Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-21
EDMUNDS ON AMENDING ACT
Author OF Anti Trust Law Dis
cusses Proposed Changes.
criticism Of Argument for a Statute
More Explicit In Transcription
on r. II. Gary's Plan of
Federal Commission.

Ex-senator George r. Edmunds, chair
man OF the United States Senate judi
| ciary committee which drew UP the
antitrust law in 1880, has given to the
Evening Post his opinion on the various
proposals to amend It. which he did not
DISCUSS In that article. He now states
his own view Of the recent agitation,
especially in Wall street. over the alleged
obscurity in the present antitrust law
and the difficulty encountered by busi-
noas men In finding whether their own
business projects are contrary to the
law. or not, the Post continues He
speaks with particular energy, regard
ing the argument that the law ought TO
define with great cxplcitness what Is
violation OF It's terms and declares
that legislation with, such minute pro-
visions would be absurd and impraotic-
able.
From the proposal Of T.. H. Gary and
others, that a federal commission be APP
pointed to administer tho law, supervise
industrial corporations. and the intHa-
ton, by Mr. Gary and Mr. Roosevelt,
that such commission might take
hand in regulating prices of commodities
ex-senator Edmunds dissents strongly.
and although himself strong republi-
can in politics. he regards such pro-
jet as an unwarranted interference with
the powers and responsibilities properly
lodged with the States.
MIR Filmunds served as United States
Senator from Vermont in the twenty
five consecutive years between 1866 and
1871 He was powerful influence In all
the legislation of the period and his
high reputc as constitutional lawyer
gave him leading voice in some Of the
most important statutes Of the day; In
cluding the specie resumption law. With
him, on the Senate judiciary committee,
which drew up the antitrust law of 1880
In exactly its present form, were such
other well-known Congressional lawyers
as Senator Evarts Of New York, Senator
lioar of Massachusetts, Senator
Vest of Missouri. Senator Ingalls, of
Kansas and Senator Pugh of Alabama
Five gu, Of the eight sections OF the
ant-trus; law were drawn up by Senator
Edmunds personally.
NO PERIL IN QUASI-PANIC.
Mr.. Edmunds thus states to tho Even
ing Post his opinion on the proposed al
terations OF the law:
You say that at the present moment
the difficulty Of the discussion lies in
;he perfectly well-meannG argument OF
many sound business people that the
law leaves sufficient uncertainty, re-
earding who and what are amenablc. to
make it difficult for a given business or.
Ganlzation to be sure what would be It's
position il challenged under the law; and
that there Ia no doubt that this view
OF tho case Is shared by Il great part
or the business community.
You ask my views regarding this part
OF the subject. | think land. indeed, fee
, corfidenD that the solicitude OF the we'll
meaning people you refer to has beer
in large degree created and fomented BY
selves Of having violated this law with
!, their eyes open, and have knowlng,
, taken risk of punishment with the same
, hopes that all law breakers have tha
, they will not be brought to justice. Tn,
feeling You mention is G quasi-panc tina
believe intelligent and honest men vii
soon recover from. No instance has.
think, occurred in the numerous case:
prosecuted under the law. where an!
transaction has been condemned tina
. was not manifestly upon the proofs. ;
clear violation of 1t. as | have said il
the North American Review.
Doubts in regard to the construction
OF laws. contracts. and duties OF Eoo'