Connecticut western news., 1908-03-26
CIVIC FEDERATION BILL
Amendment of Sherman Anti.
 trust Law Introduced.
OF GREAT INTEREST TOLABOH

Ill CIVIC federation bill, aimed to re store to labor unions their right to strike, but leaving the boycott, picket ing and other weapons of organized labor under the ban of the law and dealing with national control of cor porations, was introduced in the house by Representative Hepburn.
 The bill was prepared by the fedora. ton after conference with the presi. dent and representatives of capital and labor. It is designed to relieve the stringency of the Sherman antitrust law and the suppressive effects of the recent supreme court decisions. It is the first formal step toward carrying out the presidents programme of leg islation. F
 Defeated in his efforts to get from the administration the legislation de manded by labor, President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor will turn his attention to congress and endeavor to have that body amend the bill along lines that he will suggest. Pending the outcome of these efforts he will prepare his plans for fight at the polls. It is believed that another address to organized workingmen will be shortly issued by MT. Gompers. <
 More Control Over Corporations.
 The bill proposes greater federal con trol of corporations by means of sys- tenn of registration amounting to fed eral license, legalizes railroad pooling subject to approval by the federal au- thorities and in certain respects limits the applicability of the Sherman anti. trust law to labor unions and granges The one disagreement among the con- ferees was over the question of grant ing full immunity from the operation of the Sherman law to labor organiza- tions. Ir
 Following is a summary of the bill:
 First.-Industrial corporations, un- ions and granges may register and while registering shall be entitled to the benefits and immunities of this act
 Second. They may effect registration by filing data (A) as prescribed by pres ident for corporations; B) for unions and granges as prescribed>by law.
 Third.-When date is so filed commis- sioner shall register He may cancel registry for noncompliance.
 Fourth.--(A) president shall prescribe by regulations the information which Is prequisite of registry and shall di- rect general procedure thereon. (B) Registered unions and granges shall have benefits without filing agree ments.
 No Prosecution After Thirty Days.
 Fifth.-Any registered corporation or association (except common carriers), if party to a contract or combination hereafter made, may file terms of same with commissioner. Commis- sioner may find the contract or com bination unreasonable. If commis- sioner does not within thirty days so find, no prosecution lies on account of said contract, unless it is unreasonable. but consolidation or merger hereafter made must be filed to entitle corpora ton to registry and then be disapprov. ed by commissioner.
 Sixth.-Common carriers may file contracts with interstate commerce commission for the same purposes and with the same effect as set forth in paragraph 5 above. .I
 Seventh.-Section 2 of the Sherman law, as applied to the future, is reduc- ed to single damages.
 Eighth.-As to past conduct, only sin gle damages can be had, and no suit at all can be brought later than one year after the passage of this act.
 Ninth.-General amnesty from the Sherman law for registered corpora tions, unions and granges as follows:
 (a) No prosecution by the United States for past combination or action if the same was reasonable, etc.
 (b) After one year from the passage of this act there shall be no prosecu- tion by the United States for any con- bination or action made prior to act, whether reasonable or not.
 Tenth.-All pending suits are saved and preserved. ..t -.
 Right to Strike Not Restricted.
 The bill specifically declares that 1t shall not restrict the right of labor to strike or of employers to discharge any or all of their employees. Labor may strike for better wages or conditions of work. Employers may lock out any or all their workmen in the effort to secure more satisfactory terms of em- ployment. Labor unions are specif1cal- ly allowed to organize and to combine among themselves or to enter agree ments with employers, and similarly employers are empowered to combine among themselves to promote their own ideas of proper relations with la Dor.
 In registering under this act cor porations must file their articles of in- corporation, names of members and all other information prescribed in regu- lations to be approved by the presi dent; shall give the names of direct ors and managers and shall set forth in detail all contracts and combina- tions they may have made with other corporations or associations, and if within thirty days this statement Is not disapproved by the commissioner of corporations, then no prosecution