Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-08
PUSH TRUST 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.-Thus far only two OF
the antitrust measures proposed by
the present administration have been
submitted for debate to congress, the
interstate trade commission and the
holding company bills.
All the antitrust measures have
been prepared, but it seems that radi-
cal changes probably viii be made in
all of them before they are passed.
They are called administration meas
ures. In sense they were. but Mr..
Wilson approved of them only in a
general way. his desire being to in
cite discussion and to invite from the
country suggestions for changes which
might be of benefit
Democratic leaders of the two
houses today are planning to expedite
committee consideration of the anti
trust bills SO that they can be taken
up and pushed to a passage the in
slant that the tolls repeal measure is
J out of the way. While there have been
indications OF Republican support for
the interstate trade commission bill,
there are few like symptoms that the
other antitrust measures will neet
with the favor of the opposition. The
majority leaders, fearing stubborn re
sistance and delayed action, want to
get into the fight quickly so that the
end. which means adjournment will
not to be long delayed.
When Mr.. Wilson gave his approval
to the bills as originally framed. he
understood thoroughly that they would
be subject to amendment while on
their way to passage through the two
houses OF congress. Already it is said
he knows that the interstate trade
commission bill probably will be al
tered in one or two particulars, and
that having made study of the pro
posed changes, he is inclined to believe
that they will strengthen the resulting
law.
viii Be Changed Materially.
The holding company bill will be
changed probably materially before
passage. The trade commission meas
ure underwent a transformation while
it was in the hands of the interstate
<oAAAhCASO NOA1AuAllCC~ A6 CndA. 6Co
brought support to the measure from
the Republicans and from few Pro
gressives.
The bills relating to the control Of
stock and bond issues, interlocking IL
rectorates, Sherman law definitions
and trade relations are yet to be given
into the keeping of congress. In their
desire to hasten the hour of passage
the Democratic leaders may ask that
all of these measures be combined ia
one legislative act. 1t is urged that
if this is done at least three weeks
time can be saved
1t is probable that If President VIII
son had not been engaged SO con-
stantly with anxieties over Mexico and
over the canal tolls repeal matter, the
antitrust bills would be by this time
well on their way through congress.
Mr. Wilson has been the moving pow
er In all legislation which the Demo
Gratis have enacted thus far. and the
delay of the trust bills has been due
unquestionably to the unwillingness of
the Democratic legislators to move
without feeling the compelling power
of the presidents hand. They do not
wish. apparently, to go ahead on their
own account
Ia the days to come whether trust
legislation seems to deserve praise or
blame the president will be given the
one or the other.
To Clarity the Meaning.
One Of the criticisms made of the
antitrust bills in their present form.
although an exception is made in the
case of the trades commission meas
ure is that they are verbose and con-
tain sentences open to more than one
construction. The effort of the ad-
ministration now is to simplify all
of the bills and to clarity their mean
ing.
1t is said that the president is in
favor of combining most of the anti
trust legislative proposals in one bill
He thinks this will make for time-sav-
ing and that it will simplify proceed
ure. The Democrats believe that their
chief glory of achievement is to come
from the passage of antitrust legis-
lation. It is their hope to get IT through
without serious party antagonisms.
They do not want to be under the ne
cessity of resorting to a caucus TO
force any one of the bills through as a
party measure. They think there is
good campaign material in each one of
the FIVE measures Their desire to fin
<ish up trust legislation in order to
make it serviceable in the campaign
may tend to shorten debate on the