New-York tribune., 1913-11-17
PRISON LOOMS UP IN.
WILSON'S TRUST PLANS
Presidents Proposed Anti-Mon-
opoIy Legislation to Include
Drastic Penalties.
THINKS FINES INEFFECTIVE
Seven Sisters Forced Through
in New Jersey Expected
To Be Models for Ma
tional Measures.

Washington. Nov. 1e.-Presldent Will
sons intention OF going after the trusts
when the currency bill is out OF the way
has awakened interest In what he purposes
to do with this perplexing problem. His
attitude has served to focus attention on
the Seven Sisters'-that group Of anti
trust bills Mr.. Wilson forced through the
New Jersey Legislature before he went to
Washington, for these measures more
than anything else represent the Presi-
dents ideas and will be used as models
for the legislation he will recommend to
Congress
President Wilson in discussing the trust
question, has always maintained that guilt
was personal, and that the only way 10
treat an offender was to give him term
I'm Jail, where he could have plenty OF time
to think over and atone for his sins. He
declared that the mere fining Of cor
poration was only a makeshift, because
all the corporation had to do was to In
crease the price of it's product sufficient
ly to pay the fine. while continuing to do
business at the same old stand.
Thus Il is that individual responsibility.
with the penalty term Of not more than
three years I'm jail and a fine. either or
both, will be the high spots in the Presi-
dents recommendations TO Congress. just
as they were made the salient points OF
the Seven Sisters" before he left New
Jersey The President holds that a direc-
tor In a corporation is just as culpable as
the president or any other officer.
Just how efficacious the Seven Sisters
are as trust busters has not yet been de-
termined. for over in New Jersey. the
home OF the biggest trusts in the coun-
try. there have been no prosecutions under
their provisions and none IS contemplated
at the present time. so that their useful
ness will not be really determined until
they are adopted by Congress, with the
President at the helm directing their en-
forcement
There is one provision in the first OF the
Seven Sisters" which will without doubt
stir up a hornets nest in Congress, and
that is the provision exemptlng labor
unions from the operation OF the acts.
Labor unions are not specifically exempt
ed by name, but the language OF the acts
are such as To leave no doubt that unions
are exempted from their provisions IL
SAYS that the words article" and com
modties" used In the act defining trust
or combination shall be construed as
synonymous with natural products, man
ufactured products and goods. wares and
merchandise"
"Thirteen" Sianifcant.
Thirteen has always been the lucky
number OF President Wilson, and, curious
ly enough. that one OF the Seven Sis
ters" which specifically defines what the
President considers a trust is known as
CHAPTER l3 Of the Laws Of 1913. This act
also makes the individual directors OF
CORPORATION equally responsible Tor the IL
legal acts OF the corporation.
"A trust Is a combination or agreement
the act says. between corporations hrns
or persons. any two or more OF them Tor
the following purposes, and such trust Is
hereby declared 70 be Illegal and indict-
able:
"To create or carry out restrictions In
trade or 20 acquire a monopoly either IN
intrastate or interstate business or COM
merce.
"rro limit or reduce the production or In
crease the price OF merchandise or OF any
commodity.
'To prevent competition In manufactur-
ing. making, transporting. selling ana
purchasing Of merchandise. produce or
any commodity.
"To fix at any standard or figure where
bv ,ts price TO the public or consumer
shall in any manner be controiled' any
article or commodity or merchandise
nroduce or commerce intended for sale
use or consumption In this state or else
where.
"To make any agreement by which they
directly or indirectly preclude free ana
unrestricted competition among them
eelyes. or any purchaser or consumer, In
the sale or transportation OF any article
or commodity. either by pooling. with
holding from the market or selling at
fxed price. or in any other manner by
which the price might be affected.
",ro make any secret oral agreement or
arrive at an understanding without ex-
press agreement by which they directly or
Indirectly preclude a free and unrestricted
co,,netit,on among themselves, or any
purchaser or consumer. I'm the sale or
transportation OF any article, either by
nooIlng. Withholding from the market, or
selling at n fixed price, or In any other
manner by which the price might be al
,fected.
"Any person or corporation guilty OF Vio-
Iating any of the provisions OF this act
shall be adjudged guilty OF misdemean-
or and punished accordingly on convic-
ton.
whenever an incorporated company
shall be guilty of violation OF any OF
the provisions OF this act, the offence
sholl be deemed TO be also that OF the
Individual directors OF such corporation
ordering or doing any OF such prohibited
acts and. on conviction thereof. they
shall be punished accordingly.
"In addition to the punishment which
may be imposed for the misdemeanor the
charter OF the offending corporation may
he revoked in appropriate proceedings by
the Attorney General OF this state.
The "seyen Sisters" were the work OF
Chancellor Edwin r. Walker and ex-
Judge Bennett Van syckel. and the Presi-
dent thought so we'll of their work thai
he asked Mr.. Walker 10 go to Washins-
ton with him as Attorney General. Mr'
Walker declined. In explaining the acts
Mr.. Walker said that zone Is an act de-
fining trusts and providing for criminal
penalties and for the punishment OF cor
porations. firms and persons violating It's