Evening star., 1914-09-24
READY TO CALL UP :.
ANTITRUST REPORT
Senator CuIberson Only Await
ing 0pportune Time to Con-
slider Clayton Bill.
MEASURE AS AMENDED
WILL MEET OPPOSITION
Belief Expressed That the Conferees
Materially Weakened the Pro-
posed Legislation.

o>~.Ose~ees
The conference report on the Clay
ton antitrust bill will be called up
for consideration in the Senate this
afternoon, provided Senator Culberson,
chairman of the judiciary committee,
feels that the time is opportune. He
gave notice when he submitted the re-
port last night that he would ask to
have it taken up at the earliest pos
sible moment. An effort will be made
to have the report disposed of in the
Senate and House before next Monday.
SO that the President may sign the
federal trade commission bill and the
Clayton antitrust bill at the same
time. The ten days which the Presi-
dent has to sign the trade commission
bill before it automatically becomes
a law will expire next Monday night.
A hard fight against the adoption of
the conference report is expected in the
Senate. however, and it may take sew
eral days to get a vote on it. Senator
Reed of Missouri, among the demo-
Gratis. is particularly bitter against the
report. believing that it has been much
weakened in conference. He is disap-
pointed in the elimination of several
penalty clauses, particularly that which
he had placed in the section prohibit
Relating to Monopolies.
Another amendment which the Senate
put in the bill at his suggestion, and
which has been cut out in conference,
is that which would authorize the sale
of corporations declared to be monopo-
lies in violation of the antitrust laws.
Bitter opposition will be found to
the conference report also among the
i've Nlt hn oil dC-
that the teeth has been drawn from
the bill by the conferees:
Suggestions that a lobby has been
active IN opposition to certain pro-
frequently made during the last week.
and Senator Reed may demand an in
vestigation by the Senate lobby COM
mittee, of which Senator Overman is
chairman. The latter has declared his
readiness to take up the matter.
Conference Report Submitted.
The conference report on the bill was
submitted to the Senate late yesterday
afternoon.
The bill as reported contains the
clause prohibiting price discrimination
which was placed in the bill by the
House and later stricken out by the Sem
ate This prohibition strikes at discrim-
nations, direct or indirect, which SUBJ
stantially lessen competition or tend to
create monopoly.
The prohibition against tying or ex-
elusive contracts, in articles whether
patented or unpatented, is retained,
though the penalty provision attached
to this clause. in. the Senate has been
stricken out. and the prohibition applies
only in cases where competition is sub
stantially lessened or monopoly created.
Interlocking Directorate Clause.
The House provision relating to inter-
locking directorates of banks is replaced
in the bill. with some notifications. AS
1t now stands the prohibition applies
only after two years from the passage
of the act, and applies only to banks
whose capital. surplus and deposits
amount to $5,000,000 or more, and to
banks located in cities Of more than
100000 population.
The Senate language has been retained
In clauses which. would exempt labor
unions and farmers organizations from
the operation of the antitrust laws.
The Senate provision which makes a
director or officer of a firm or corpora
tion guilty of a felony if he embezzles,
steals, willfully misapplies or willful1y
permits to be misapplied the funds Of
the firm or corporation. is retained.
The Senate amendment providing for
the sale of corporations violating the
antitrust laws to persons who will
restore competition has been elimi-
mated.
Penalties for Prescribed Violations.
The clause relating to the individual
guilt and punishment of officers and di-
rectors of corporations which violate
the penal provisions of the antitrust
laws, inflicts penalties fines Of not
over $1,000. or Imprisonment for not
more than one year, or both in the dis
cretion of the court.
The Senate provision is retained
prohibiting common carriers from hav-
ing dealings in securities, supplies or
other articles of commerce or from
making contracts for construction or
maintenance of any kind to the amount
of more than $4,000 in one year with
another firm or corporation when the
common carrier shall have upon its
board of directors or as it's president.
manager or purchasing agent who Is
at the same time a director, manager
or agent, or who has substantial in
terest in such other firm or corpora
tion.
Use Of DEGREES as Evidence.
The conferees rewrote the section re-
1ating to the use of judgments or de-
crees in antitrust suits as evidence in
further actions. The conferees agreed
that such judgments hereafter handed
down, in either criminal or civil suits
shall be prima facie evidence in fur
ther proceedings brought by other
parties against the same defendants
This section. the conferees decided
shall not apply to consent judgments
or DEGREES entered before any testi-
mony has been taken, nor to consent
judgments or DEGREES rendered in
criminal proceedings or in equity suits
now pending in which the taking OF
testimony has been commenced, but
hoS dad Aad cy,fsh
judgments DEGREES are rendered
before any further testimony is taken.