Mexico Missouri message., 1913-11-27
ONE OF NEW JERSEYS SEVEN
s,sTERsr WILL BE. USED BY
PRESIDENT WILSON.
SHERMAN ACT is TO STAND
SUPPLEMENTAL Legislation May In.
olude Mandatory Prison Sentences
for Mon Found Guilty Of Taking
Part In illegal Combines.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

sisters" as q model for the trust
breaking law, which II is expected he
will recommend In his annual mes
sage that congress shall pass quickly.
Unless currency legislation Is out Of
the way by the time congress meets
in regular session, the president may
say nothing in his message about
antitrust legislation, but In any event
he will do SO soon thereafter and one
OF the New Jersey laws which are
known as the Seven Sisters will be
used as has been said for the model
OF federal legislation.
The premiere of the septet of New
Jersey sisters must be put through a
course of physical training in order to
strengthen her for duty In the great
field Of federal usefulness, but 1t is
understood that President Wilson, his
attorney general, and Chairman New
lands OF the senate interstate COM
MERGE committee and Representative
Adamson, chairman of the like COM
mlttee In the house, are convinced
that they can train the sisters to the
required standard.
The presidents general plan OF the
legislation will be to allow the Sher-
man law to stand, to supplement It
and strengthen 1t with a view of see
ing that personal guilt in antitrust
law violations is driven home and
that criminal prosecution shall be GER
tain FOR all the responsible officials
of big corporations which insist on
engaging In practices in violation OF
the antitrust laws.
The Sherman law as II stands
makes provisions for prison sentences,
but It does not make them mandatory,
and as result 1t has rarely happened
that lawbreakers have been sent over
the road
personal Guilt" Doctrine.
1t is not know, of course, definitely
whether Mr.. Wilson will sanction the
Kenyon plan Of mandatory prison SEN
fences, but from the presidents doc
trine that guilt Is personal 1t seems
likely that the Iowan's idea has APP
pealed TO the mind of the administra-
ton. Men close to Mr.. Wilson say
that the personal guilt" doctrine is
to be followed and that the chances
are that men proved to be supporters
against the antitrust laws will find
themselves facing prison sentences.
The New Jersey measure, the first
Of the Seven Sisters. by its title seeks
to promote free competition. This
will be the keynote OF the presidents
message on federal antitrust legisla-
ton The New Jersey measure de-
fines trust as a combination be
tween corporations, firms or persons,
any two or more of them. for certain
purposes and such combinations are
declared to be Illegal and indictable.
Among the things which are for.
hidden by the New Jersey law are
combinations which fix any standard
or figure whereby the price to the pub
lie consumer shall In any manner be
controlled on any article Of commodity
or merchandise, or produce intended
for sale, use or consumption In New
Jersey or elsewhere. Corporations are
forbidden to combine to limit or re
duce the production, or to increase the
price of merchandise. They are for
hidden to make secret oral agreements
0: to arrive ut can understanding
without express agreement by which
they directly or indirectly preclude 1
free and unrestricted competition
among themselves"
Under the law which is likely to b,
in part the model for federal legisla
ton individual directors of an incor
porated company are deemed personal
ly guilty OF any violations of the &C
Tor which the incorporated compan.
itself shall be found guilty.
To Abolish Franklna Privilege.
Some time during the regular sei
sion the majority in congress IL
tends to introduce a bit Of legislf
ton which economically is appealing
but which as a destroyer of time
honored privilege is startling 1t
the intention OF the house commi
lee on pcstoffices and post roads
recommend that the franking priv
leges of members of congress sha
De taken away, and 1t 10 likely this
part the privilege will be take
away from some of the other official
Of government.
The day probably is not far o
"hen every congressman who write
letter or who sends out publ
document will be compelled und,
me law to affix enough postas
stamps to carry the parcels to the
destination. Lest the dependent fam
mes OF senator's and representativ,
should fear on reading this that O
.ne loved protectors salary is to /,
Ur stamps, 1t should be said quick
na' congress- intends to give stan
money to each of its members, but
- TX 1t that II he exceeds the {
~Nahce he must pay for the ext
postage out of his own pocket.
me contention is that as long
he unlimited franking privilege
even 10 the members they will SCI