New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-11
Doubt After Conference if
It Is To Be Regarded
as Monopoly.
PRESIDENT OUTLINES
TRUST LEGISLATION
Assures Members of Committee
That He Is Not Foe to
Big Business.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.

Washington, Dec lO-fTesluehl wilson,
called into a conference on the trust
question to-day six Democratic members
OF the House Judiciary Committee ana
indicated in a general way the basis FOR
antitrust legislation. Members of the
committee. returning to the House. In
sisted that no specific line OF action hau
been laid down. Certain members are
rather perplexed by, IL not disagreeihe
with. the Presidents tentative definition
Of trust" II was reported.
Details of the initial conference on trust
legislation were not forthcoming either
AT the White House or the House or KEEP
resentatives, but IL is known that the
President assured his callers that he was
not a foe Of big business properly con-
Quoted. He wants legislation. however
which will give the little business man
chance; that Is. legislation fashioned aiter
the theories OF the new freedom al
though Mr.. Wilson did not express IL III
go many words The measures to Dc ad'
vanced for action at this session VIII aim
at the following results:
Definition Of the various forms OF mo-
nopoly and restraint of trade which would
be "conclusively deemed unreasonable
and I'm violation OF law.
Placing upon the defendant the burden
OF proof To show that there is no "un-
reasonable" restraint OF trade.
Prohibition Of interlocking directorates
between large corporations
Establishment Of an interstate trade
commission 10 exercise regulatory pow
ers. make original Investigations and aid
the courts In carrying out DEGREES OF DIS
solution Of trusts.
While the President is inclined 10 agree
with the House Democrats thtt interlock-
ing directories must 20. one or more OF
those present nj the conference gained
the impression that the President is not
fully bound to hard and fixed rule. The
whole thing hinges on what the President
will in the end regard as bad trust or
big business activities properly conducted
and not inimical to the pubic welfare.
In his offhand definition OF trust to-
dav. the President raised a doubt i'm the
minds Of certain House members as 10
whether the United States Steel Corpora
ton could be termed an Objectionable
combine under liberal Interpretation OF
his views.
The Steel Trust Is tho special object OF
attack by several House Democrats par
tcularly those I'm the recent Stanley steel
investigating committee and the President
IS to be- urged to favor legislation which
will reach II indirectly, II not directly.
The President discussed with the Demo
cratic members Of the Judiciary Commit
tee practically every antitrust bin now
pending, including those providing for the
establishment OF a trade commission, de-
nning the Sherman law. prohibiting in
terlocking dircctorates and diivorcing in
dustrial corporations and railroads. The
conference. however. was Of a character
so general that House members went back
To the Capitol with little definite idea or
what the administration antitrust policy
is to be.
The Presidents passing reference to
desire not Ia disturb legitimate big bust
ness and To proceed cautiously but surel"
TO amend the sherman law, was, per-
haps, the vital thing OF the conference.
That legislators are approaching the
trust question with shyness is apparent
on Capitol nm. and. as previously an
nounc,d. Mr. Wilson is TO be advised
soon that perhaps the entire trust ques-
ton should go over for a few months.
II is practically certain that when the
President has held further consultations
on trust legislation he will not insist that
the entire question bc settled at this
time. The passage OF the tariff and cur
rency bills. in the opinion OF many
Senate and House members. constitutes
about all Congress should attempt to do
I'm the space OF one year toward regu-
latlng the business of the country. Well
informed members of Congress say the
surface Of trust legislation will be barely
scratched at this session. unless the
President disregards the advice OF leaders
who have adopted caution and no over
crowding of business as their watch
words.
Following the conference Chairman
Clayton OF the judiciary Committee said
there would he no interruption i'm the
plans OF the committee TO proceed with
hearings on the trust problem. The
House committee has settled down TO
work and will hear scores OF witnesses be-
fore an attempt is made to begin the
drafting OF an antitrust bill. The Presi-
dent. OF course. will shape the measure
eventually, and, it is understood, the trust
bill is to be handled as a party measure.
as were the tariff and currency.