution of suits
against monopolies under the various acts for
their regulation.
Second-The passage of the hurry up bill,
TO expedite cases pending in the federal courts
agairst monopoes.
Thfrd-The publicity amendment and the ma
chinery for carrying it into effect contained in
the bill creating the Department of Commerce.
This bill is in the hands of the Attorney
General for his approval to its constitutional!
ty before receiving the signature of the Presi-
dent.
Fourth-The passage by the House of the FL
kins Anti-Rebate bill, which is the programme
for o-morrow the first moment which the
House finds itself free from the consideration of
an appropriation bill.
PURPOSE OF THE MEASURES
An analysis of these various trust remedies
shows that the Elkins bill applies trans
portation companies. and is intended 10 put
a stop to the giving of special rates. rebates
or discrimination to shippers. evil which
has been generally complained Of by both rail
roads and shippers.
The publicity feature in The Department of
Commerce bill is made to apply only to indus
trial corporations and this publicity is to go
only to the extent of information to government
officials for the purpose of regulation and super
vision.
The bill making antitrust cases i'll the courts
'preferred' egisla tion on motion OF the Attor-
nev General meets the approval of the Law De
rartnent of the government and the corpora
tions which have been proceeded against A
nota bIe instance OF this is in the case against
the Northern Securities Company. in which both
Mr. Morgan and Mr.. Hill have complained that
the delay in reaching decision is tying up
canitnl and creating an uncertainty with ref
ereuce TO future plans.
The money given to the Attorney General will
strengthen his hands greatly in the preparation
of cases the taking of testimony and even the
arguing of cases before the courts, as II will
enable him to secure the services or nigh priced
attorneys in special causes.
Altogether the programme, commonly called
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