The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-05
SETH LOW TALKS
FOR FEDERATION
Hearing on the Proposed
Amendments to Sherman
Anti Trust Law.
OBJECT OF THE MEASURE
COMBINATIONS NECESSARY FOR
EFFECTIVE SERVICE.

Washington. April 4.-Arguments for
and against the proposed amendments
to the Sherman antitrust law recently
introduced by Representative Hepburn
| on behalf of the National Civic Feder-
alton, were heard today by sub-cem-
mittee of the house committee an the
judiciary of which Representative Lit
! tlefield of Maine is chairman. Seth
| Low of New York headed the delega-
ton that appeared for the measure.
Chairman Littlefield read q number
of kilograms from manufacturing and
business firms through the country,
vigorously protesting against the pro-
posed amendments, and attorneys rep
resenting nearly 200 associations of
manufacturers and business houses
were present in the interest of their
clients Seth Low, i'm speaking on the
objects of the National Civic Fedora
ton in preparing All amended bill,
said:
Combinations Necessary.
Common carriers should be permit
ted to combine and to make traffic
agreements, for combinations and traf-
fiC agreements often mean more effec-
tive service of the public. What is
wanted is effective public supervision
and not absolute prohibition of the
very thing that may secure the best
public service. II is singular that a
people who have constituted the great
est republic in history by the combina-
ton of many states, should ever for a
moment deny its own commercial
agencies the opportunity of giving bet
ter service by proceeding along the
same lines. Regulation. not prohibit
ton, should be our watchword in al
such matters. There is scarcely a line
of commercial business, if there be
even one. in which combination in re-
straint of trade is not sometimes de-
sirable in these days. In the public
interest no less than in the interest OF
trade; for modern business is very
complex, and its problems are otter
trade problems, as distinguished from
investment problems.
mo law can set aside the universe
law which leads men in these days e
combine, and to do so precisely in pro-
portion as they are intelligent and
free.
Situation IntoIerabIe.
"As a further aggravation to the sit.
uatiOn, the antitrust law is a pena
one. Yet no one is able to be sure as
to certain agreements whether they are
lawful or not. 1t respectfully submits
that this is a situation which is liter
ally intOlerable.'
Mr.. Low pointed out that the bill t
amend the Sherman act introduced by
Representative Hepburn would affec
only those corporations which would
take out national licenses and thus bt
a conservative method of testing how
a law on new lines is likely to work
Said he:
IF it become a law it is almost GER
tain to lead to a large measure of pub
Lefty; and that, in the opinion o.
many, is likely to be the cure for mos
of the evils that have brought abou
too great legal restraint
There is much reason to believe tina
, publicity will make the criticism o.
: corporate undertakings more intelIi
gent and, therefore, in the main more
friendly
, "The National Civic Federation fully
understands that there may be homes
difference of opinion as to the genera
scheme of the bill under discussion; bu
: While the bill may not escape criticism
: we believe it capable of vindication."
Mr.. Gompers Emphatic.
Samuel Gompers, president of tn,
American Federation of Labor, wa.
the principal speaker at the Afternoon
session, and he sounded warning tina
the worlSingmen of the country would
not wait much longer for the passage
of remedial legislation.
Mr.. Gompers told Of the advocates o
the laboring interests when the senate
was considering the original anti-trus
law, asking to have it amended to 81
provide that the act shall not be con
; strued to apply to any arrangements
| agreements or combinations between
labOrers, made with the view of lessen
ing the number of hours of labor or tn
, increasing of their wages. nor to ar
, engagements, agreements or cOmbina
tons among persons engaged in horti
culture or agriculture made with
view of enhancing the price of agricul
tural or horticultural products.
This amendment, said Mr.. GOmpers
was at one time agreed to, but wa
not in the bill when it passed tina
body In 1901, he said, a hearing wa
given by the house judiciary commit
tee on this amendment. Il believe MI
4 Littlefield will remember that hear
ing" continued Mr.. Gompers.
LittlefieId Remembered.
Il remember it quite WELL" replie
j Mr.. Littlefield. Il was one of thos
who voted against it."
r Mine voted against it," reioined Nj