Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-01-15
FOR PAC|F|CAT|0N
AND CONSTRUCTION
Such Is Presidents Policy in
Framing Antitrust
Legislation.

Washington Jan. 1S.---President Will
son to-day gave the members Of the
cabinet his ideas on the governments
! relation to big business" the fold
that antitrust legislation should COW
er in the present session OF Congress
and the spirit with which he believed
the task should he approached
Peace and not war. feeling OF
| friendly Cancellation rather than Of
| hostile antagonism, AMI yet con
structive program that will eliminate
uncertainty about the law and stimu-
late the growth OF Legitimate business
these are the Fundamental. OF the
Presidents plan Of action. to be en-
bodied in the message which he will
/ rend at 4 Joint session Of Congress
| next week
lie presented tho document to the
cabinet to-day and worked all after
noon on SON. minor changes as a re-
suit of the meeting Merrbers of the
| cabinet spoke Of the message az =
progressive declaration that would re-
''sn"r the brsine~ world OF the sin
! p" Intentions OF the administration
| to deal fairly with industry
/ Tomorrow thu President will out
/ "a" 'hr message to the democratic
, members OF the senate committee on
I Interstate commerce and the House
! judiciary committee at White House
! conferences. So far as is known. the
cardinal features Of the presidents
plan are:
, suppl omontns the sherman anti
trust Law to reduc. the debata bic area
around it,
/ The prohibition OF lntcrlocking direc-
/ torates
/ 3-Location Of individual responsibility
ana the fixing Of personal guilt tor all
violations
| THE creation Of an interstate trade
commission to perform the function not
| only Of n bureau OF inrorms ton, but to
determine by its Investigations whether
DEGREES Of dissolution or mandates or the
! court are carried out
PUBLIC OPINION CHANGED.
! The President IL proceeding on the
theory that Liquidation Is necessary at
thls time and that there should be no
delay in accomplishing those reforms on
which public sentiment is agreed The
recent action OF J. p Morgan co. Is
voluntarily withdraw wing from numerou.
1irectorates on account Of "a change in
public sentiment" il cited by admins
tratton supporters az evidence that the
business world expects interlocking di-
rectorates to be dissolved In thi. con
nectton, Mr., Wilson believes the whole
course Of public opinion has undergone "
, remarkable change In the last few wears
From point where doubt a to the e1-
| lHtence OF trusts was at hrst Expressed
through the period when reesona Bile and
unreasonable combinations In restraint Of
trade were debated. he believe. there has
developed now an acceptance or the plin-
ciple that private monopolies are indie
fensible and that trusts pra ctice certain
Things which ought to be prohibited
Tho President also Is reiterating to those
with whom he Is discussing the subject a
;iew expressed il, his pre-convention
speeches two years ago-that to stop "iov
riding II Is necessary TO arrest the
cha df"ur and NOT the automobile" He
IL expected 70 recommend in his MESA 70
that the law, with respect to personal
guilt. should be vigorously enforced ana
provision made in all legislation for indi-
vidual ofense.
BAR TWILIGHT ZONE"
one OF the most important features ~
the antitrust program /. the Interstate
trade commission TIL. organization
differs from the kind Of a commission,
which Was advocated by the National
Progressive party during the last cam
paign In that it would not be vested with
powers Of regulation. but would be the
medium through which the government
would Keep the business world informed
ana eliminate the twilight zone" in big
industry. There have been repeated re-
quests for Information from bushes.
| concerns, and the needs Of an authori-
tative reserve of Information already has
been demonstrated IN the present ad-
administrations experience with the trust
question. II Is contemplated 10 place the
commissioner Of corporation. at the head
OF the interstate trade commission, but
to include in it's membership business
men who would know business methods
| sufficiently to conduct the necessary in
quiries and furnish the desired informa-
ton.
With the President. discussion Of
the whole subject at to-d.ys cabinet
meeting. the talk OF Slowing up" on
the administration program and post
poning trust Legislation until the De-
cember session OF Congress. apparent
ly disappeared in executive quarters.
Administration supporters in the
House and Senate will endeavor to
Keep the work Of trust reform within
certain limits and to push il forward
to rapid completion so as to cut short
the period Of 1ouht as to what adjust
ment' may he in prospect for the bus
mess Of the country
THREE OUT FOR OFFICE.