The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-04
AWAIT CHANCE TO
OPPOSE TRUST BILLS
New York Business Men WILL
ing to Aid Congress If
Called Upon.
WIDE APPROVAL DENIED
Opinions Collected by 'The Sun
Uniformly Against Pro-
posed Legislation.


dicates general approval OF the pending !
measures by corporation Arrangements
are not warranted according to opinions
held in corporation circles In this city |
The popular idea throughout the country |
seems to be that big business has its |
headquarters here and that the views OF
leading bankers and business men, espe- I,
cIally those who arc members or I'M |
portart corporation directorates. have
direct bearing ON the Washington idea.
Judging from u canvass OF the local
financial and business community, there
is no Justification for the belief that the
pending legislation to provide extreme
Governmental control OF trading and IN
dustriai concerns engaged In interstate
commerce is substantially approved
There Is anything but desire To have
legislation passed on the theory that the
silence OF New York In this matter sig
uiiies tho aCquiescence OF business Judg-
ment in the wisdom of the pending meas
ures The canvass shows that the New
York business community can give a rea-
son for not hurrying TO washington 10
| talk to Congressional committees, but that
| 4 would not be reluctant to tell Congress
| what IL thought or knew II the national
| lawmakers manifested any desire to
| listen to New York.
william 4. Marble.
William A. Marble. president OF the
| Merchants Association. made II clear how
| far from the truth is the Washington
view that New York business men are
uninterested in the proposed legislation
| ard are unwilling to testify or give In
| formation. Mr.. Marble was asked II he
believed that the silence of New York
| men on the new trust legislation IL based
| ON their acquescence IN Il.
Not much" he replied. we did not
1 II la1 sAlss
| How could any one expect us 10 know
| what is in them and to announce our
, selves before seeing the bills as ready TO
GO down and express our opinion OF
them? We are not mind readers.
I'VE are hard at work now examining
| these bills and We shall be heard from
very definitely as soon rs we have had
time to digest them.
| Ten of our members will represent us
| az the congress Of the chambers OF COM
mercc OF the United states meeting In
| Washington next week. They VIII discuss
/ these trust measures then. W" shall take
, measures TO be strongly represented IN
| the hearings before Congress committees
| on these trust bills AT the conferences OF
| the chambers Of commerce.
| "These questions are Of vital Importance
to every merchant and manufacturer In
| tho country. 1t In IA mistaken notion that
they are not Interested and do not intend
| to be heard on the matters.
"'rhe Chamber OF Commerce OF New
! York will he vigorously heard We shall
| make II our business 10 present our views
| before Congress thoroughly. We shan
| demand that at least two weeks hc de-
voted by Congress to open hearings and
hope that Congress has no intention OF
rushing these serious matters through
without giving the country chance TO
express ITSELF
The Representatives of the Chamber OF
Commerce OF New York who are going 10
Washington as its delegates to the con-
ference Of business associations, NUM-
Der OF whom undoubtedly viii represent
& before Congress committees, are as
follows: William \. Marble. president Of
the Merchants Association, Henry X.
rowno former president, w e. Breed,
Waldo II. Marshall, president Of the
American Locomotive Company, George
, W. Neville. former president OF the
Cotton Exchange. Thomas II. Downing,
Prof. Joseph French johnson Of New York
University. William Felowes Morgan, :.
g. Mead. secretary Of the association,
and Edward ID. Page,
y. y. Morgan.
| J. l.. Morgan said
ANY member of this firm IN willing "a
attend Congressional hearings 1T Wash
ington II Congress should indicate that
/ It thought We had any information that
would be OF service III connection with
} the proposed legislation affecting inter
! state commerce corporations
Darwin y. Kingsley.
I Darwin l.. Kingsley president Of tho
Z New York Life Insurance Company. said
ii III Congress considers that thin com
pany has information % value IN tn,
2 framing OF these new laws | should b'
: very willing To- testify ! do nos feel thai
= we have Information directly bearing o.
I this legislation, but there IL no lack u
Willingness 20 testify"
, y. ID. ndcrw""d.
e Frederick u. Underwood. president o
= the Erie Railroad. said.
Il do not consider that silenC" of New
: York business men on this proposed legis
4 latlon is acquiesCenCe in II. l have NJ
G opinion on the state of mind OF New lorl
! men as to why they have not appeared
= ] would say, however, that ] should HI
o willing to 20 TO Washington To testif!
at a Congre sslonal hearing on this legls
: lation If Congress should indicate that /
= wanted 10 know what Information or idea
y business men had on the subject
Alexander J. IIemphiil.
Alexander J. Hemphil, president o
. the Guaranty Trust Company, said
81 think that the silence of New hor'
. business men, ,iinancicrs and railroad mel
In the matter indicates dissent rather thar
assent. but that they fee. that protes
q | will be Of no avail. When New Yorker
y 20 to Washington their presence is looked
9 upon as a pernicious lobby, and when the!
stay away their absence Is wondered Al
q The less legislation we have the better
" for we already have too many laws, Tn
l. Sherman law as 1t is now being interpreted
: would be far clearer II left as it is In
stead OF making further antitrust law
J. which in themselves viii have to be In
:. terpreted and vii! require the making o
q new laws Ia that end.
j. The plan for the regulation OF IN
e issuance of railroad securities by a con,
l. mission Is very undesirable. but is to b
d preferred to the roads having to obtai
I permission to issue securities from ever
u Stat. through which they pass.
AS for going to Washington to testif
Is have always been willing 10 do $
d whenever summoned"
~ }. walter Earle.
l. j. Walter Earle. president OF the Rem
X ington Typewriter Company, said:
81 should be glad to appear before IN
II committees of Congress in these matters
N and ] believe most business men woul
ri be II they thought their services could b
to OF use. Many business men can't hel
20 feeling that committees ot Congress hav
iheld a hostile attitude toward them whe
| rjp IN This i,r