Marble Hill press., 1914-04-09
PUSH TRUST BILLS
sEVERAl MEASURES TO BE
suNcHEp IN ONE TO ExPE-
DlTE MATTERS.
VERBAL TRIMMING IS NEEDED
All Administration Bills Prepared, but
Must Be Revised to Clarity Mean
Ing Before Given Into the
Hands Of Congress.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

washington -Ihps lar only TWO o
the antitrust measures proposed By
the present administration have beer
submitted for debate to congress, thu
Interstate trade commission and tht
holding company bills.
All the antitrust measures have
been prepared, but 1t seems that radi
cal changes probably will be made II
al Of them before they are passed
They are called administration meas
ures. In a sense they were, but Mr.
Wilson approved OF them only in
general way his desire being to in
cite discussion and 10 invite from the
country suggestions for changes which
might be OF benefit
Democratic leaders OF the two
houses today are planning to expedite
committee consideration Of the anti
trust bills so that they can be taken
up and pushed 10 passage the in
slant that the tolls repeal measure i:
out Of the way. While there have beer
indications OF Republican support fol
the interstate trade commission bill
there are few like symptoms that the
other antitrust measures Will meet
with the favor Of the opposition. The
majority leaders. fearing stubborn re
sistaace and delayed action. want tc
get into the fight quickly SO that the
end, which means adjournment will
not TO be dong delayed.
When M. Wilson gave his approval
to the bills as originally framed. he
understood thoroughly that they would
be subject TO amendment while on
their way TO passage through the TWO
houses Of congress Already K Is said
he knows that the interstate trade
commission bill probably viii be al
tered in one or two particulars, and
that having made study OF the pro
posed changes, he is inclined 10 believe
that they viii strengthen the resulting
Law.
viii Sc chansed Materially.
The holding company bill will be
changed probably materially before
passage The trade commission meas
IRE underwent a transformation while
il was IN the hands o. the interstate
commerce committee. The changes
brought support to the measure from
the Republicans and from few Pro,
gressives.
The bills relating 10 the control OF
stock and bond issues. interlocking di-
-ectorates, Sherman law definitions
and trade relations are yet to be given
into the keeping OF congress. In their
desire to hasten the hour Of passage
the Democratic leaders may ask that
all OF these measures be combined il
one legislative act Il Is urged that
il this is done al least three weeks
time can be saved
Ii is probable that Il President VII
son had not been engaged SO con
st2auy with anxieues over Mexico and
over the canal tolls repeal matter, the
antitrust bills would be by this time
well On their way through congress
Mr.. Wilson has been the moving pow
er IL al legislation which the Demo
crats have enacted thus far, and the
delay Of The trust bills has been due
uaQuestioaably 10 the uaEilling0ess oi
the Democratic legislators to move
without feeling the compelling power
ot the presidents hand They do moi
wish, apparently. to 60 ahead on theil
OWN account
In the days to come whether trus'
legislation seems TO deserve praise ol
blame the president Will be given the
one or the other.
To Clarity the Meaning.
One Of the criticisms made Of tbs
antitrust bills in their present form
although an exception is made in the
case OF the trades commission meas
ure, is that they are verbose and con
tain sentences open TO more than one
construction. The effort OF the ad
rninistration now is 10 simplify al
OF the bills and to clarity their mean
ing
Ii Ia said that the president is In
favor of combining most Of the anti
trust legislative proposals in one bill
He thinks this will make for time-ssv
ing and that Il will simplify proceed
ure. The Democrats believe that theil
chief glory OF achievement 10 to come
from the passage Of antitrust legis
lation. II is their hope to get II through
without serious party antsgonisms
They do not want to be under the ne
cessity OF resorting to a caucus &c
force any one of the bills through as g
party measure. They think there il
good campaign material in each one oi
the FIVE measures. Their desire to IN
ish up trust legislation in order to
make II serviceable In the campaign
may tend to shorten debate on the
tolls repeal bill which is now before
the senate for fighting consideration
Toll Debate 10 Bitter.
The whole subject of the repeal OF
the toll exemption clause OF the canal
act !. loaded with bitterness Demo
erats. Republicans and Progressives
have been divided In opinion as to the
wisdom of doing away with the clause
Of the Law which allowed American
coast~lse sailing ships TO pass free oi
tolls through the Panama canal The
AGat In the senate and house has been