New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
LOW AND GOMPERS TALK
HEPBURN BILL HERRING.
Passage Of Sherman Lac 4nsend-
ment Urged-Opponents Monday.

WeHt tFSed-CppOnentS VI OnGHU.
Washington. April s.-The proposed amendments
70 the Sherman antitrust law as framed by the
National Civic Federation ard introduced in the
House recently by Mr.. Hepburn Of iowa were
advocated to-day before a subcommittee of the
House judiciary Committee by Seth Low OF New
YORK. president OF the Civic Federation: Samuel
Gompers president OF the Federation Of Labor.
A b Garrettson. OF Cedar Rapids Iowa president
OF the Order of Railway Conductors and Theodore
Marburg. OF Baltimore
mat there is strong opposition n the proposed
measure was intimated by number of telegranls
MADE public by Chairman Lirtlefeld of the sub
committee from manufacturing AM other business
concerns throughout the country The hearings
WIN De continued on Monday. when counsel for
hrns representing the opposition will be heard
nose VINO appeared to-day for the measure.
ASIDE from the ones already mentioned included
r n Gary, Albert Shaw. Isaac n Sehgrnan Victor
MoraW-tz. Charles a. Moore. William !. Schief-
1ehn' John : Huyler. Y. E Macy, William G.
Breed and Ralph NJ Easley. all of New York: John
NhtcheL Of Indianapolis. the retiring president of
the United Mine Workers of America: D j Keefe
or Detroit; Samuel Mather. Cleveland Henry l.
Higginson. Boston; Franklin MacTeagh. Chicago:
Frank Faxan. Kansas City Mo: MahIon Kline
Philadelphia: Professor J. ". jerks. Ithaca y Y.
and J W Kinnear Pittsbu-g
Mr.. Low was the first speaker. He said in part:
The problem with which the bill introduced by
@ @ eP6nn & 9nf pregsd under si the - agEpoes dIo IS
not an easy one. but il may be stated very plain
Y As result Of long series of decisions by
last made clear to everybody doing Interstate
commerce by the methods Of combination which
are characteristic OF these times that much of
sugh business Is done contrary TO Law
stands that there NAV be honest differences of
opinion as - the general scheme Of the bill under
icism- we believe il capable Of vindicat ton Let
the EenbT 10 m 4ke Glear [e s5ent s Tes69Fes qd
lleIaeq OF dealing with a situation which is con-
,.,,D n. The benefits and immunities offered by The
mon carriers with The Interstate @ommerCe COM
porations. and registration is optional There
fore, the bill affects only those who choose TO
he e 6sed feq feF bS 70 the he Elf 6 snG snG
for cause without appeal TO the courts
m b an bi GorgorsI3Rs s and associations affected
Tor proht and having capital stock and tb) those
9- r2S Iof prqnt @nG not having capital stock Tie
called for BY general regulations to be prepared
finances. their contracts and their corporate pro
ceedings The second class file their consti-
office and the names and addresses Of their on
ceTs and standing committees: but this distinc-
VIA then are The benefits TO be derived from
lLFor the pubic. reasonable publicity. such
as some corporations already give Voluntarily.
- For existing combinations and contracts
not be attacked by the government except upon
as to ire iona 7r5Or 10 he
massage OF the act a statute Of limitations Of one
81 For combina tons TO be formed hereafter
ne Dill provides that. if not disapproved within
thirty DAYS (he President in his message suggests
these caTndf % %TRereafo t be ffack
- Contracts or greI5enfS 9 m Esfrafr Of
G L-ade 70 be made hereafter need not DE filed any
more tnan the! are now: but if they fled. the
same RUE apples that is to say, if not dsapproyed
OF Lle erounq mat they are IN unreasonab bic re-
clause ca-+.5- -t,,-o.
pose OF Guietng the fears Of orp3nzed IaboT Ia+
even strikes and labor unions and trade agree
men Inents may be declared Illegal under the Sherman
The clause merely limits the purpose and effect
' ol {ae anflI1FsJ law; and does not assume TO
Of The an4:+rS,s4 act v,oIiJ b 10 me PaSsage
purpose Of eectinc boycot or ~ jiir; 'ot b e
snd the proposed amendment confers no such right.
that the shall not hare the effect OF
preventing employees from exercising their right
an cause % right 70 coTh a. % ~ "R ~ 5o
r1th Zach other and with employers for the pur-
t,eor +eTT3s c+c tn srreIa 1[G ePi2yers ] sa,lS
powers 70 discharge tfeir eInployes and TO COM
their employees are equally recognized
Samuel C5ompe7s president the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. was the principal speaker at the
afternoon session He said that the workingnlen
OF the country would much longer for the
passage Of remedial legislation He continued:
IS
antitrust law. it is q combination law. Ii is
la8 against associated effort. II a law some
hing Ike law which obtained about thou !
sand years a so in Rome that made every form OF
proved by the Emperor unlawful We favor the !
enactment Of laws which shall restrict the juris
dic-iOu Of equity to property property
rights. and shall define property rights that /
directly indirectly shall there he held
10 be any property property rights in the labor
Of person
You may drive the and women Of labor
or.a ufza1ions into secret organizations: you
organize and remain organized. II not in the way
YOU will permit by law. they viii organize in /
secret and neither ukase injunCtons are going
10 drive them OF this country What hope !
h. in modern industry must meet as /
an indiui6uaIo 7 afraid TO give my mind range
possibilities Of such condition or arTairs
contend for organizations OF labor Jhat they
NJ C-onlpers said that he would give the fullest
,-,o-+ IN the purposes Of the proposed legisla- 7
- sf+t,o,lrl7 his organization was adverse to !
- nzations clause or the
hin He did not think these organizat tons should
~ reo,irAd TO register IN order 70 get immunity /
.,-s- the act but should be placed in the same /
--i.tor tba,- occupied before the Sherman anti.
--,.4 lsv- was enacted He suggested an amend /
,er+ n +be bill under discussion similar in terms
- Tho one the labor o-ganizat tons tried to have /
o,--,ra-e5 IN the sherman act when it originally /
passed Congress
After sneeches by 4 3. GarTettsou and Theo-
ire NfarfIrz in advocacy Of the proposed ieg1sla-
t, tba committee adjourned until Monday morn /
NJ v,hen the opponents of the measure will be /
heard