New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-09
Administration of Sher-
man Law by a Com
mission Urged.
FLAWS PICKED IN
THE CLAYTON BILL
Group of Bankers to Follow
Chicago Delegation at White
House To-day.
IRON m, Tribune Buresu ]

IRON IN, Tribune Bureau
Washington. July S.-President Will
son received to-day delegation OF ten
men representing Chicago's financial,
industrial, commercial and professional
activities and discussed with them
business conditions and the proposed
antitrust legislation. Ii was the sec
ond of a series of such conferences.
The President expressed his pleas
ure at having been consulted by the
group of gentlemen who represented
the Chicago Association Of Commerce
and said that he felt that the confer.
ence had been mutually instructive ana
helpful" was the announcement OF the
delegation after the conference.
The conference was held at the So
licitation of Joseph II. Defrees, presl-
dent Of the Chicago Association oil
Commerce. Tomorrow third confer
ence will be held by the President with
a committee Of bankers from Illinois
and a delegation representing the Ma.
tional Association Of Supervisors OF
State Banks. which has been holding
it's annual convention at Atlantic CITY.
Henry Ford. the Detroit automobile
manufacturer. also has an engagement
with the President tomorrow, having
received an invitation 10 call.
The delegation at the White house
to-day comprised J. '. Farwell, OF D:
V. Farwell & Co; j. VI. Barnes, OF
Marshall Field & Co.; J. T: Pire.. OF
Carson, Prize, Scott & Co.; Ezra W ar
ner. of Sprague. Warner & Co; l.. A.
Goddard. of the State Bank of Chicago;
Thomas Cree, of the Cudahy Packing
Company: Cornelius Lynde, Of Cas-
sidy. Butler. Lamb & Foster; A. W.
shaw. of "The System Magazine; W:
r. Glow, of James B. Glow & Sons. and
Joseph II. Defrees, of the Chicago AS
ISOLATION of Commerce
Conference Lasts an Hour.
The delegation supported the admin
istration antitrust programme In some
particulars and opposed il in others.
The conference lasted more than an
hour. A trade commission was advocat-
cd that would be broader IN scope IN
some respects than proposed IN the
Newlands bill and lesser in scope in
other respects. They also supported a
provision to make certain unfair Dusl-
ness practices illegal.
Speaking on the labor exemption
clause of the Clayton bill, the Presl-
dent told the business men 1t was IN
tended to legalize the existence ana
operation of labor unions and similar
organizations as such The Chicago men
rephed that they would approve OF such
a provision, if nothing else were pro-
vlded.
The delegation favored railroad Sc
curities bill. but opposed feature OF
the Newlands trade commission bill
which would make all corporations rem
der annual reports 10 the commission.
They thought that such reports should
be made only when particularly desired
by the commission.
President Wilson promised the dele
CATION he would try TO arrange a con-
ference between them and Representa-
tive Coyington, OF Maryland, VINO
framed the trade commission bill as II
passed the House.
Found Wilson Open-Minded.
Following the conference. Joseph II.
Defrees. on behalf of the Chicago dele
cation. ISSUED the following statement:
THE President. as we knew would be
the case. gave US conslderate and
open-minded hearing. We, in turn. were
DESTROYS of giving him and the admin
istratlCn. including Congress, such sug-
cestions with regard TO pending legs
lation as we thought might be helpful
not only to the lawmakers. but TO bust
ness generally. In general we favored
trade commission, but suggested Ger
tain points which. if agreed TO, would
make il q constructive policy, helpful
10 all honest business. We also dis
cussed business conditions"
In the brief of it's position sub
mitted 10 the President. the Chicago
Association Of Commerce stated ITS
views as follows:
"The Sherman law should be re.
tanned and not changed.
at should be administered by
strong. business-like commission whicr
should act on its own initiative, upor
the request of the President, the De
partment Of Justice, or upon com
plant Of aggrieved individuals.
IAN extensive system of definitions
j. not practicable. Each case shoult
depend upon its own circumstances
The criterion is not as 70 whethe
competition is TO some extent reduced
but as TO whether the practice is fai
or reasonable and not against tn
public interest.
Powers Of Investigation.
THE commission should have broat
powers Of investigation and power 4
determine and order the discontinu
ance OF those practices forbidden b,
the law and such investigation shoul,
precede action in the courts by tn
Attorney General.
THE commission should have juris
diction over individuals as we'll a,
corporations.
The commission should have powel
to award damages as reparation e
injured parties.
"lnssmuch as the commission would