The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-11
ANTITRUST
PLANS DEVELOP

washington, ID. c., Dec. IL
The scope Of President Wilson's pro-
gramme of antitrust legislation be-
came well defined last night at the
end of a conference between the presi-
dent and six democratic members Of
the house judiciary committee, which
is to undertake the preparation of the
administration bills. The measures
to be advanced for action at this ses-
sion will aim at the following re-
suits:
Definition of the forms Of monopoly
and restraint of trade which would be
"conclusively deemed unreasonable
and in violation of law.
Placing upon defendant the burden
of proof to show that there is no "un-
reasonable restraint of trade"
Prohibition of interlocking director
ates between large corporations.
Establishment Of an interstate trade
commission, to exercise regulatory
powers, make original Investigations
and aid the courts in carrying out
decrease of dissolution of trusts.
The details of legislation were not
worked gu at the conference. nor was
a complete understanding reached as
to the lumber of bills that will be
pushed for action at the present ses-
sion. The president made it clear,
AIO"S klid liz ldNOES lESlS1dL lO4i
along the general lines Of the Lenroot-
LaFollette bill which has been before
congress since last June and which
was designed to clear up the twilight
zone of corporation activities. This
measure was the subject of much of
the discussion and members Of the
committee will take up it's provisions
for further consideration. 1t would de-
fine by law nearly a dozen forms of
contracts, agreements, restraints, price
cutting and the like, the reasonable
ness Of which is now left to the
courts, but which would be "con-
clusiVely deemed to be unreasonable
and IN restraint of trade by the new
law"
President Wilson's trust conferences
of he last two weeks have included
long talks with Attorney General Nc
Reynolds, Senator Newlands, chair
man OF the senate Interstate commerce
commissions; Secretary Redfield Of the
department Of commerce, Representa-
tive Clayton and Joseph e. Davies,
commissioner Of corporations. He is
to confer again In a few days with
Senator Newlands and other members
Of the senate committee that will
handle trust legislation.
The house committee will begin
work at once IN the preliminary draft
of trust bills, but members will seek
further discussions with the president
over the form of the measures before
completing them for submission to the
house. .
The president emphasized in the
conference today, the need of legal
bounds for business activity that will
place the smaller business man upon
an equality. with the larger, and thai
Will give to the business world in
general a clear legal definition of the
forms of combination or trade that are
unlawful. Senator Newland's bill for
an interstate trade commission, also
introduced in congress early last sum
mer. Is expected to be the basis fol-
legislation along that line. The presi-
dent is understood to favor many fea-
lures of this proposed law. 1t would
establish a commission with power tc
regulate corporations doing interstate
business, to aid the attorney genera
In the prosecution of those accused OF
m~onopolistic actions and to carry out
the dissolution of trusts that have
been decreed as illegal by the courts
Samuel Untermyer of New York
who acted as counsel for the money
trust committee of the house in Its
Investigations of the money trust
has met members of the house inter.
ested in trust legislation several times
recently, and is working on the prep.
aration of bills that probably will be
closely studied by the committee.