Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-12-13
Desire for Restraining Legislation is
Made clear--The twilight Zone"
to be Sought and Brought Into open
Day--ls Not Opposed to Big Bus
mess on Proper Lines.

L HtcdSulbS W Ut duFdllSeu lDT dGtlDH
at this session will aim at the fol-
lowing results
/ Definition OF the various forms of
monopoly and restraint of trade which
would be "conclusively deemed un.
reasonable and in violation OF law.
Placing upon the defendant the bur
don of proof to show that there is no
unreasonable" restraint OF trade.
Prohibition of interlocking director
ates between large corporations.
4 Estab' ishment of an Interstate
Trade Commission, to exercise regu-
latory powers, mako original invest
cations and aid the Courts In carry
ing out DEGREES of dissolution Of
I trusts.
Details Not Worked Out.
4 The details of legislation we're not
worked out at the White House con
ference, nor was complete under
Z standing reached as to the number OF
bills that will be pushed for action at
the present session. The President
made it clear, however, that he favors
legislation a 'ong the general lines Of
the Lenroot-LaFollette bill, which has
! been before Congress since last June
and which was designated to clear up
the twilight zone" OF corporation ac-
tfvities.
This measure was the subject Of
much of the discussion, and members
of the committee will take up its pro
visions for further consideration. It
would define by law nearly a dozen
i forms OF contracts, agreements. re
straints, price cutting and the like, the
"reasonableness" Of which is now left
to the Courts, but which would be
'conclusively deemed to be unreason.
abe and in restraint OF trade" by the
proposed new law
Senator Newlands' bill for an Inter
state Trade Commission, also intro
duced in Congress early last summer,
is expected to be the basis for legisla-
tion along that line The President is
understood to favor many features of
this proposed law 1t would establish
a commission with power to regulate
corporations doing interstate business,
to aid the Attorney General in the
prosecution of those accused of mon
opolistic actions, and to carry out the
dissolution of trusts that have been
decree1 as Illegal by the Courts.
Need OF Restraint Emphasized.
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 that
will give to the business word in gen
eral a clear legal definition of the
forms Of combination or trade that
are unlawful
Some OF those present at the con-
ference quote President Wilson as
frankly asserting that he is not op-
posed to big business" but wants
to see "the little fellow in business"
given chance to become the big fel-
lows" He is expected soon TO send
to Congress a special message on the
subject
President Wilson's trust conferences
of the last two weeks have included
long talks with Attorney General Nc.
Reynolds, Senator Nawlauds, chair.
man of the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee; Secretary Redfeld,
OF the Department of Commerce; Rep
resentative Clayton and Joseph e.
Davies, Commissioner OF Corpora
items. He is to confer again in few
days With Senator Newlands and 9TH
err members OF the Senate committee
that will handle Trust legislation.
The House committee will begin
work at orce on the preliminary draft
of Trust bills, but the members will
seek further discussions with the
President over the form fthe meas
ures before completing them for sub
mission to the House.
Samuel Untermyer, OF New York,
who acted as counsel for the Money
Trust investigating committee of the
House has met members of the House
interested in Trust legislation several
times recently. and is working upon
the preparation OF bills that proba-
bly, will be closely studied by the com.
mittee