The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-02-12
IN CONGRESS
A Hard Fight Against All Antitrust
Legislation.

trust legislation, at least satisfactory
to the administration, is enacted at
the present session, President Roose-
velt, on the 5th of March. will call an
eighth Congress. The President him
self has already informed members Of
Congress of his desire and of his de.
termination in this regard. 1t Is under.
stood that the announcement was
direct and unqualified. 1t is further
stated that the determination Of the
President was reached only after
careful study Of the strenuous efforts
that are being made to defeat any
antitrust legislation by Congress.
These efforts have covered wide
range. They were characterized Sat
urday by one prominent Republican
leader, to quote him directly. "as the
most remarkable of which l have had
personal knowledge during my public
life" These efforts eliminated dur
ing the past SO hours, it is now de-
clared. in direct appeals from the
Standard Oil Company, through its
president. Mr.. John D. Rockefeller, to
the members Of the Senate not to en-
act any antitrust legislation at this
time. No less than6 United States Sen
ators have received kilograms signed
John D. Rockefeller urging that no
antitrust legislation be enacted. 1t
has not been possible to obtain copy
of these dispatches, which it can be
said, are practically identical. Sub
stantially thcy read as follows:
I'VE are opposed to any antitrust
legislation. Our counsel, Mr.. - will
see you. 1t must be stopped"
AS stated, these kilograms, and 1t
must be clear that only the substance
and not the exact wording is here
given, were signed, John D. Rockefel-
ler."
Yesterday morning one Of the coun-
sci Of the Standard Oil Company ar
rived in Washington, and called I'M
mediately upon members Of the Sen
ate as indicated in the kilograms. He
did not remain long. Scarcely had he
made known his business than he was
informed, a bit curtly, that his pres
ence here was undesirable and he left
with an intimation that he would bet
ter return to New York.
During the afternoon. information
concerning the receipt Of the mes
sases leaked out and became the sub
ject Of some quiet cloak room dis
cussion at the Senate. The news also
reached the House, some OF the promi-
nent Representatives learning the gist
of the dispatches. Then 1t became
known that this was not the first time
the Standard Oil Company, through its
attorneys. had endeavored to- In
fiuence legislation in Congress at this
session. The attorneys for the COM
pany, it was stated, had opposed
vigorously the enactment Of the meas
ure submitted by Attorney General
Knox to the subcommittee OF the
House judiciary committee. Subse-
quently, when what is known as the
Littlefeld bill was reported to the
House, it can be said on the best OF
authority, that the Standard OIL Com
pany's counsel began to devote their
opposition particularly to the Nelson
amendment to section 6 Of the Depart
ment of Commerce bill-the amend
ment which contains practically the
publicity features of the Knox anti
trust bill. They did not want that in
corporated in the measure, and, It is
said. used their utmost efforts to pre-
vent its favorable consideration. 1'hey
were unsuccessful, as the bill, with
that amendment. was agreed upon url-
animously Saturday by the conferees
Of the two branches OF Congress. Inc
action Of the conferees was received,
it is understood. with satisfaction by
the officials OF the administration, ana
it Is regarded as a long and essential
step toward the kind or antitrust leg
islaticn that both the antitrust ana
KnuN bill advocate. the legislation.
particularly that the Standard OH
Company SO vigorously objects to and
which it Is hoped might be headed OH.
or emasculated. through the appeals
made to Senators before It reached the
stage of actual passage
1t is said by authority that the ad-
ministration hopes the Elkins rebate
bill. which was passed by the Senate
this week. will be passed also by the
House. While this measure. too, IS OPP
posed by those who are in favor OF no
trust legislation, the special opposition
to it does not come from the Standard
Oil Company. because it is explained
that corporation has grown beyond any
effects the enforcement Of such legls'
lation might have upon it. The Presi-
dent. it is understood, regards the Eli
kins bill as essential to rounding out
of the ADMINISTRATORS plan for anti
trust legislation, and it is believed by
those in close touch with him and with
the conditions in Congress that II
may be enacted into law.
Saturday the efforts being made TO
defeat. or emasculate pending anu.
trust legislation formed the basis OF
some animated conferences. Indeed,
the subject is likely to be developed IN
some detail in Congress. One OF the
racin;ants of the agreement signed by