The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-06
Unless Some Sort Of Anti Trust
Legislation Is Passed.
the HOAR BILL IS REPUDIATED.
Administration 0lscIalms All Connection
With II and Its Author Is
Almost Alone.

| WASHINGTON. Jan. s-Many senator's and
representatives. including some of the
| Republican leaders, called upon President
/ Roosevelt yesterday and talked with him
! about legislation TO be enacted at the
present session and more than one OF
them came away with the impression
| that unless some sort of antitrust legis-
lation i'm line with the well known views
| of the administration is enacted an extra
| session of the 5sth congress will be called
| to meet Immediately after the ith OF
| March.
None of the presidents callers would
| admit that the statement was made TO
| him in so many words that an extra ses-
| sion would be the result of failure to
| legislate against trusts, but the opinion
is becoming widespread that it is the
| presidents intention 10 call the new CON
gress together should the present one ad-
iourn without action on what he REGARDS
as the most important question now pe-
fore congress and the pubic.
The trust question Is the one that IS
being discussed everywhere in Washing
ton at present 10 the exclusion OF almost
all other topics. and Senator Hoars $ cnar-
acteristic bill for annihilating trusts, pre-
sented TO the senate clerks last week
when the senate was not In session. is
the particular thing at which all the
discussion Is aimed.
I'm 10 the time when the senate met
yesterday il looked as II the hoar pih
would have no defender, advocate or
friend except its author The ADMINS
tration through the department. Oh JUS
tice took early opportunity 10 prove an
aIibi and disclaim ali responsibility for
the bill. and as for senators and repre-
sentatives generally, Including those VINO
are good lawyers, as well as those VINO
are not they could not say things mean
enough about the measure.
BILL RIDICULED.
They denounced II and ridiculed it in
turn. and pooh poohed the idea that there
would be any serious intention OF pass
ing H. About the time that the two
houses convened. however, sponsor was
found for the waif in the person OF the
able lawyer. practical legislator ana
shrewd politician, the Hon. James KIM
brough Jones of Arkansas, the repu,eo
leader OF the Democrats In the senate.
Mr. Jones announced that while he had
only read the bill through once. and had
not therefore. given II that profound
thought which its Importance ana merits
justified. he was prepared 10 say, on his
responsibility as a Democrat and a sena-
tor that the bill was n good one.
He has no doubt whatever, but VIII at
| the frst leisure moments proceed to read
Il more thoroughly in order 10 find out
more OF its good points than he was able
to discover In the hasty first reading that
| he has already been able to give IT.
Whether the administration does not
| take to the Hoar bill because IL Is 100
| drastic or because II is not drastic enough
| Is not quite clear. but light will be thrown
upon this point by the publication shortly
of n communication which Attorney
General Knox has addressed to the judic-
| iary committee OF the senate and house
| setting forth his own ideas and presum-
| ably those OF the president as to the
| character OF the legislation that, In their
| opinion, should be enacted.
Mr.. Knox did not take this action Of
| his own voliton, but was invited by the
congress committees TO give them the
| benefit of his advice and suggestions as
| 10 the best method OF carrying out the
presidents recommendations for bust
| ing the trusts.
KNOX DIsAPPROVED.
The attorney general was consulted by
! senator Hoar when he drew up the re-
markable bill, hut he did not prepare
| any Of its provisions and II is under
| stood does not approve Of some OF them.
There are several statesmen in each
| house who are just itching to get at the
! trusts but the trouble is that each has
| a different plan for getting a them. As
| yet the senate leaders have no program
| whatever for legislation during the re-
| naming 80 days OF the session.
There are many very important mat
ters that must be disposed OF in addition
| 90 the regular appropriation bills. but
| the whole situation Is tied into a double
| bow knot by the fact that the Omnibus
| Statehood bill has the right OF way, and
| cannot be showed of the track. Until
| some arrangements are made for dispos
| ing OF this BILL no program Of work can
be agreed to- The Republicans are de-
| termincd that the bill as ID stands shall
| not pass. and they will probably be able
To carry out their plans Notwithstanding
| the shrewd tactics and powerful re-
sources of Senator Quay. who with the
| Democrats is determined To put the bill
! through.
As to trust legislation. Il is practical
! ~ certain that u anything n all is pass
cd II will be bill ia the nature Of
amendments to the Sherman antitrust
! act OF such a mild character that they
| will be agreed 20 practically by unani-
| nous consent owing % tho conditions
! existing In both houses. 10 will be- Inn
! possible to pass amy bill Of a general
| character 20 which there ls ser Gus op-
! position. or that would lead 20 prolonged
debate.
NAY BE APPOINTED.
Washington. Jan. s--It IS stated at the
Z a.. 4.