The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-20
Steel Investigation Ora 6 5
Along Without Decision
Being Reached
REJECTED PLAN OF
PERKINS AND GARY
Startling Feature WillRestrlct
President From Exercis-
ing His Function of
Pardons

WASHINGTON, July I9.--The
Stanley steel investigating committee
was in session all day and tonight the
Democrats were considering the ma
Jority report and the Republicans
members ofthe committee. Gardner
port, and at midnight neither had
reached a ha monious decision.
Whether the Democratic members
can agree on the conclusions prepared
by Chairman Stanley is an open ques-
tion. The Republican members will
NOT subscribe TO the views presented
by Representative Young, of Michi-
gan. ranking Republican member
Ills report lis a whitewash of the
steel eorporatio1. Two Republicans
members OF he committee. Gardner
and Sterling Will not subscribe to this
report. The outcome may be that
minority report will be- written by
Gardner and signed by Sterling aud
danforth. his Republican colleagues.
leaving to Young the privilege of M
ing an individual report. The Demo-
cratic majority behind Stanley la pre-
pared 10 compromise Tonight they
worked IN fhe transportation end or
the report and Stanley was put on the
defensive.
The report Of the coIrmittee Will
be chiefly interesting because OF the
leg station which II will recommend
as a result OF the conditions disclosed
by the committee probe,
These bills VIII comprise a series
covering the whole scope of remedial
legislation for what the investigation
has developed TO be the principal
evils Of the Industrial situation sur
rounding the workings y. the steel
trust. Incidentally. the way will tie
pointed out for legislation covering all
similar industrial activities.
WIN Present Two Hills,
The committee will present for the
consideration OF the house two i'm
portant bills and several others OF
minor Importance. one bill will deal
exclusively with proposed amend
ments To the sherman Law. It's most
important section will permit any per-
son or independent concern which
suffers property injury through a
trust to bring action without consent
81 the attorney general.
onthis pc MT the report holds hat
the attorney general an / his subordi-
mates should not have exclusive juris-
dietion in suits or proceedings
against combinations or In restraint
of trade, but that the injured parties
themselves should have access TO The
courts.
This Is the most important prot-i
sion in the report In the opinion cf
Representative Lattleton and other
lawyers on the com mittea this is the
only change in the antitrust law that
Is needed to make II entirely effective
In addition 10 another important
amendment which the Stanley COM
mittee recommends
This deals with the question of rea-
condolences OF the alleged restraint of
trade which arose through the de-
cision of the Supreme court I'm the to-
haoco and Standard OH cases. II is
so drafted that Ia the opiniou Of the
committee IT. Will remove ali doubt
as 70 the meaning of the law on that
point placing In every instance upon
shs defendant .<@r pqra:ioB, .tha. burden
OF proof 70 show rcasonableness Of re-
straint. The presumption IA every
case of sui, under the sherman
law is to he that the alleged restraint
OF trade Is unreasonable.
Refers to Dissolution.
In this connection the committee re-
port makes brief reference To the So
called dissolution of the standard OIL |
ana American Tobacco companies.
taking the views that these dissoiu-
tons were NOT effective. and have been
practically 81 no benefit TO the in-
dependents.
or nearly equal Importance Ia the
recommendation 4 the committee Tor
the amendment of the Interstate COM
merce act
The committee bill will contain a
provision for tha divorce of produc-
ton from transportation. Ii will spe-
officially stlpnlate that no corporation
engaged in mining Of any sort shall
own or control directly or indirectly
anv railroad or steamship line. An
other section OF the bill makes IL un-
lawful for the directors of any COR
poration engaged In the manufacture
of steel rails or any other steel pros
ducts used by railroads to be also
directors OF any railroad. The intent !
of this provision IL to stamp ont en-
tirelv the present system OF inter-
locking directorates. 4 subject with
which the committees report will deal
largely as OF the utmost Importance ,
IN the regulation of big business.
The committee puts the stamp OF
dLsapproval II Don the plan advocated I
by Judge r. II. Gary and George w.
Perkins for the governmental reeula- |
ton of prices. The committee declares !
that such a plan Ia semi soclalistic.
.imnractieable and unconstitutional.
The most startling feature of the |
Stanley steel report was decided on (
tonight. and will be submitted Mon /,
day. II will restrics the president OF /
the United States to the exercise of
his constitutional function OF ,atdcrs /
anil personal appointments. II VIII |
create a statutory barrier against his |
peraonai Interpretation If laws. and |
OF the conduct OF cases Instituted by 7
the denartment Of tustice. This has |
direct bearing on the Tennessee Coal |
and Iron company decision By Colonel |
Roosevelt. /
The Democratic n1embers adjourned !
tonight without reaching a final agree |
msnt ON the recommendations of the |
report. They will meet Monday. the |
members leaving tomorrow morning |
FIR Sea Girl. The RenuhIiear mem !
bars also failed TO agree and they
VII meet agafn tomorrow