Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-04-21
NOW BIG BUSINESS
HOUSE READY TO CONSIDER
WILSON'S CONSTITUTION
OF PEACE"
QUICK ACTION is PROMISED
Democrats to Pass Bill! E:xemptina La
Dor Unions and Farmers organi-
cations From Prosecution I'm
der Sherman Law
Rx q; EoReE CLINTON.


ised by the Democratic majority in
congress- on all the big business"
bills commended to the consideration
of the law makers by President VII
SON. 1t now can be taken for grant
ed, however, that no drastic rule for
limiting debate to few hours will be
put into force by the house leaders.
There was too much opposition to the
rule cutting off debate on the qnes-
ton of the repeal of the tolls exemp-
act, at any rate Immediately. another
rule of the same kind.
OF course this does not mean the
administration antitrust measures
will be debated in the house of rep
resentatives for any great length of
time. An agreement will be reached
that debate shall close at certain
time and the certain time" will be
set forward far enough so that no
charge of en- attempt to gag the OPP
posing members can stand.
And so 1t now is that the house,
having finished with the repeal mat
ter which some persons have called
Woodrow Wilson's declaration of
war. will take up the consideration of
his Constitution of Peace" name
which the president attached to the
plan of procedure for the regulation of
big business without smashing any
commercial industry
Another. Party Clash Coming.
Before this something has been
said about one piece of legislation
which the majorities in house and SEN
ate are going to insist upon enacting
and to which the president will object
strongly 1t is known today that the
majority party men are determined to
exempt labor unions and certain
forms of farmers organizations from
prosecution under the Sherman law.
The president is opposed to this ex-
emption. 1t is not believed apparently,
that any such turmoil will grow out
of TIE next difference of opinion be-
tween congress and the White House
as that which made itself riotously
apparent In connection with the re-
peal BILL but seemingly there is go
ing to be trouble nevertheless
Nothing has happened recently as
far as one can determine to weaken
in the least the initial determination
of the majority law makers 10 brave
the presidents opposition in this mat
ter. 1t was the original intention to
include the exemption provision in
one of the main antitrust measures,
but it now seems to be the mind of
the majority to make it bill by it
self, so that If Mr.. Wilson vetoes it
he will veto it alone and thus will not
be compelled to put other measures
out of the running when entering his
final objection.
Members of the parties in opposi-
ton to the Democrats in the house,
and it is said a few Democrats with
them, believe that if bill eXempting
labor unions and organizations of
farmers from prosecution under the
trust act is passed, the action will re-
suit In court proceedings which may
rob the Sherman law of its power to
prevent combinations in restraint of
trade. Glass legislation for so the
opponents Of the proposed exemption
law call it, will be used it is said by
business combinations which may be
proceeded against by the government,
as the basis for plea of unconstitu-
tionality of the law in general.
There seems to be fear among the
lawyers in the house and senate that
any kind of an exemption, whether it
is made special bill or part of one
Of the main antitrust bills, actually
can be used as means to prevent
successful prosecution against bust
ness combinations which are accused
of restraining trade.
Delay in Commerce Rulings.
Congress is being blamed BY part of
the press of the country, by business
men, whether or not connected with
the carrier corporations, for the con-
gested condition of matters in the Of
flee of the interstate commerce com
mission Perhaps if ''congested" sug-
gests confusion it is not the right
word TO use, for the commission has
its work well in order, the trouble be-
ing that there is SO much work for the
commissioners today that decisions
are being delayed and the petitioners
and litigants are complaining.
In discussing this question of the
proper place to lay the blame for the
overwo-king of the commission this
has been said:
I'VE cannot altogether blame the
interstate commerce commission for
the delay in deciding the great freight
rate case now before the tribunal The
responsibility for this delay rests
rather upon the congress of the
United States which has loaded upon
the shoulders of the commission more
work than it can perform. Within re
cent years 1t has been the custom of
congress, and particularly the present
congress, to burden the calendar of
the commission with requests for in
formation, peremptory demands Tor
Investigations and the performance of
a great mass of business entirely I'M
dreamed of when the commission was
called into being"
Bernhardt's Neat Retort.
During one of her American tours