The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-17
After Conference With
President; Stanley In
PRODUCES Amendment.
MAY BECOME BASIS
FOR LEGISLATIO
Would Make Illegal Restraint of
Trade ..'in Any Degree" Strik-
ing at "Rule of Reason" Laid
Down by Supreme Court
in Standard Oil
Case.

Washington. January i6.-Repre-
sentative Stanley, of Kentucky, after a
conference with President Wilson, in
troduced late to-day all amendment to
the Sherman law. which would make
illegal monopolizhtion or restraint Of
trade In any degree" striking at the
rule of reason" laid down by the Su-
preme Court in the Standard Oil case
The amendment also would invest the
Circuit Courts Of the United States with
'urisdiction to restrain and prevent
Violations of the act. irrespective of the
Attorney General 1t was drawn to
meet the wish OF the President ex-
pressed in his last message to Con-
gress, to reduce the debatable area sur
rounding the Sherman act.
The Kentucky Congressman. who
was chairman OF the special committee
which investigated the United States
Steel Corporation, does not offer the
measure as an administration amend :
mcnt. but believes IL will be of service
to the committees of Congress which
VIII draft the antitrust legislation after
the Presidents special trust message is
delivered next week.
! Amends Two Sections
! The Stanley bill would amend the
second and fourth sections Of the Sher-
/ man law.
In section ., in which the Supreme
Court injected the rule OF reason" the
words in any degree" are inserted so
that the section would read:
Every person who shall monopolize
I or attempt 10 monopolize or combine
/ or conspirc with any other person or
persons. to monopolize in any degree
any part OF the trade or commerce
among the several States or with for
eign nations shall be deemed guilty
/ or Il misdemeanor. and on 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"
/ Discussing Chief Justice Whites de-
c!sion relating to unrea sonable restraint
OF trade. Representative Stanley said
o-night:
Many believe that the effect of this
decision is TO render illegal only such
combinations in restraint of trade as
are unreasonable. The insertion of the
words In any degree will save the
law from any such interpretation
! Renders Act Ineffective.
/ The provision in section four OF the
present act requiring all actions to be
( brought by the Attorney General" he
continued. has done more to render
the sherman act ineffective than al
most any other thing.
The merger of the Tennessee Coal
ana iron Company and the United
states Steel Corporation. in NV opin-
I ion. would have been Impossible had
+ 1t not been for the fact that President
Roosevelt advised the Attorney Gen
eral not to take action in the matter,
and no other official could"
/ AS it is proposed to amend it, this
section OF the sherman act would read
/ The several Circuit Courts of the
/ United States are hereby invested with
I jurisdiction to prevent and restrain
violations of this act, and it shall be
the duty OF the several district attor-
neys of the United States, In their re-
/ spective districts. to institute proceed
| inss in equity to prevent and restrain
such violations.
! Such proceedings may be by way
| or petition setting forth the case and
! praying that such violation shall be
/ en1oined or otherwise prohibited
| When the parties complained of Shall
have been duly notified of such peti-
/ ton, the court shall proceed as soon
as may be to the hearing and deter
! mination Of the case, and pending such
| petition and before the final decree,
! the court may al any time make such
/ temporary restraining order or pro-
| hibition as Shall be deemed just in the
| premises
| May Bring Suit In Equity.
ANY person who shall be injured in
| his business or property or shall be
| threatened with such injury by any
| Continued On Third Page)