The Washington times., 1908-04-04
Littlefleld as Strongly Op-
poses Hepburn Antitrust
AnendmerS.

When the representative OF the Civic
Federation appeared today before Rep
resentative LIttlefield's subcommittee OF
the House Committee on judiciary, 10
ask favorable action on the bill amend
ing the Sherman antitrust act, they
had # borne IN upon them that the vel
coming smile and encouraging word
Nere not being overworked by the sub
committee in their behalf
Mr.. Lttlefield, who came face to face
today with Samuel Gompers, president
OF the American Federation OF Labor.
for the first time since Gompers gave
out his interview saying that Littlefeld
had a yellow streak down his back,
went after the labor section OF tie pro-
posed bill in great shape He also paid
his respects IN no uncertain terms 20
other portions OF the pending lsgisla-
ton.
Opening the hearing, Iittlefeid read
about a dozen telegrams he had re-
ceiVed from business houses and cor
porations from various parts OF the
country bearing such messages as the
following:
For Gods sake XII the Hepburn
bill"
If this bill. which legaIizes the boy
colt, is passed, the country viii be
handed over to TIE Democrats.
Kill the bill, OF all confidence in our
Government viii be destroyed"
Mr.. Low Speaks.
Seth Low, who was the first speaker,
said:
Common carriers should be permitted
TO combine and to make traffic agree
ments in proper cases and under suit
aoIe governmental supervision; for com
binatiOn and traffic agreements often
mean more effective service 10 the pub
lie. What IS wanted is effective public
supervision. and not an absolute pro
hiDition Of the very thing that may
secure the best public service &"
Several courses 70 remedy evils OF the
present law are possible, Mr.. Low said
These he enumerated, but pointed out
what he considered serious defects in
each. He then explained IN detail the
salient points in the Hepburn bin. and
elaborated on it's advantages. Publicity.
he urged, is likely to be the cure for
many OF the evils which have brought
about too great restraint
''The advantage OF publicity are two
sided" Mr.. Low continued. Men whose
corporate activities, within proper lin
its are to be made matter Of public rec
ord. are likely to be careful not 10 do
anything they are not willing that the
public should know. On the other hand
much of the criticism Of corporations
on the part of the people at large is
due to the fact that they don't under
stand corporate methods or corporate
procedure. There is much reason 10 be-
Iieve that publicity viii make the criti-
cfsm Of corporate undertakings more in
telligent, and, therefore, in the main,
more friendly. Rightly or wrongly, peo-
pie believe that publicity means fair
dealing with the public.
The clause relating 10 certain phases
OF trade disputes has been inserted in
The bill with the purpose OF ruieting
the fears OF organized labor, Iest even
strikes and labor unions and trade
agreements may be declared Illegal un-
der the Sherman antitrust act as in
restraint OF trade.
Mr.. Low then pointed out that the
Supreme Court has decided that many
things come under the law which law
yers asserted it die not apply TO. The
bill merely enpts from Jurisdiction OF
fhe Sherman law the right OF working
men 70 organize, strike, combine. and
make trade agreements with their en-
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