The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-17
BIG FUSS OVER VERY
SMALL MATTER IS IN
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL
Farmers and Labor Union
Exemptions Amount to
Politics Only
WILSON WILL SIGN
BUT WILL EXPLAIN
Bill Will Not Prevent Department of
Justice From Undertaking What
ever Prosecutions 1t
Sees Fit
By c. e. STEWART

Washington, May 16.-(Special 1.-The
sundry civil appropriation bill which
President Taft vetoed in the closing
days of last Congress, because of the
provision in The bill exempting labor and
farmers organizations from. the opera
tions of the Sherman antitrust law, so
far AS the particular fund for the en-
forcement of that law is involved, will
reach President Wilson this week
President Taft vetoed the big appro-
priation BILL and characterized the
exemption provision 1t carried as the most
vicious" class legislation he had ever
seen put through Congress.
1t is understood that President Wilson
will sign the bill, but 1t is also under
stood that he will do SO only because the
Objectionable provision is limited in its
scope and only applying to the funds
provided in the bill, which will have been
z Used in a years time. 1t is said that
the President will issue a statement eX-
pressing his objection to the provision,
not only on the ground that an appro-
priation bill is no place for such legis-
lature, but that the question of eXemp-
tion from the law should be settled in
general legislation broadening and clari-
flying the Sherman law.
Provision Is Useless
In addition TO that, the provision itself
is useless, and does not and will not ac-
complsh what it is supposed to accom-
plish viz, an exemption of labor and
farmers organization from prosecution
for RESTRAINT of trade should they be
deemed as Volators of this act and
should the department of justice elect
tc prosecute them for it, because the
provision merely provides that no part
OF this money shall be spent IN the prose-
cution of any organization or individual,
for entering into any combination or
agreement having in view the increasing
OF wages, etc, and no part of this money
be expended for prosecution of the pro-
ducers of farm products or associations
of farmers, who cooperate, ETC." There
is nothing to prevent the department of
Justice in bringing suits against such or
ganizations. If it is thought proper and
using other funds at his disposal. There
Tore on the surface it would appear that
there has been an awful lot o. fuss made
over mares nest. As a matter of fact
the provision is nothing more or less than
a Jolly to the labor and farmers or
ganizations, and of about as much value
10 them as an ear muff in August.
Nevertheless it furnished a text for
Senator Root of New York to bring a very
strong indictment against the supporters
of "class legislation" of this character
Whatever arguments there may be in
favor of amending the Sherman law so
as to exempt abor and farmers organ
izations from prosecution under the act
and there undoubtedly some strong
reasons for SO doing, Senator Roots ar
gIment against such exemption without
changing the law was almost unanswer-
able
The senator may justly claim immunity
for exaggerating the Importance of the
provisos, on political grounds, because the
prcyisos. themselves must have been con-
ceived for political purposes.
Lessen Respect for Law
''The sole practical effect" said Sena-
tor Root, 'of Including these proviso.
is declaration of the part of the Con-
gress of the United States and it is be-
cause / think that declaration will be
injurious. because l think 1t will tend to
lessen respect for the law, the willing
hess of our people to obey the law, and
tqe just confidence of our PEOPLE in the
fairness and impartiality of the Congress