New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-11
TRUSTS CHIEF SUBJECT.
INTEREST IN CONGRESS.
Both Houses Azcaiting 4ction By
Committees.
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBusE.I ]

Washington Jan. 10.-Congress at the present
moment is in the position of waiting on the ac-
tion of two of it's committees on the question
of antitrust legislation The subject is upper
most in the minds of members of both branches,
particularly since the latest move of the ad
rninistration has been disclosed in the introduc-
ton CT the two bills prepared by the Attorney
General. These bills have been presented TO the
House only and those close to the administra-
tive branch of the government say that a mis-
take was made by Chairman Jenkins of the
House Judiciary Committee, and that the work
of the Attorney General was only intended for
the enlightenment of the Littlefeld sub-com-
mittee and not for introduction into the House.
However this may be. the interest of President
Roosevelt in the problem to be solved is clearly
shown in the activity of his immediate advisers.
and all this is having an enlvening effect on
legislators.
To-day's progress in the trust crusade in
cluded activity in both Senate and House COM
mittees. Senator Hoar's bill was considered in
the Senate Judiciary Committee. and the Little
field trust committee of the House held meet
ing and decided to postpone the reporting Of
their handiwork in the shape of an antitrust
bill to the full Judiciary Committee from Mon
day until Friday, in order that the Knox bllls
may receive due and careful consideration The
committee began this careful consideration to-
day, and will hold daily meetings until Friday
on the same subject. From the expression OF
members, however, there is no feeling among
them that the two bills interjected into the
equation so suddenly Thursday night are
sacred for amendment, even that they may
not be ignored completely in the final report OF
the subcommittee. The reason this attitude IS
taken toward the bills is stated by member Of
this subcommittee. follows:
I'VE had the views of the Attorney General
at length before drafted the committee bill.
and this draft predicated on those views
which included the doctrine of publicity. In
the subsequent bills. which the Attorney General
presents there is nothing regarding publicity,
and the subcommittee, in its final conclusions.
will necessarily take the whole recommenda-
tions of the administration into consideration,
and if this is done publicity will certainly have
to be made a part of the legislative enact
ments"
There is another difference between the sub
committee and the Attorney General whicn
promises to be a fruitful theme of debate. II
nothing more That is the question of the COM
mission suggested by the law officers OF the
government. A new commission, no matter
what may be the purpose of its organization
presents many striking allurements to certain
members of Congress, particularly those VINO
did not succeed in convincing their constituents
that they ought retain their seats In the leg
| islative halls of their country The sup-coln-
mittee believe only in enlarging the scope and
authority of the present Interstate commerce
Commission. but the Attorney General has dis-
tinctIy suggested entirely new commission
| both in his letter of recommendations to Con,
gress and in the bills which he has prepared
on this subject If the subcommittee. there
fore should bury this feature it may bury witE
| it also one of the very potent levers needed t6
| carry any piece of legislation through Congress
| the personal incentive of members.
Progress in the Senate committee was not
| marked by any tangible results. and the situa-
| ton in the House may be summed up in the
simple progress only of an understanding tt
| delay final report to the full committee from
Monday. the original date set to Friday, the de
! layed date on account of the administration
| measures so that the waiting attitude of Con
gress will have to be continued for at least hve
i days longer.