New-York tribune., 1903-02-07
CURBING THE TRUSTS.
WHIT CONGRESS- WILL DO
-Four Remedial MeasUreS-LHtie-
field Bill Not Included
lay rrLren.rH TO THE rnIprsE.l

TBy TELEGRAPH TRIBUsE.l
Washington. Feb 6-Attorney General Knox
has embodied his ideas publicity for indus
trial corporations in an amendment to the bill
creating department of commerce and labor,
which is in conference. The amendment
referred TO and designated the Nelson
amendment provides. adopted, for the ap-
pointnent of commissioner Of corporations
whose duty il shall be 10 gather statistics re-
gardng the fna ncial operations and the organ
ization Of Industrial corporations The in
formation so sathere; is TO be solely for the use
Of the President of the United States to guide
him in his messages TO Congress, and in taking
proper legal steps against corporations which
may be violating the rules Of trade or endeavor-
ing TO establish monopolies The commissioner
of corporations is TO have practically the same
authority over industrial corporations as the
Interstate Commerce Commission now has over
transportation corporations.
There is only one question, minor difference
between the two houses yet remaining TO be
agreed upon before a report can be submitted
10y the conference committee. This matter VIII
undoubtedly be settled at the meeting which is
10 take place ct l O'Clock tomorrow. 1t con-
Germs the wording which shall he used in elimi-
mating the Interstate Commerce Commission
from the new department The language OF
the bill as it passed the House made it dis
cretionarv with the President include at
some time in the future. statistical and scien-
tifc bureaus and the Interstate Commerce
Commission in the new bureau The confer
rees agreed 10 eliminate the interstate COM
rrerce Commission The point was raised ley one
Of the Senate conferrees that the language
should make il discretionary with the PRESIDENT
IN incl,Ide such statistical or scientific bureaus
Of the government as he might see mt, except
the Interstate Commerce Commission This
,k-ill he
and a report on the bill authorized
The changing Of Section g of the bill, which.
as il passed the House simply created bureau
OF corporations without any specific duty. TO a
commissioner Of corporations with speclhc
movers and authority, is regarded as removing
the last necessity for the Littlefeld bill, which
is still under consideration in the House The
massage by the House OF the Elkins Anti-Rebate
,,iu which has been agreed upon by HOVE
leaders will complete the Senate programme for
,rer legislation at the present session. and will
result in strengthening the hands Of the Attor-
rav General in several important and specific
rse,eo,e The legislative accomplishments will
be these:
An anpropriation of S-000O0 for the employ
-oen+ of expert legal assistance in the prosecu-
ton Of the antitrust laws.
A law. already passed. making cases against
,ornorations -'privileged' proceedings in the
federal courts
Penalties against the giving or receiving OF
rebates on interstate commerce-proVided Tor IN
the EIkins bill. which has passed the Senate
Publicity to disclose. for the purposes OF reSu-
Iation the doings Of Industrial corporations
While only one of the four specific rernedles
for the trust evil has been completed, so far as
Congress is concerned-the bill TO expedite
suits--he enactment Of the other measures Is
r2oy assured There viii be no opposition to
the conference report the bill creating the
rew department which provides for the public
ty feature. and the appropriation Of s5ooYOoo
has been agreed TO by both houses. The ap-
propriation bill Of which it is part is still in
conference but this item is not subject TO
change.
The Elkins bill then, is the sole piece of this
legislation which may be said to be only nan
through This bill will be considered by the
House Committee Interstate and Foreign
Commerce of which Representative Hepburn
of Iowa. is chairman, at its regular meeting
on Tuesday There seems no doubt that II viii
receive the favorable consideration of the COM
rnittec at that time. SO far has been demon
strated. there is no opposition to the measure
The runor that Speaker Henderson would block
consideration of the bill in the House is declared
70 be without foundation. The Speaker has
evinced no opposition to the bin. When the blu
has been reported from the Commerce Commit
tee. a rule viii be forthcoming from the Com,
naittee Rules giving it the right OF way IN
the House.
This plan throughout hes the approval of the
President.