The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-12-17
MANNING c.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IT, 1918
TRUSTS COME NEXT
WILSON PLANS EARLY MONOP.
OILY LEGISLATION.
President Holds Conference With
House Committeeman and Other
Prominent Leaders.

Prominent Leaders.
The scope of President Wilson's
program of antitrust legislation
Wednesday became fairly well defined
at the end of d conference at the
White House between the president
and. six Democratic members of the
House judicial committee that is to
undertake the preparation OF the ad-
ministration bill. The measures to
be advanced for action at this session
will aim at the following results:
Definition of the various forms of
monopoly and restraint Of trade
which would be "conclusively deem
ed" unreasonable and in violation Of
law.
Placing upon the defendant the
burden Of proof to show that there is
no unreasonable" restraint OF trade.
Prohibition of interlocking direc-
torates in large corporations.
Establishment of an interstate
trade commission, to exercise regu-
latory powers, make original investi-
cations and aid the courts in carry
ing out DEGREES of dissolution Of
trusts.
The details Of legislation were not
worked out at Wednesdays confer
ence, nor was complete understand
ing reached as to the number of bills
which will be pushed for action at
the present session. The president
made it clear, however, that he favors
legislation along the general line Of
the Lenroot-La Toilette bill, which
has been before congress since. last
June, and when was designed to- clear
up the twilight zone' of corporation
activity.
This measure was the subject Of
much Of the discussion, and members
Of the committee will take up its
provisions for further consideration.
It would define by law nearly dozen
forms Of contracts; agreements. re-
straints, price-cutting and the like,
the "reasonableness" Of which now is
left to the courts, but which would
be conclusively deemed to be "un-
reasonable and in restraint Of trade"
by the proposed new law.
President Wilson's trust confer
ences Of the last two weeks have in
cluded long talks with Attorney Gen.
eral McReynolds, Senator Newlands,
chairman Of the interstate commerce
committee; Secretary Redheld, Of the
department of commerce; Represent
ative Clayton and Joseph E. Davies,
commissioner Of corporations. The
president again is to confer with Sen
ator Newlands and other members of
the senate committee that will handle
trust legislation.
The House committee at once will
begin work on the preliminary draft
Of trust bills, but the members will
seek further discussions with the
president over the form of the meas
ures before completing them for sub
mission to the House. The president
emphasized the need Of legal bounds
for this. activity that will place the
smaller business man upon an equal
ity with the larger and that will give
to the business world in general a
clear legal definition Of the forms Of
combination that are unlawful.
Senator Newlands' bill for an in
terstate trade commission, also in
troduced in congress early last sum-
mer, is expected to. be the basis for
legislation along that line. The pres
ident. is understood 70 favor many
features OF this proposed law. It
would establish commission with
power to regulate generations doing
interstate business, to aid the attoT-
ney general in the prosecution Of
those accused Of monorolistic ac-
;tiuns and to carry out tire dissolution
Of trusts that have been Gecreed as
illegal by the courts 80. o.. -,