The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1914-06-10
THREE BIG ANTITRUST BILLS

dents program for the further re gu
lation OF big busin IS and dum2el
the three antitrust bills into the iaE
| of the Senate. These measures aie
probably of more Importance thu
even the Panama Canal controversy
There is general feeling that, what
ever may be their meFll. the House
has framed them rather hastily an
imposed on the Senate the duty Ct
careful consideration and revision. ~
any rate. II is In the Senate that the
real battle will oclu". While they 4.
pending there the public Will have
a CHANGE TO faniljdrize itself with
their details and PURPOSE and public
opinion viii be able TO make itse.l
felt. II is desirable, therefore, for al
Intelligent citizens TO form a clear
idea of the nature aid scope OF these
treasures.
There are three or them: The CIV.
ington bill. for the establishment OF
q federal trade commission; the Clay.
ton bill, designed to make the Sger,
man law more definite in its applt ~
ton; and the Rayburn bill, regI'at.
Ing the issuance of railroad securi-
ties. The three doyetail into each
ether and make a feirly complete
scheme for government control Of al
the big corporations engaged ia liz
terstate commerce.
The Trade Coram >5sion, substitut-
cd by the CoYington bill foa the pr rs
ent bureau of Corporations repre-.
sents a favorite idea OF The Prssi-
dents for turning the light on suea
big business operations as are NOT
subject to the supervision OF the Ia
tfrstate Comeree COMMITTEE II is
to be simply powerful publicity hu
reau, with authority to obtain fran
corporations complete information as
to their organization. financial coli
ditfpn and business operations, and to
give all proper information to the pub
lie, 1t wili report alleged violatlapx
of the antitrust laws to the PRIEST.
dent, the attorney general or either
house OF congress, Regarding this
measure there Is little difference Of
opinion.
The Clayton bill Is arousing the
NEST interest and controversy. FN
while 1t provides definite checks .or
various forms OF monopoly which the
sherman law left doubtful, 1t also
yields much to the demands of on !.
ganized labor. Not only does 1t OK.
pressly exempt labor unions (taye hel
with farmers unions) from the
charge of being Illegal combinations
or conspiracies under the antitrust
law" but it forhids injucnti ms
against striking. and legalzes prim-
airy boyeotts peaceful picketing aud
peaceful assemhlage OF strikers. 1t
guarantees jury trial IN indirect"
contempt OF court cases, and forhids
blanket iniunetipns and pieces re.
sirictions on all preliminary" inmuc.
lions such as labor unions have com.
planned Of in the past. The bin pro.
hibits holding companies in so fag
as they prevent competition, and re-
striets interlocking dlrectorates. 1t
iorbids price discrimination or arbi-
trarg refusal to sell, or contracts
binding purchasers or lessees not to
handle a competitors goods.
There is more general agreement
as 20 the terms Of the Rayhurn bill,
which makes IL unlawful for any com.
mon carrier to issue stocks, bonds
|or other evidence of indebtedness
without the approval Of the Inter,
state Commerce Commission. This
fl1pp silra nraaflv nxtfnda tina t,,,,,.,rs
q the commission, giving it alnlost
complete authority over the financial
affairs OF the railroads. Its purpose
Il course, Ia to prevent stock-water
Ing and all the other methods of dis
credited high finance that have re.
Gently brought several railroads into
disrepute aud practical bankruptcy.
-~-~- - s---
Baseball and politics simply refuse