The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
Administration Will Urge
Changes in Trust-busting.
THREE NEIGHTY EVENTS
White House Conference Last
Night Leads the List.
President Decides 10 Favor MOdiica-
mentS-WiH Have Employers Lin
biIity Bill Refrnmed to Meet SUI
prcme Court Objections - Labor
Men Confer with Cannon.

Three events Of significance which took
place in Washington yesterday tend 10
show most conclusively that the admin
istration will seek to have the Sherman
antitrust law softened toward labor and
toward railroads. too; that the Attorney
General is not to arouse labor at present
and that Congress viii be asked not to
perperrate any more trust-controlling
legislation for the present.
The first event. which forms a fitting
crown upon dozens of rumors of confer
ences at the White House. was made
known last night. II was TO the effect
that the President has decided that the
old, true and tried Sherman antitrust
law will be amended. 1t will like the
tariff be amended by it's friends
A conference last night at the White
House between the President. Secretary
Of the Interior James r Garfield, Herbert
Knox Smith. chief Of the Bureau Of Cor
porations, and Charles p. Nell. commits
sicner Of labor. which lasted until almost
midnight. resulted in the information that
three notifications will he proposed 20
the famous mainstay of the trust busters.
The first conclusion reached at the con-
ference was that Attorney General Bona
parte, Charles ?. Nell. and Herbert Knox
Smith snail prepare three bills to be
submitted 20 Congress as soon as pos
siole
The Proposed Bills.
The bills proposed are:
First-A bill 10 amend the sherman act
so that il viii be possible for industrial
corporations TO unite under the super
vision of the Bureau of Corporations.
and that railroads may be allowed to pool
rates. if the pooling arrangements are
submitted 10 the inspection of the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
SecOnd-To amend the sherman anti
trust act or put in the form OF original
legislation a statute TO exempt labor
unions from that clause Of the Sherman
law which prohibits combinations in re-
ssraint of trade
Third-TO amend the employers liabil-
ity law 70 meet the objections voiced
by the Supreme Court In its recent de-
cisiOn which declared that law unconsti-
tutiOnaL
1t is possible that as the outcome Of the
conference the President will send a spe-
cial message in the near future, as it is
understood that at meeting of labor
leaders in this city next Wednesday il will
be asked to decide what steps shall be
taken 70 secure one Of the amendments
named-that affecting combinations in re-
straint of trade.
But the conference at the White House
last night was not the only conference Of
Importance affecting the pleasant opera
tion of trust busting or trust control
which took place in Washington yester-
day. Labor leaders, high in authority of
their organizations, who have been in
the Capital for several days, yesterday
saw Speaker Cannon concerning labor s
views on the continuation of trust
busting policy.
Have Made Faee-abOut.
The labor leaders have suffered practi-
cally a face-abOut. and are.now anxious
that no further action in the way of
railroad legislation. Of a curbing nature.
be INDUCED in by Congress. The pecuni-
airy difficulties and evil days into which
many otherwise prosperous roads have
fallen in late days. as a result of legisla-
ton. and as a result Of the fear Of more
legislation, were mentioned as reasons
why Congress should not further monkey
with carriers at present.
Four chiefs of railway employees are
seeking TO carry out the desired end.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers: A
b. Garretson, chief OF the Order of Rail
way Conductors; p. ]. Morrison. chief of
The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
and II. 3. Purham, chief Of the national
organization OF railway telegraphers
These heads Of labor unions are here
10 urge the leaders Of Congress not TO
enact any legislation that will affect the
revenues OF railroads They say that the
railroads are seriously embarrassed in
trying to live up to the prevailing wage
scales, and the chiefs of the unions are
anxious to prevent anything I'm the way Of
legislation that will make it difficult for
railway companies 10 maintain the present
scales
About twenty-five bills intended to cause
a reduction i'm railway rates are pending
in Congress. one of these prohibits a rail
A'aa AiDii NtisaA HiliSs ia dilF circumstances.
less for long haul than for a short haul.
Another requires railroad companies to
issue l0000 mile interchangeable mileage
books at the rate OF > cents mile
Mr. BOnaparte Talks.
While the conference between the labor
leaders and the Speaker can only be hint
ed at, an interview given out by Attor-
ney General Bonaparte yesterday in
clines clearly 10 the belief that the ad-
ministration is softening toward labor.
In fact, the labor unions have nothing
10 fear from the administration by rea- |
son of recent court decisions i'm the Dan |
bury hatters and the Buck stove and
Range ceScs.
Immunity from prosecution is promised |
until certain further matters in the courts |
Continued on Page 2, Column 2.
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