The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-13
ANTITRUST BILL
LOOMS Up BIG ON
WINTER PROGRAM
Most Important Work
at Long Session of
Congress.
EXPERTS AT WORK
IN BOTH HOUSES
Many Measures Already Drafted,
and No Ideas Will Be Refused
Observation-Disclosures
Turn to Other Matters
Till Wilson's Message
Is Received.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch ]

Washington. January 12.-Congress
settled down TO its long regular ses-
sion to-day after n recess dating from
the passage OF the currency reform bill
just before Christmas. The coming
administration antitrust legislation pro-
gram loomed up as the big business OF
the winter; but with the prospect of
waiting until next week for the Presi-
dents message. both houses turned
actively to other matters.
IN the House, return TO work was
Geie ern, eorated by prompt passage OF the
the DISTRICT OF Columbia appropriation
bin. and tho introduction of the usual
openins .L.hl DAY batch OF msceilaneous
on the Alaskan government railroad
bill. Antitrust experts in both houses
began period OF extraordinary ac-
gram IL written Into law before the
close Of the session. Actual commit
tee work will be delayed pending Pres
ident wilson's address a rough draft
Of the address VIII he brought TO
Washington by the President and later
In the week Chairman Clayton. OF the
man Newlands. of the Senate Commerce
committee. probably VIII be called into
conference with the President and At
torney-GeneraI McRcynolds.
All Jdens Considered.
Meantime. Chairman Clayton and
Representatives Carlin and Floyd. of
the House committee. are reviewing
the long list Of antitrust measures al
ready before the committee. 1t is not
probable that any OF these bills will
tration plan. but all the ideas embodied
IN them will be considered; senator
Committee. expects to take up the anti
trust program Friday.
In the House. Representative Webb.
to strengthen the Sherman law by de-
claring illegal every contract. combi-
nation or conspiracy In restraint of
any part" OF trade or commerce. in
GLIDING agreements, oral or written
designed TO reach so-called gentle
mems mems agresments" 1I or "understand-
PENDANTS the burden OF proof as to
whether such combinations. contracts.
conspiracies or agreements injure COM
petitors, act as a detriment to the pub
lie; or whether they are not unreason-
able As a ranking member of the
take up the question tomorrow, Mr..
Webb purposes TO tght for action along
the lines OF his bill
sey, another Democratic member of
the Judiciary Committee, introduced
his bill to prohibit interlockinE direc-
torates among Eanks and trust com
To Regulate Lobbyists.
senator Overman, chairman OF the
regulate lobbyists. senator Over,nan
said the bin represented his individual
views IL would require the registra-
ton of all persons appearing before
Congress as ''legislative counsel" or
agents. the registration 10 disclose the
islation in which they were concerned.
The bin would make It p crime for
any one to attempt, by corrupt meth
or defeat legislation. No person would
be permitted TO act as legislative
agent whose compensation was in any
- h,. ~
proposed legislation.
The bill would require all individuals
tary of the Senate or clerk of the
House. within thirty days after the
adjournment OF each session, com
plete account Of all expenditures in
CURED In the operations OF Legislative
agents before congressional commit
tees.
! in support of his resolution for an in
ternational commission to fix a parity
OF :Yal eYYclange between gold and silver
fluctuations in the gold prices of silver
bullion embarrassed trade relations
with South American and Asiatic coun-
tries.
Matched orders and wash sales would
he prohibited and the use of the mails,
barred to fraudulent or harmful
stock exchange transactions by n bill
introduced by senator owen, chairman
of the Banking Committee. No trans
actions of any stock exchange would
he considered proper unless the eX-
change We're Incorporated and governed
by regulations under direction OF tho
Postma Stcr- General.
Debate on Alaska Begins.
Washington, January 12.-Debate on
the bill providing for a government
owned railroad in Alaska began in the
Senate to-day, with the prospect OF
occupying many sessions before final
action. Senator Chamberlain, OF Ore
gon. in charge Of the measure, spoke
at length, reading from the reports Of
government experts sent into the Terri
tory to study its possibilities, and char
acterizing the pun chase of Alaska from
Russia as the greatest business ar
ranGement in which the United States
ever had engaged.
Reciting statistics on Alaska's min
erals and fisheries to show the vast
commerce lying isolated and virtually
impossible of development under pres
ent conditions, Senator Chamberlain
said the present railroads did little or
nothing to aid the Territory as n whole.
because they were constructed to serve
the ends of private interests. The
Alaska OF to-day he declared, was Il
country for rich men only.
All Present but Jones.
Especial to The Times -Dispatch.l
shington, ID. c., January i2-
When Speaker Clark called the House
to order at noon to-day tho member
ship OF the Virginia delegation was