Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-11
MAYBE An EXTRA SESSION
IF ANTITRUST LEGISLATION 10
NOT SATISFACTORY.
President Roosevelt Has Told Mem.
bers Of Congress His Plans to Defeat
Efforts Made to Defeat Any Anti.
Trust Legislation by Congress
Rockefeller TeIegraphs to Senators
to Stand by the Trusts.


to Stand by the Trusts.
Washington, Feb. St can be stat
ed on authority that unless the anti
trust legislation is at least reasonably
satisfactory to the administration, as
enacted by the present congress, Pres.
ident Roosevelt on the 9Th OF March
will call an extraordinary session OF
the Fifty-eighth congress. The presi.
dent himself has told members OF
congress OF his desires and of his de.
termination in this regard. 1t is un.
derstood that the announcement was
direct and unqualified.
1t is further stated the determine.
ton Of the president was reached only
after careful consideration of the
strenuous efforts being made to defeat
any antitrust legislation by congress.
These efforts have covered a wide
range. They were characterized re.
Gently by one prominent republican
leader, to quote him directly, las the
most remarkable which l have ever
personally known during my public
life."
Rockefeller Makes Appeal.
These efforts eliminated in direct
appeals from the Standard Oil com.
pany, through its president, John D.
Rockefeller, to members of the senate
not to enact any antitrust legislation
at this time.
No less than six United States sena.
tors have received kilograms signed
John d. Rockefeller" urging that nc
antitrust legislation be enacted. 1t
has not been possible to obtain a copy
Of these dispatches, which, it can be
said, are practically identical. Sub.
stantially, they read as follows:
I'VE are opposed to any antitrust
legislation. Our counsel, Mr., will
see you. 1t must be stopped"
AS stated, these kilograms land i,
must be clear that only the substance
and not the exact wording is here Civ.
en) were signed John D. Rockefel
ler."
One of the, counsel for the Standard
Oil company did arrive in Washington
and called Immediately upon members
of the senate, as indicated in the tele
gram. He did not remain long
Scarcely had he made known his bust
ness when he was informed, q bit
CURLY. that his presence here was I'm.
desirable, and he left with an intima.
ton that he would return to New
York.
Then 1t became known that this was
not the first time the Standard Oil
company, through its attorneys, had
endeavored to influence legislation In
congress at this session. The attor.
neys for the company, it is said, had
opposed vigorously the enactment Of
the measures submitted by Attorney
General Knox to the subcommittee OF
the house judiciary committee. Sub
sequently, when what is known as the
Littlefield bill was reported to the
house, 1t can be stated on the best OF
authority that the Standard Oil com.
pany's counsel began to devote its op.
position particularly to the Nelson
amendment to section Of the depart
ment of commerce bill. The amend
ment, which contains practically the
publicity features of the Knox anti.
trust bill, they did not want incorpo.
rated in the measure, and, it is stated,
used their utmost efforts to prevent its
favorable consideration. They were
unsuccessful, as the bill, with that
amendment, has been agreed upon
unanimously by the conferees of the
two branches of congress. The action
Of the conferees was received with sat
isfaction, 1t is understood, by the Of.
ficials of the administration, as it is
regarded as a long and essential step
toward the Kind of antitrust legisla-
ton that both the president and At
torney General Knox believe will be
effective. 1t is stated that kind of
legislation to which the Standard Oil
people so vigorously object, and which,
it was hoped. could be headed off or
emasculated through their appeals to
senators before 1t reaches q final
passage.
1t is said the administration hopes
that the Elkins rebate bill, which was
passed by the senate will be passed
also by the house. While this meas
ure, too. is opposed by those who are
in favor Of no trust legislation, the
special opposition does not come from
the Standard Oil company, for, 1t Is
explained, that corporation has grown
beyond any effects the enforcement of
such legislation might have upon it.
The president, 1t is understood. re.
CARDS the Elkins bill as essential to a
rounding Que of the administrations
plan for antitrust legislation, and it is
believed by those in close touch with
him and with the conditions in con.