The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
BRANDE|s TO URGE
TRUST LEGISLATION
Hearings Already Have Developed
Cures for Almost All
the Ills.
NO REPORT EXPECTED
FROM THE SENATE NOW
Committee on Interstate Commerce
Controlled by the Stand
patters.

Louis D. Brandeis, otherwise known as
the peoples lawyer" and also consid-
cred as a probable member of the Cabi-
not after March 4, is coming on from
Boston to urge action by Congress this
winter upon pending trust legislation.
Mr.. Brandeis. who may be the next
Attorney General, is Of the opinion that
the voluminous hearings conducted by
the Senate Committee on Interstate Com
| merce, beginning in August. 1911, and
continuing all through the last session
OF Congress. contains about everything
that can be offered to remedy existing
conditions.
Recently It was decided to print Mr..
Brandeis' recent statements wherein he
takes issue with the Progressive party
concerning the regulation of trusts as
part Of the official hearings.
1t Is said by experts Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Bureau
of Corporations that the hearings on
the trust question under the title of THE
Control of Corporations" persons and
firms engaged in interstate commerce are
the most exhaustive ever held.
During the long series OF hearings up
ward Of 100 tentative propositions were
submitted to the committee, most of
them embodied in bills which were pre-
scented by the authors OF various schemes
to better regulate the trusts. railroads
and other Industrial combinations.
In addition to regular bills introduced
by Senators Clapp. Cummins. Bristow,
La Toilette. Newlapds. Williams Town
send. and Pomerena all members OF the
Interstate Commerce Committee. meas
ures have been submitted by Mr. Bran
deis as an amended form OF the La Fol-
lette bill; Samuel Untermeyer, Robert B.
Reed. Ebert II. Gary. and Victor Mora
wetz. OF New York; George H. Earle.
jr.. Of Philadelphia; Edgar H. Farrar. of
New Orleans; Samuel Gompers. Oscar
T. Crosby, and many others.
Really Started Money Trust Probe.
Whether Intentionally or not. the trust
hearings in the Senate are responsible for
the alleged Money Trust inquis.tion. Mr..
Bernard n. Baker. OF Baltimore, about
one year ago testified that he was pre-
vented from exploiting a great CONNER
cial enterprise. known as the Atlantic |
and Pacific Transportation Company, by |
the financial interests Of New York which |
made 1t impossible for his company, |
which was to save a great deal of money |
in carrying the United States mails, TO |
float its securities-in other words, Wall |
Street puts its veto upon the project.
Mr.. Bakers statement made in No |
vember, 1911, resulted In the several reso- |
buttons to investigate the so-called money |
combination of New York City.
The recent interview Of Senator Borah |
OF Idaho. in which he brings the Sherman
antitrust law forward as the paramount |
question to be settled at this time, has |
emphasized the general belief that an |
attempt will be made during the coming |
short session TO take up that much-dis- |
cussed law.
Committee VIII Not Report.
There will be nothing like a comprehen-
sive report from the Senate Committee |
on Interstate Commerce as now consti-
tuted.
But several times during last session
the Senate was on the verge of taking up
the matter independent of any report,
and to act upon the hearings that have
been so exhaustive.
The Progressive element of the COM
mittee consists of Senator Clapp. chair
man: Cummins OF Iowa, Gore Of Okla
homa, and Pomerene Of Ohio.
Shortly before Congress adjourned
Senator La Toilette was named as the
successor to Senator Nixon of Nevada,
who died during the summer. but the
Wisconsin Senator did not participate in
prior to the summer recess. Senator
Townsend (MiChigan) may be classed as
a near-Progressive. The old-time stand
pat Republicans seem to be in a ma
jority. and it is their policy, from all IN
dications. to make no report at all.
Senators Crane, Massachusetts,: Bran
degee Connecticut: Oliver. Pennsylvania;
Lippitt, Rhode Island; Watson, West
Clarke. Arkansas. and Foster
Louisiana, would block any radical prop
osition II II came to a vote.
Senators Cullom, Illinois, and Tillman,
South Carolina, were not able to take any
hand in the proceedings during the last
year.
The committee. in addition to studying
the numerous bill submitted by transpor-
tation and trust experts. have had a COM
pilation made OF all legislative acts. rules.
and regulations relative 10 the creation,
and regulation OF trusts and in