Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-02-19
IS MORE DRASTIC
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
MAKES AMENDMENTS,
Littlefield Antitrust Measure Is
Amended in Many Important
Particulars.-SOme of the Amend.
ments Are Radical and All Tend
to Make Law More Binding.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE senate
committee on judiciary has concluded
consideration of the Littlefield anti
trust bill, and decided to report it to
the senate with a number of very i'm
portant amendments. The most i'm
pOrtant changes were made in connec-
ton with sections 4 and of the house
bill, for which the senate committee
will recommend complete substitutes.
Section &, as the bill passed the
house, prohibited persons engaged in
violating the provisions of the law from
using the instrumentalities OF interstate
commerce. This purpose is retained
in the senate substitute. but the scope
of the provision is enlarged
Section of the house bill imposes a
fine OF 81, 200 on common carriers for
the violation of the act or the existing
interstate commerce law. The substi-
tute uses the word "corporation" in
stead OF the words common carrier, ="
provides for forfeit to the United
States, and adds
For the purpose of said forfeiture
every sale of goods, wares or m.rchan-
disc for shipment outside the state
where said corporation is located and
doing business and every contract for
such sale, and every shipment of such
articles pursuant to such sale or con-
tract, and if such corporation be a COM
mon carrier, every day that it engages
in the business of interstate commerce
shall constitute violation of this sec
ton
A fine of IS, 900 or imprisonment for
five years, or both, is imposed on per-
sons who may knowingly cause or aid
any corporation to violate these stat
utes.
1t was over these two substitutes that
the committee had its sharpest contest
and closest votes. They were carried
by the full Democratic vote, with the
assistance of three Republicans, the
senators voting for the amendments be.
ing Messrs. Hoar, Nelson and McComas,
Republicans, and Bacon, Pettus, Tur-
ner, Blackburn and Culberson, Demo-
Gratis. The negative votes were cast by
Senators Plat, of Connecticut: Clark
Of Wyoming; Fairbanks, Simon and
Depew, all Republicans.
Rebate Section Eliminated.
Section 5, relating to rebates, is
stricken out entirely, because the Ques-
tion of rebates is covered by the Elkins
bill which already has passed both
houses.
Section was not changed, but Sec
ton 8, authorizing and designating the
legal process for enforcing the proposed
law was cancelled. That provision was
taken GU. of the bill be"ause the ground
is covered by the substitute for section .
Section 10 was not changed, but the
house provision in section IL, the last
section Of the bill, was materially mod
flied. The house bill awards damages
"threefold' to persons OF corporations
injured bv other corporations or per-
sons under the provisions OF the pro-
posed act. The committee struck out
the word "threefold," providing only
for damages and cost OF suit.
Only two votes were cast against the
final motion to report the bill. These
were given by Senator Platt, OF Con-
necticut. and Senator Clark, of Wv.
oming.
Senator Nelson offered a substitute
for the entire bill specifically declaring
against mergers on the part of the com
binations, but it was not accepted.