The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-27
Hearings Held by Com
mittees of Both House
and Senate.
TRADE COMMISSION
BILL IS CONSIDERED
Committee Representing Cham
Der of Commerce of United
States Feels That Ncwlands
Amendments Will Meet ~
Most of Criticisms
of Measure.

| w dSulUR ton, feDFuarY 6t.--EnOrtB
OF Senate and House committees to-day
were turned toward perfecting as soon
as possible tho administrators anti
trust legislative program. The Senate
Committee on Interstate Commerce
| held Its first hearing on the proposed
bin to create an interstate trade oom-
mission. and amendments to limit tho
scope of that commission and to make
1t purely advisory AID investigating
body were submitted by Senator New
lands. chairman OF the committee.
Members Of committee of the
Chamber OF Commerce of the United
States, appeared before the Senate
committee while hearings were in prog
ress before House Judiciary and In
terstate Committees. with relation to
legislation to regulate holding com
panles. Federal control OF railroad So
curities. and shortening of judicial pro-
cedure under the Sherman antitrust
law.
Discussing the bill for a trade com
mission. the committee OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce OF the United States
said 1t was not presenting the views
or the chamber. since one or the duties
or the committee was to present to the
membership of the chamber for refer
endum vote a list of questions concern
, ing the proposed legislation.
The committee consisted of John III.
Fahey, of Boston. president of the
chamber; r. C. Rhett, OF Charleston
5. c.. chairman; w. l.. Saunders. New
York: Charles II. Van Hise, president
of the University Of Wisconsin; Cha rles
i. Matthewson, New York; Dr. Henry
Sager, of Columbia University; Guy L.
/ Tripp. New York, and Louis D. Bran
des of Boston
Generally I'm Accord.
DIP. Matthewson was spokesman and
members of the committee were In nc-
cord on every proposition, except ono
advanced by President Van Hise. This
was an amendment under which bodies
of such individuals as lumbermen and
fruit growers, desiring to form Cooper
ative organizations, might submit their
plan of organization 40 the trade COM
mission. which. If 1t approved the plan
would issue permit.
Mr.. Matthewson said the committee
ielt the Newland amendments would
make great Improvement In the bill.
and would meet most of the criticisms
Mr.. Matthewson thought it unwIse
to draw line AS 10 the size OF cor.
porations compelled to make reports
and suggested that the requirements
should include all corporations except
those subject to the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the Comptroller
of the Currency.
Amendments to the Interstate trade
commission bills prepared by Senator
Newlands, chairman of the Interstate
Commerce Committee. who conferred
with President Wilson on the subject
yesterday, were submitted to-day to
the committee. One amendment sub
stituted for section 3 of the original
Clayton bill would limit the jurisdic-
tion Of the proposed commission to
corporations having annual gross re-
ceipts exceeding $4,000. .o00." and would
I;aEe II optional with the commission
whether 1T should demand records of
corporations affairs.
Unnecessary Publicity.
Another amendment would protect
corporations from unreasonable or un-
necessary publicity OF their affairs.
providing that the commission should
make public "in such form and to such
extent as 1t may deem proper. the in
formation obtained except so far as
may be necessary to protect trade pro-
cesses. names OF customers and such
other matters as the commission may
deem not to be OF public interest. and
shall make an annual report to the
Congress. and may submit herewith
regulations for additional leeislation."
1t would further provide that 'any
person who shall make public any in
formation obtained by the commission
without Its consent or authority shall
be deemed guilty of n misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof. shall be
punished by fine not exceeding $4,000
or by Imprisonment not exceeding one
year, or by both said punishments In
the discretion OF the court"
A third amendment proposed would
make II miSdemeanor, punishable by
tine not TO exceed 81 100000 or years
mpri isonment, or both. for any person
to "w!lfully make false entry In any
book of accounts or records of any cor
poratlon," subject to the proposed act.
The same punishment would apply to
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