The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-02
TRADE AND FARMERS UNIONS LEGAL|zED BY ACTION OF HOUSE
Such Combinations Not in Restraint of Trade, Says
 Insert Paragraph Into House Bill

Washington, June 1.-Trade unions ani farmers unions would be specifically le- galized in their existence and declared not to be combinations in restraint Of trade by a paragraph which the House today incorporated in the Clayton bill to supplement the antitrust laws.
 1 Although it is designed only to clarify l existing law, organized continuation of a 1 fight waged by them for IA years-since the passage of the sherman antitrust law for exemption from prosecution under the laws against monopolies and restraint of trade. On a vote to perfect the labor provision the House was recorded POT for and none against.
 As adopted the provision declares that I nothing in the antitrust law shall bc construed to forbid the existence or op- erations'' of labor unions or farmers CO., operative associations, or to forbid or re- | strain members of such organizations from "carrying out the legitimate ob- jects thereof Supplemental to this pro- vision, the House adopted an amendment proposed by Representative Wenn in charge of the bill and agreed on by or- ganized labor representatives and the ad- ministration. which would provide that such organizations and their members shall not be 'held or construed to be il- 1 legal combinations or conspiracfes on re- straint of trade under the antitrust law"
 Provision Passed
 | Although the provision was passed with out a dissenting vote there was consid- erable debate as to just what the effect of the legislation would be. Democratic i leaders declared that the provision would give labor the exemption it desired, and asserted officials of organized labor had indorsed the phraseolo~y. Progressive Leader Murdock and others asserted that it would be years before the courts would define finally just how far the exemp- tion went and what it meant.
 ] Amendments proposed by Represents tive Thomas of Kentucky, and Mcdonald of Michigan. to make the proposed ex- emption more definite were voted down. democratic leaders declaring that a more the constitutional inhibition against calss legislation. 1 A clause to legalize such conferences and agreements among railroads as are now subject to control of the interstate | commerce commission, also was passed by the House. The section confirms and Iprotects the Jurisdiction of the commis. l sion over such agreements and confirms existing laws againss joint agreements | to maintain rates.
 Representative Ferris of Oklahoma, un successfully sought to insert a provision making oil and gas pipe lines and hydro electric power transmission lines engaged
 in interstate commerce commission com
 mon carriers under thN Jurisdiction o
 the interstate commerce commission.
 Keep House in Session
 Determined to hasten consideration O the measure, democratic leaders passe,
 the detailed debate, and kept the Hous
 in session tonight without even allowin | a recess for dinner
 Y The holding companies section wa
 taken up. and substitute proposed b. Representative Volsted of Minnesota, wa
 defeated. Representative volsted sai
 that the pending holding company pro
 vision would destroy effectiveness of tn sherman antitrust law.
 \ Senator Newlands, chairman of the in
 terstate commerce committes. which ha charge of the drafting of antitrust lea islation announced to the Senate todd