The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-04
Listens to Pleas for and Against
Hepburn Bill.
SETH Low SPOKESMAN
On Behalf of the National Civic
Federation.
He Heads q Large Delegation of
Distinguished Members.

washington, April 4.-Arguments
for and against the proposed amend
ments to the Sherman antitrust law
recently introduced by Representative
Hepburn on behalf of the National
Civic Federation were heard today by
subcommittee of the house commit
tee on the judiciary of which Repre-
sentative Littlefeld of Maine is chair
man. Seth Low Of New York headed
the delegation that appeared for the
measure. 1t included the following:
Former Mayor Seth Low. E. H.
Gary, Albert Shaw, Isaac N. Seligman,
Victor Morawetz, Charles A. Moore,
William j. Schiefflin, John S. Huyler,
v. E. Macey. William C. Breed and
Ralph M. Easley, all Of New York;
PRESIDENT Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor; John Mitchell of
Indianapolis. the retiring president Of
the United Mine Workers of America:
d. J. Keefe of Detroit, Mich; Samuel
Mather, Cleveland, O.; Henry L. Hig-
ginson of Boston; Franklin Mac
Cedar Rapids, Ia; Theodore Marburg
Baltimore: Frank Faxon, Kansas City,
Mo-; Mahlon Kline, Philadelphia; Prof
j. w. jerks. ithaca, N. Y, and j. w.
Kinnear, Pittsburg.
Chairman Littlefield read a number
business firms throughout the country,
vigorously protesting against the pro-
posed amendments, and attorneys rep
resenting nearly 200 associations of
were present in the interest of their
clients. Seth Low, in speaking Of the
objects of the National Civic Fedora
ton in preparing an amended bill
said:
Seth Lows Address.
Common carriers should be per-
mitted to combine and to make traff1c
agreements in some cases under suit
able governmental supervision; for
commission and traffic agreements
often mean ore effective service Of the
public. What is wanted is effective
public supervision and not an abso-
lutte prohibition of the very thing that
may secure the best public service.
''It is singular that a people. who
have constituted the greatest republic
in history by the union of many states,
should even for a moment deny its
own commercial agencies the oppor-
tunity Of giving better service by pro-
ceeding along the same line. Regula-
tion not prohibition should be our
watchword in all such matters. There
is scarcely a line of commercial busf-
ness, if there be even one. in which
combinations in restraint of trade are
not sometimes desirable in these days.
In the public interest no less than IN
the interest OF IrdOe, LOT IIlOoCiH Il DuSi-
ness is very complex. and its problems
are often trade problems, as dlst1n-
guished from investment problems.
mo law can set aside the universal
law which leads men in these days TO
combine and to do. precisely in proper
tion as they are intelligent and free.
''As a further aggravation to the
situation the antitrust law is penal
one. Yet no one is able to be sure as
to certain agreements whether they
are unlawful or not. 1t is respectfully
submitted that this is a situation,
which literally is intolerable.''
Mr.. Low pointed out that the bill to
amend the Sherman act introduced by
Representative Hepburn would affect
only those corporations which would
take out national licenses and thus be
4 conservative method of testing how
q law on new lines is likely to work.
He said:
sIf it becomes law it is almost
certain to lead to a large measure OF
nublicity: and that in the opinion of
Ynany is likely to be the cure for most
Of the evils that have brought about
foo great legal restraint.
ssrThere is much reason to believe
that publicity will make the criticism
of corporate undertakings more INTEL
lipent and therefore in the main more
friendly. -,
"The National Civic Federation fully
understands that there may be honest
difference of opinion as to the general
provisions of the bill under discussion.
iut while the bill may not escape
criticism we believe it capable OF vim