New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-08
THE CONSPIRACY BILL.
Gompers to Haze a Hearing
visions of the Measure.
ryRom THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington Feb 7.-Samuel Gompers. presi-
dem. Of the American Federation OF Labor, will
have a hearing by the House COMMITTEES on Ju-
dietary tomorrow. He will support the bill in
troduced by Representatives Grosvenor. or ONO,
to define the meaning OF the word conspiracy
and regulate the of restraining orders ana
,n,rnct,on. This bill passed the House in the
I,xIIth Congress but failed in the Senate. and
has bean re,ntroduced by its author. 1t Is said
,ba. +ba great latitude permitted by It's pro-
visions ala not. at the time Of its passage. ap-
40, 20 tba lower chamber. but has since aroused
,o.,,,s, Of uneasiness which is developing into
a formidable opposition
con,net.nt legal authorities who have care
fulIv examined the provisions OF the measure
declare that they would remove from uiiuer 'ne
oneration Of the Sherman Anu-Irusl ie" VI
200 ,.,,racies in restraint of trade growing
=. -. labor disputes It Is also asserted tnat
.,,. .rforcament would prevent criminal prose-
cu-,on and the issue Of Injunction 1or 'ioia-
ITO, ~ law. Another objection urgeo - '"a'
49,, n,o,,Id prevent prosecution for conspiracy
for offences against the united 0'i'e'
-,als were obstructed. II such cases arose out
- ,,-,,,os batveen employers and employees
Tho Grosvenor bill. Invested OF us Veroiase
defines conspiracy as follows
,.,,. No agreement combination or contract
-. ~ be,veen two or more persons 10 90 OF
,,rocure to be done. not to DO OF procure ho'
20 be done. any act in contemplation OF Iur
.,.-arcs of any trade dispute between employ
- - ar,nloves shall be deemed criminal. nor
eto,1 ,bosa engaged therein be indictable or
o.bary;ss punishable for the crime OF con-
.n,racv ~ such act committed by one person
wound not be punishable as crime
7, &c further provided in the measure that no
s,cb agreement combination or contract shall
- considered as in restraint OF trade or COM
,,arca The opponents of the measure contend
,bat this provision is intended to exempt en-
n,overs or employees contemplating or engaged
an the furtherance of any trade dispute from
the operation OF the Sherman Antitrust law
They further assert that the Sherman act makes
contracts and agreements in restraint or trade
and commerce criminal and imposes upon those
making them penalties OF fine and Imprisonment.
and makes no discrimination between classes
and individuals .
Renresentative LittIefeld. a member Of the
House Committee judiciary, holds that the
provisions of the proposed measure are open 10
grave criticism. and says;
This bill would, in my judgment. authorize
a large number of persons engaged In the Iur-
therance of a trade dispute orally TO threaten
personal violence and injury TO persons prop
erty. business and occupations lntimidate
and coerce by oral threats-as such an act when
cornrnitted by one person. is not punishable as
crime The only remedy for a threat 10 do
personal injury in nearly every State jurisdic-
ton is a proceeding to place The party making
such threat under bonds to keep the peace and
would be punishable a crime IL such
threat is ever punishable a crime. IL Is
ception 10 which attention has not been called.
and certainly Is not the rule This being the