The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-04-11
PUSH TfUST BILLS
SEVERAL MEASURES TO BE
PUNCHED IN ONE TO ExPE-
DITE MATTERS.
VERBAL TRIMMING IS NEEDED
All Administration Bills Prepared, but
Must Be Revised to Clarity Mean
ing Before Given Into the
Hands of Congress.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington nus lai oN''
the antitrust measures proposed p1
the present administration nave oeeh
submitted for debate to congress- the
interstate trade commission and the
holding company bills.
All the antitrust measures nave
been prepared, but it seems that raui-
cal changes probably will be maue Ill
all of them before they are passed.
They are called administration meas
ures. In a sense they were, put MI
Wilson approved of them only III
general way, his desire being 10 III
cite discussion and to invite from ,he
country suggestions for changes whlch
might be of benefit.
Democratic leaders OF the wv
houses today are planning TO eHpeuile
committee consideration OF the anu
trust bills SO that they can be taken
up and pushed to a passage the III
slant that the tolls repeal measure Is
out of the way. While there have peen
indications of Republican support lor
the interstate trade commission DILL
there are few like symptoms that the
other antitrust measures VIII meet
with the favor of the opposition. Inc
majority leaders, fearing stubborn re-
sistance and delayed action, want u
get into the fight quickly SO that the
end. which means adjournment VIII
not to be long delayed.
When Mr.. Wilson gave his approval
to the bills as originally framed, ne
understood thoroughly that they woulo
be subject to amendment while on
their way to passage through the t"e
houses of congress. Already 1t Is sale
he knows that the interstate trade
commission bill probably Will De al
t. led in one or two particulars, ant
that having made a study of the pro
posed changes, he is inclined to beileV'
! that they will strengthen the resulting
| law.
viii Be Changed Materially.
The holding company bill will b.
changed probably materially befor
passage. The trade commission meas
ure underwent a transformation Will
It was in the lands Of the interstat
commerce committee. The change
brought support to the measure fror
the Republicans and from a Few PFC
gressives.
The bills relating to the control G
stock and bond issues, interlocking q
rectorates, Sherman law definition
and trade relations are yet to be give
into the keeping Of congress. In thel
desire to hasten the hour OF passag
the Democratic leaders may ask tina
all of these measures be combined
one legislative act 1t Is urged tina
IL this is done at least three week
time can be saved.
1t is probable that II President Wi
son had not been engaged so CO
stantly with anxieties over Mexico al
over the canal tolls repeal matter, Il
antitrust bills would be by this tin
we'll on their way through congress
Mr.. Wilson has been the moving po
!, er In all legislation which the Dem
Gratis have enacted thus far, and Il
delay of the trust bills has been d.
unouestionably to the unwillingness
the Democratic legislators to mo
, without feeling the compelling pow
of the presidents hand. They do q
, wish, apparently, to go ahead on thu
own account.
In the days to come whether trr
legislation seems to deserve praise
blame the president will be given {
one or the other.
= To Clarity the Meaning.
\ One Of the criticisms made OF
> antitrust bills in their present for
although an exception is made In
, case of the trades commission me
II ure. is that they are verbose and C
q tain sentences open to more than
construction. The effort OF the
- ministration now Is to simplify
:. of the bills and to clarity their me
Il ing.
!, II is said that the president Is
10 favor of combining most OF the a.
a. trust legislative proposals In one
). He thinks this will make for times
- ing and that it will simplify proc
N ure. The Democrats believe that tt
20 chief glory of achievement is to &C
10 from the passage of antitrust lie
q lation. 1t is their hope to get 1t thro
=. without serious party antagonis
At They do not want to be under the
10 cessity of resorting to a caucus
20 force any one of the bills through
n, party measure. They think there
good campaign material in each on
49, the five measures. Their desire to
CO ish up trust legislation in order
make 1t serviceable in the camp;
may tend to shorten debate on
tolls repeal bill which is now be