New-York tribune., 1903-01-16
TRUST BILL POSTPONED.
KNOX NOT 81 TISFIED.
attorney General Finds the Little
field Measure Full of Flazrs.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


Washington, Jan. 15.--Attorney General Knox
has caused another delay in antitrust legisla-
ton In the House. He summoned the Littieheld
antitrust subcommittee before him to-day Tor
a last conference. When the conference ended
the members of the subcommittee went to their
room at the Capitol and continued in session
behind closed doors until after o'clock this
evening. When the session over the for
NAL announcement was made that after the
conference with the Attorney General the sub
committee had been considering his added rec
concentrations, we'll as the general form
Of the legislation; that no definite action had
been taken, and that the subcommittee would
not be able to report to the full COMMITTEES De
fore the early part Of next week.
1t was just a week ago to-day that the SUB
committee completed its bill and was prepared
to report 1t the next day to the full committee
Just at that moment the Attorney General
transmitted his two bills on the subject of trust
regulation to Chairman Jenkins of the Judiciary
Committee. The subcommittee withheld It's
contemplated report until these bills could be
considered. Daily meetings have been held
since that time. and yesterday the members of
the subcommittee took luncheon with the Prest-
dent and showed him the second edition of the
bill completed. After the conference at the
White House the statement made by the
Littef1eld committee that the finishing touches
would be put the bill this afternoon, and that
1t would positively be reported to the full com
mittee tomorrow. But Mr. Knox had not been
satisfied. One of the members of the sub-com-
mtttee this afternoon remarked, with consider
able dtscoura cement in his voice, that the At
torney General had made many suggestions
orally to-day as he made in writing originally,
and that the committee had resolved to take all
of them into account The Attorney General is
said to have punctured holes in the committee s
bill through which he could sweep sideways a
long freight train full of interstate commerce.
On the other hand he was inclined to draw down
the blinds on the glaring publicity provision of
the BILL and 1T is the proper modification of this
section which is causing the most trouble. Be
sides pointing out weak places in the commit
tee measure. he also propounded problems for
the subcommittee solve in the way of addf-
tional legislative sections to the bill which viii
make continual performance programme
necessary for some days.
When asked to forecast what the bill would
contain when all this had been accomplished, a
member of the committee threw up his hands
and declared that he could not predict single
provision. From what was limited 1t seems that
the whole bill will have to be practically rewrit-
ten. When this is done it is suggested that the
subcommittee will report it to the full Judiciary
Committee without taking any more chances at
conferences with the executive heads of the gov
ernment.
The impression Is apidIy growing among the
leaders of both houses that the antitrust meas
is becoming so ponderous in its period of in
cubation in subcommittee that it will appal
the ordinary legislator, and when 1t does finally
emerge the floor will require much debat-
ing and consideration that it will be only in the
preliminary stages of passage when March
arrives and this Congress expires