The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-08

| the more obviously needed reforms in the
field of combination and corporation ac-
| tivity.
Special Message on Subject
| While the President has announced his
purpose to send special trust message
| to Congress in the near future, the scope
of the communication has not yet been
outlined Chairman Clayton of the House
judiciary committee will meet the Presi-
dent tomorrow and Chairman Newlands
of the Senate interstate commerce COM
nattee probably will have conference
with him later in the week.
| The demands of democratic leaders last
week, for speedy action on the pending
currency reform bill, have had marked
effect on the Senate. Confident predic-
tions are now made that the bill will pass
that body before December 20, and that
ate and House can be reached shortly
after that time.
| Republican members have made it clear
they will not use obstructing tactics to
effect the changes they want in the bill.
/ General legislation which has been held
| in restraint throughout the special session
OF Congress broke over the barriers last
week. flooding every Channel of congress
sional action The House has before it
during the coming week Alaskan railroad
legislation, the Thomas naval holiday
resolution. immigration regulation, high
cost of living Investigations. the lobby
| committee report aud numerous othel
matters of compelling Interest to thai
body. It is the hope Of House leaders
now that the Senate will be able to COM
plete the currency bill so that a two
weeks recess can be taken for the holi-
days.
Advocates of antitrust legislation in
both houses expect to concentrate upon a
| few bills early In the new year, and to
put through several measures the need of
which has been revealed by recent inves-
legations and government prosecutions. 1t
is believed these bills will cover only part
of the field of trust regulation, and will
not attempt to carry out all the reforms
considered necessary.
The President in his address to Con-
gress last week urged that the Sherman
antitrust law be left without alteration
and that any new laws be made supple
| inentary to 1t. Some of the leaders in the
discussion of trust legislation in Congress
are now urging that business be allowed
| to readjust itself to the new banking
conditions and that the country be given
| a chance to accept and reorganize busi-
| ness and finance under the new currency
| law before laws are passed bringing any
general change in the regulation or con-
! troll of corporations.
Strengthen Sherman, Law
! The early trust bills probably will be
aimed at the abolishment of interlockng
directorates and holding companies and
possibly of voting trusts and fiscal
agencies" Legislation strengthening the
rights of minority stockholders also will
be asked for, and attempts will be made
to strengthen the Sherman law so as to
get rid of the effect of the supreme
courts decision that reasonable" re-
straints of trade are now unlawful
| These bills do not reach the reforms
desired by the majority of those in the
Senate who have been most active in the
study of the trust question. 1t has become
| Continued on Page Two)
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