The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-11
SCOPE OF WILSON'S
ANTITRUST PLANS
Fairly Well Defined at Confer
cncc Between President and
House Committee.
DETAILS NOT WORKED OUT
Untcrmcycr Working on Prcpara-
ton OF Bills That Will Be
Closely Studied

Washington. December 1o--Thc
scope Of President Wilson'S program
of antitrust legislation became fairly
well defined to-day at tn. end CT
conference between the President aud
six Democratic members of the House
Judiciary COMMITTEES. that is to pre-
pare tho administration bills. Tho
measure to be advanced at tins session
viii aim at the following results:
Definition Of the various forms OF
monopoly and restraint Of trade which
would DO "conolusivcIy deemed" un-
reasonable and unlawful.
Placing upon the defendant the bur
don Of proof that there Is no "unrca-
sonabic" restraint Of trade.
Prohibition OF intcrloci5inC d;rectcr-
ates between largo corporations.
Establishment OF an Interstate trade
commission. to exercise regulatory
powers. mako original Investigations
ana aid the courts in carrying out de-
tfccs % dissolution.
Dctniis Not Worked Out.
The details OF legislation were not
worked out at to-day's conference nor
was complete understanding reached
as 10 the number CT bills to ne pusned
for action at the present session
The President u1adc IT clear. however
that he favors legislation along the
general lines of the Lenroot-La Fol-
letto bin. which has been before Con-
rress since last Juno, and which was
designed to clear up the twilight
zone Of corporation activities.
This measure was tho subject of
much OF tho discussion. and members
I Of the committee VIII take UP it's pro-
visions for further consideration. 1t
would define by law nearly dozen
forms Of contracts, agreements, re
straints. pricc-cutting and tho like,
the "reasonablcncss" OF which is now
! left to the courts.
/ President Wilson's trust conferences
I or the last two weeks have included
long talks with Attorncy-General Nc
/ Reynolds senator Newlands. chairma y
/ of the Interstate Commerce Commit
/ tee; Secretary Rcdfield. OF the Depart
inent of Commerce; Representative
/ Clayton and Josph L. Davis, Commits
sioncr OF Corporations.
! The President is TO confer again in
few days with Senator Newlands and
other members OF the Senate commit
tee that Will handle trust legislation.
To Begin Work at Once.
The House committee Will begin
work at once on the preliminary dra II
I from time 10 timc seek further discus
sions with the President over the form
OF the measures.
The President emphasized in tn,
conference to-day tile need of lega
bounds for business activity that will
place tho smaller business man upor
an equality with the larger. and tina
Will give Il clear legal definition of tn,
forms or combination that are unlaw
ful
Senator Newlands's bill for an inter.
state trade commission, introduced i,
Congress carly last summer is ex
pcctcd 10 be the basis for Legislation
along that line The President Is un.
dcrstood to favor many features OF
this proposed law. 1t would establish
a commission with power 10 regulat
corporations doing interstate business
TO aid the Attorney General in tn,
prosecution OF those accused OF rnonop
olisuc actions, and to carry out TIL,
dissolution of trusts that have beer
held illegal by tile courts.
Samuel Untermyer. OF New York
who acted as counsel for the none,
trust committee OF the House. ha
met members of the House intcreste,
in trust legislation several times re
Gently. and is working upon the prepa
ration OF bills that probably Will b
closely studied by tho committee.