New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21
The Sherman Law Needs No Amend
ment Now.

The intimatiOn comes from Washington tnat FRESH
dent Wilson will ask Congress to "slow down on
antitrust legislation Nothing could emphasize more
strongly Mr. Wilson's capacity TO read the signs OF
the times than a warning from him that expert
ments i'm the way of amending. enlarging and con-
fusing the sherman law would he politically ana
economically hazardous. The administration mas
put on the statute books tariff revision law when
the country has accepted, and is about to add Il
currency law which will be generally approved as
decided advance toward a rational banking system
These are great achievements for the first year OF
the present administration. Why run the chahce
of offsetting them by exchanging an antitrust Id"
which has stood all tests for some new measure Vi
doubtful value. the trying out of which cannot nut
halt and partially paralyze the business OF the
country?
The Sherman law has gone through the hre me
courts have interpreted it and found 1t sausIac-
tory instrument for dissoving monopolstlc combiha
tons and Furnishing restraint of interstate COM
nerce How effective it is in its present form mas
lust been demonstrated afresh by the voluntary ais
solution Of the merger between the American lele
phone and Telegraph Company and the western
Union Telegraph Company. Rather than 1ace sun
planned by the Department of Justice the Telegraph
telenbone combination prefers to dismember itself
and restore competitive conditions as they eXlste1
before the merger The decisions of the Supreme
Court have made it reasonably clear to onehdiis
generations what they may do and what they may
not do Any amendment of the law is likely TO III
troduce new confusion and compel another five or
ten wears of litigation the meaning and effect
Of the notifications.
The federal Circuit Court of Appeals for this
ein,uit gave a decision the other day in this city
ff,rc liG
action has been running since 1902 and has been
up TO the Supreme Court Of the United States on
various issues In the application of the sherman
law to conspracieS of labor organizations TO restrain
trade has been clearly affirmed. At the last session
of Congress a majority in both branches, too COW
ardly TO amend the antitrust law outright, put
'-ider" on the Sundry Civil Appropriation act for
bidding the Department of Justice to use certain
appropriation for the purpose of prosecuting asso-
Citations Of farmers of union laborers charged
with violating the antitrust law. The President
signed the act, but publicly chided Congress for
approving the rider"
1t must be clear TO him. therefore, that this Con
gress Is an unsafe body TO which to intrust the
amendment Of the present law. Exemptions like
those with which Il showed its sympathy last ses
sion would only wreck the law by filling it with IN
inst determinations If farmers and union labOrers
are to be exempted, why should other classes of
producers be penalized for trying to restrain trade
for their own benefit? The fact is that the present
law, dealing in generalties and laying down one
rule for all offenders, is far more servceable than
sny substitute could be which went into exceptions
and particulars.
The evils of monopolization are now being dealt
with gradually and surely Every year the Sherman
law is producing more substantial results Business
is being voluntarily adjusted to It, To interfere
with it's good work and to fill the business world
with new uncertainties and alarms would simply
invite contraction and suffering and would set IN
motion a reaction against the Wilson administration
almost as swift and violent as that against the
second administration Of Mr.. Cleveland