New-York tribune., 1908-03-24
HEPBURN OFFERS BILL.
TO 4MEND SHERMAN L1U
CEfc Federation Measure Intro
duced IN the House.

washington. March cs-The bill prepared by the
Rational Civic Federation. after conferences with
Ere President and representatives of capital and
,snor. 10 relieve the st-ingency OF the Sherman
.,.,---l,s1 lsw. introduced in the House to-day
- Representative Hepburn. OF Iowa. chairman o.
the Committee on Interstate ana Foreign Com
r,e-ce Il vas referred by Speaker Cannon to that
committee. and II is understood that President
Roosevelt in a message to Congress Will make a
-.ro-1rreadetion concerning It
one Of the most interesting sections OF the fed
.-stion bill is that which seeks 10 relieve organized
lsbo- from the effects OF the recent Supreme Court
decision IN the Danbury hatters' case The section
< IS follows
Nothing in said act in this intended
nor shall any provision thereof hereafter be en-
forced SO as TO interfere with or TO restrict any
rxht OF employees strike for any cause TO
Combine 70 contract with each other with
employers for the purpose CT peaceably obtaining
from employers satisfactory for their labor
cr satisfactory conditions Of employment. so
10 interfere with or 70 restrict any right of en-
zloye-s for any cause 10 discharge all or any OF
.hei- employees, TO combine TO contract with
rach othe- with employees. for the purpose OF
poacca5y obtaining labor on satisfactory terms
Nh LOWS EXPLANATION
T.le following statement by setn Low. president
sf 1he Civic Federation. accompanies the bill:
: The Sherman antitrust law forbds all CON
Cscts o. combinations or conspiracies in restraint
OF trade. sno any Monopohzing OF or attempt 10
Eonopolize trade The nrst six sections OF the act
deal with the powers Of the government in relation
thereto The seventh and last section OF the act
gives private parties right 10 sue and TO collect
TIE TriJed States Supreme Court by e long
series q decisions has held that this law applies
10 common carriers. 10 business corporations and
e n1s'eSS men men ano & Csc 70 ia2oT - ofssIll75'Gs s @
c6ed that any action in restraint OF trade so Tar
Ehs-he- such action he reasonable or not.
Ire bin submitted By the National Civic Fed
e-a-on Goes not attempt 10 cange the IegaL status
u anything condemned as in restraint OF trade
80 q EaT by ai9ich under certain conditions
co-1h-nstioDs and oonT5ec1s IN restraint OF trade
TACK The BENEFITS and inInunities offered by the
proposed bill therefore viii be in the main con
~ the interstate Commerce Commission and all
oshe-s vf-h the Commissioner OF Corporations in
rhe Department Of Commerce and Labor It is
r-oposed 70 amend section OF the Sherman anti
'-1st scr ny cutting out the provision for three
I'd osnases redlcl1g the an1ouhL thaf @ o5 can %
iE7- Eve-booy. whether registered or not VIII
s-ro-E c9-To-s tons FOR profit and having
-zpi-sl stock and also corporations not for profit
and TOT having capital stock may register, hut
..s-Sa. - ;-cIt,5a ccrTers+ve orSaniza5ions as
VI business corporations, agricultural and
amor organizations and the like II they 90 regis
- -erfs-e- they remain under the Sherman anti
--1s- laE, uuaneTded- IN order 70 register ccr-
orfEs5 70 give such Information in regard 70 their
financial condition their contracts and their cor
z-e regulations from time tine TO be made ~
President -fTSC
.or p-oft and not having capital stock in or
Ce- register must set forth their charter or
-=ei- principal Office. and the names OF their d.
-ecyo-s o. osnaERg c1Ie7s az sfsnol3s con- Co1
oo-arion association that +s registered may be
tine 70 file the statements 70 give the inforna-
Ton required under this act or II comply win
re requirements q this act case information
furnished by Il shall be false in any material par
ricular- Any ore feeling asg-leTed ~ tne dscsl2a
= remove i from registry has al appeal 10 me
courts
s<soci2fi5 op dens ss GETS Certain irliTities
ss 70 the past, and the benefit OF proFisions by
- = ~ ,-3-sz . = s,-zS m Se Tes4rssn+ Of trade
g - e3Ts-e - o5,rsr.e-s o. co+rsc+s The govern
-ec- IS given thirty daTs in Thlcn 70 clsaPproFe
g- contract agreement fled by corporation Or
association registered under tie act and II Wlt1i1
49,. dsyz he Eoge-s-t Goes n2{ ais9Pa-ore s
-sck Il except through the courts and t1e1 oIl-y
--zse Cs7n--acts Or agreements calling for new
a-s1ess combinations must oe MEG tonIracts o.
business may be fled or not al pleasure sQoh con
e Z not 9led 90 9ot ss I me e6FI ofen' - o,;z 81 ,s
70 1le such : co7trar- unless ne wants 70 90 50
c sT T2 M - PSS prozeta S PTGP35e sn6 eandsd E @
ere-- precisely IS though tre Sherman an,-tr.lst
81 had not been RrT1erdec but t1aS no new Pro Pro
0se6i-gs shan - begun under The sherman anu
y confirmation made prloT - ne paSS@se or b i
amending act unless TIE same Dc IN
- s e1 &c u-fs- re " sbe-7lan arti-tr7Isr law
=s-e- one ysar from the passage OF the snenQlns
In new of the doubt thar has been raised IN
-t-e minds ~ 1heFheT the sherman
=--f----.zs zrr does -or make even strike IN
r-z-F-- ? clause Included II -he bill distinctly
-e-e-z-rr fo- labor al rights that they have now
Il antitrust act 70 COM
+f-- and strike and . make trace agreements
I'd rese--i1E for employers Of labor the ooTrela-
-fz-te % combine and % discharge their en-
oi0Tes
re --z-lo-s interests affected d the blIi-raii-
-oz5x business agriculture and labor--so FAR as
for T->-7t. accord WITH ne cesfre
SEE for -14 BUSINESS interests of TIE counrZ
H. -Ha hi
'=5o- = -eT-lSe-r-| ~ the American Federation
= ~ -rf-ky that = Is entitled n be relieved
e-~-~ Sherman ---r.s- scE entirely KNOW
- - ---e- df@fe-enc. o. optrion IS To the bill