The Washington herald., 1914-04-14
President DEAF
ITOLABOR'S Wish
In Conference on Anti Trust
Bill He Shows His
Stand.
BIG JOB FOR CONGRESS
Legislative Program Must Be Finished
This Session, Is White House
Pronouncement.

President Wilson had two conference,
yesterday with Democratic members OF
the House Judiciary Committee upon the
antitrust legislation. Important addi'
tions to the measure experimenting the
Sherman act were agreed upon. After
wards Chairman Clayton announced that
the bill probably would be introduced IN
the House today. or tomorrow.
The President disclosed TO Mr.. Clayton
and Representatives Carlin and Floyd
ana Representative Webb. who was given
a separate conference from the three
members of the special subcommittee,
that he is opposed to the exemption OF
labor unions-and farmers organisations
from antitrust prosecutions and injunc-
tlons as provided by the Bartlett Bacon
hill He made important concessions,
however by approving the addition of
these sections TO the antitrust bill:
First the so-called Clayton injunction
Bill which passed the House two years
aEo, and forbade the issuance Of over
night injunctions-
second. the Clayton bill passed about
the same time, governing contempt cases,
where disobediencs Of court tnjunctions
are alleged. -..-
The Injunction provision which will be
rdded 10 the administrator bill requires
a hearing on all applications for inJune-
tions except in cases where irrevocaoie
damage is alleged TO lie in the actlcn
which is sought to be sustained. Its in
corporation in the antitrust bnl VIII
strengthen labor unions contemplating
strikes because it VIII grant them hear
ings before the court where an inJunc-
tion against a strike is sought.
The contempt bill grants q jury trial
TO persons held in contempt of court in
cases where the contempt was not com
rnitted In the presence Of the tribunal
Thus labor unions charged with violating
q strike Injunction will be allowed to
present their arguments to jury instead
Of accepting the PENALTY of the court
which issued the injunction
Job Before Congress.
The antitrust bill which Mr.. Clayton
will Introduce this week will include, be-
sides the two measures referred to. the
principal features of the trades relations
holding companies and interlocking d.
recorates bills. tentative forms OF which
already have been made public.
oGelaI announcement was made at the
wfifke House that the President would in
sist upon the completion OF the anti
trust program before the adjournment OF
Congress. 1t was announced that the
President considered the Democratic
party under obligations to the country to
enaet the antitrust bill and the trade
commission bill as a redemption of the
platform pledges of the national cam
paign.
The President Informed the, members
of the Judiciary Committee that he would
not tolerate an aeiosfSto- curtaii the pro-
gram in any way. In addition he denied
that he had consulted with any mem
bers of Congress upon the advisability of
abandoning the trust legislation for the
preset IN order 10 permit Congressional
candidates to go before the country on
the tariff and currency. issues alone.
At the same time the President de-
Tended the members of the committee
who have been intrusted with drafting
the trust revision legislation against the
charge that they had been unduly slow
in completing their task. He pointed
out that only a little over ten weeks had
been consumed
The bill, as introduced by Mr.. Clayton.
Immediately will be referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee. and 1t will develop
upon that body to decide whether hear
ings are needed before the measure is
to be reported. Indications are that the
Dcmocratic members OF the committee.
other than Messrs. Clayton. Carlin, and
Floyd, who have been the Presidents ad-
visers in the framing of the bill. will in
sist upon adequate hearings. These men,
bers- except Mr.. Webb, who was called
to the White House yesterday, are said
TO be completely in the dark as to the
work which has been done by their col
leagues
It is the hope Of the President and
Chairman Clayton that the hearings, II
called for by the committee, will not con-
sumo more than a week or two. The
President is confident that the full Dem
ocratic membership will line up with
fair promptness in support OF his wishes