The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-02-28
LEGAtIzE' FARM
COMBINATIONS IN
ACTION BY HOUSE
LABOR UNIONS ALSO MADE I'M
MuNEs FROM TIE sHER- j
-.----- MAN LAW. H..
PROHIBITS SPENDING or MONEY
Sponsors Say Trust Act Was Not
Aimed at Workers and Should Not
Re Used Against Them : 10 Any
SaPossihte4 Form. - 3ssa5s4 s.a 5es

1 Nsf4aa7ss' "a 1@''sg---s = n ~ So, Gse+s
i WASHINGTON, D. o.. Feb. aa-v
The House tonight adopted amend
lments to the sundry Civil Appropria.
ton Bill which, II sustained by the
Senate will have the effect OF en-.
emptngs farmers Organizations and
labor unions from~-the operation Of
the, Sherman antitrust law.
Georgia, 10 author, of the amend
ment relating TO- farmers. 1t is also
worded that no part Of the $500, 900
appropriated in the bill for the en-
forcement Of the Sherman antitrust
law, during the next fiscal year may
be used to investigate or prosecute
organizations of farmers which exist
for the purpose of obtaining 4 fair
price for their products,
This amndmdent Is of special in
terst to Kentucky. because OF the
fact that the only farmrs' organiza-
ton er prosecuted by the Depart.
ment of Justice undr the Sherman
antitrust law was an organization Of
Grant county tobacco farmers in
Kentucky. Representative J. C.l
Cantrill has frequently addressed
the House on this question, pointing
out the unfairness of the action and
declaring that the law was never in
tended to apply to farmers organiza-
tions.
Mr.. Cantrill was the first to. in
troduce an amendment in Congress
on this subject.
Representative Roddenberry made
an eloquent appeal for his amend
ment. He said that the farmers haze
to organize to protect themselves
from spectators, who otherwise de-
press the market at the time the
farmer is selling his products and
lift prices sky high" when the farm
or has sold out.
Representative John J. Fitzgerald. IN
of New Yorl-, chairman of the Ap-
oropriations Committee, opposed the
amendment. He said that presi-
dent-elect Wilson could be trusted
o enforce the Sherman law against
he proper persons, and it was an
exhibition of lack OF confidence in
he new President to adopt such AMI
as this.
Representative Edwards and Adj
mson, of Georgia, and Representa- !
i've Saunders, Of Virginia, took a
ifferent view, declaring that it rev.
r did any harm to define as close
as possible what Congress intend Is
in any law
Representative Hamill, of New LA
ersey, introduced the amendment Lin
slating to labor unions. The dis IM
lssion of this amendment followed Ib,
le same generael lines as the lth
her. The vote was overwhelming n,
in favor of both amendments. lar
Mr.. Fitzgerald tried to have the Edc
lragraph of the bill to which thelD,
nendments had been attached In
ricken out and a substitute adopt "
!, but the House turned him dawn. ID,
1t is possible to have another vote Or
both propositions when the bill il M,
ported to the House proper from |cb
Committee of the Whole, bur the
lends of the amendments believe luz
ey will stand. h.
Leader Mann during the lin,
of the bill, took a filing In.
the attitude of Representative lw.
mill and other Democrats toward Iof
incoming Democratic admins. M,
tion. M,
We have sought for long time lare
some indication of the opinion of tdut
President-elect on administered
e and legislative policioes,' said -
. Mann. MANY fnembers on the "A
er side of the House have visited r
Wilson and have come back with [
lie available information. Xvi.
lily those closest to the Presto :.
lt-elect distrust him. Here is the
ltleman from New Jersey. who
undoubtedly for years teeni