Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-23
DEMAND FOR LAW
WITH TEETH IN /
PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF CON.
cREss TO INSIST ON TRUST
LEGISLATION.
BILL FAVORED 81 WILSON
DOES NOT MEET WITH FAVOR
Net Considered Sufficient to Meet
Needs and Froaressives Of All Par
ties May Force Action at Coming
Session-Senate to Shape Any Leg
isiation Enacted.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, May est is daily be-
coming more certain that great bat
tie over trust legislation is going 10
be fought out in the senate this sum-
mer. Early Adjournment would, of
course, avoid it. but things are 50
shaping themselves that it will not be
easy for congress 10 drop its work
without trust legislation.
The president and the democratic lead
ers want early adjournment. But on
the other hand the administration feels
it would be embarrassing 10 allow the
democratic party 10 GO into the 1914
campaign without trust legislation &C
complished.
The plan of passing the interstate
trade commission bin and then quit
ting would meet with favor on the part
oG president and of democratic leaders
in congress but once the senate takes
up the truss question, it will not he
easy TO shake 1t loose. A powerful
element in that body. progressive men
OF all parties. are bent on legislation
fed with such a bill as the interstate
trade commission Dill pending in the
house which many OF the democrats
themselves condemn as a weak meas
ure.
Senate to Shape Legislation.
The senate shapes most OF the
country's important legislation and Il
sill shape the trust legislation before
=
on the trust question cuts little figure
in the final shaping of the bill or bills
The interstate trade commission bill
of Congressman Stevens. democrat. OF
Ne wHampshire, is much more dras-
tic measure than the Covington bill.
which is before the house and which
President Wilson favors. It is unlikely
however. any OF the features OF the
Stevens bin can be attached
to the Covington bill In the
house Recently. Congressman Stew
ems, Charles Mccarthy, Of Wisconsin.
and other students Of the trus; ques-
ton, saw the president and tried -
get him to favor the Stevens bill. 1t is
pretty generally understood they got
no encouragement. They will let tie
trust program run its course in the
house and then try 10 get 1t made more
drastic in the senate.
Stevens Bill Drastic.
The Stevens bin would clothe the
proposed trade commission with power
to issue executive orders hased on It's
decision that certain trade practices
alleged determinations CT other con-
duct of corporation subject to the
act constituted a violation OF the la"
and therefore might be punished, a.
the pleasure Of the commission. by
I! means Of restraining order. In eff
! feet. the Stevens bill would compel
| every subject corporation to conduct
! IFS business as the interstate trade
commission might order. on pain OF
( having Its interstate business cut OF
nv order a court. Thus. Of the Stand
dard OIL Company should be adjudget
by the commission guilty OF any i'm
proper trade practice in the operation
Of a pipe line, the flow OF Oil thru the
territory involved might be stopped OF
court order So also might be stoppe'
sales of tobacco, sugar or other art.'
cles handled by a corpora ton whose
methods were condemned By the inter
state trade commission.
No Halt Way Plan Wanted.
/ This means clothing the commission
with large powers. President Wilso'
does not favor IT, But there Is ..ronI
sentiment in congress that II an inter
state. trade commission Is to be ere
ated. 1t must be given authority, orb
erwise. il is urged there is no nee
of supplanting the bureau OF corpora
tons with a more expensive piece 0
machinery whose functions are Il
greater than those Of the existin
bureau.
i Something of controversy is rasln
and will rage in the house over IN
question o. putting teeth in the trad
commission bill. But it Wall be in Tn
senate where the real controversy oc
curs. Effor-s are being made to &c
.:,c senate u consider the interstas
t.adc commission hill by Itself and le
other trust questions aicne. But an
such program will tie opposed streru
. ( ously. n such a bill is r@7or;ed lrp'
: committee Efforts viii he mad on IN
floor to make II much more strinse'
than the house bill and at the sam
: time to broaden It so as 20 cover TN
; whole trust ar!l. This means 'oH
discussion and mak+s TIE OUTLOOK 1e
early adjournlncn- senrl dubious.