The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-16
PRESIDENT DENIES
ANTITRUST BILLS
WILDE SHELvED

oAlSi u COtllSFSLC6 agreed lOQay " &
consolidate in one measure the
main eatures OF the Sherman law
definitions bill and the bills to pro
hlbit i~nterlocking directorates and
holding companies. The president
agreed to the insertion of the prin-
ciples embodied in two measures
which passed the House last year
providing for the regulation of in
functions in labor cases and trial
by jury in contempt cases.
There is to be no curtailment OF
the administration program" said
Mr.. Clayton. The president told
us when we asked him about it that
he would insist on such legislation
during the present session. We are
practically ready with our bill
now"
Washington. ID. c.. April 14.--Jres-
ident Wilson today fatty denied re-
ports that the trust legislation pro-
gram has to be dropped or curtailed
To callers, he took the ground that no
such thing was in contemplation 50
far as he was concerned, and that ne
thought it needful to pass the trust
bills In order to keep faith with the
country. President Wilson said when
asked by callers whether the plan OF
passing the interstate trade commis-
sion bill and letting he other go over
met his approval, that no such plan
had been suggested to him.
The president conferred today with
Chairman Clayton, of the House com,
mittee. and a subcommittee of that
body on the trust program.
President Wilson'S attitude today is
generally interpreted as meaning that
he will insist on congress remaining
sive trust program. At his time he
is not In favor of s~idetracking the es..
sential part of the trust program and
putting through one bill which would
look chiefly to investigation and rec.
concentration for legislation later.
Some Have Cold Feet.
1t is entirely true that an increas-
ing number of the democratic leaders
in the Senate n House are getting
cold feet" on the trust question, and
would like to drop it.
But If the president adheres to the
attitude he took today, the whole trust
program will nave to be carried
through.
This means that unless there is d
most of the summer.
A subcommittee of the Senate in
terstate committee Is
working out a single, comprehensive
trust bill which promises to be far
reaching.
The following story, carried by the
Associated Press, is not strictly in acI
cord with the facts as set forth by
Mr.. Snure, The Trihune's Washington
representative, following a personal
conference with the president this
morning:
Antitrust legislation, supple
mentary to The Sherman act prob-
ably will not be- undertaken at
this session of congress on the board
scale originally outlined by the admin
istration. Democratic Senate INC
solution of the vexatious problem to
come with the evils of big business
through legislation had eeen perfected.
Pass But One Bill.
"The plan. it was asserted, is to pass
one bill which would create an inter-
state trade commission with broad
powers to investigate affairs of COR
porations and with specific authorize
ton to inquire into the relation to COM
merce of i~nterlocking directorates,
holding companies, stock watering, the
issuance of railroad securities and
price determinations which tend to de-
stroy competition. The commission
would recommend to the next congress
what further trust regulative legisla-
ton it deemed advisable for the well
fare Of the country.
such a elimination Of an antitrust
legislative program, originally sug-
geSted by President Wilson in a special
message to congress, has been working
put IN conferences between the presi-
dent and Senate and House leaders for
many weeks. The task tentatively out
tined in bills proposed assumed pro-
portions that precluded it's accomplish
ment, leaders believed, in view Of
other legislative problems confronting
congress, and also because of the
many conflicting opinions of men in the
council of the dominant party as to
just what should be done.
Favored by Wilson.
1T was pointed out that President
Wilson, in his trust message. sought
merely to suggest to congress evils of
pig business which needed regulation.
Since then he has had many con-
terences with members Of the House
ana Senate committees which have,
from time to time. submitted tentatiye
trust regulation bills.
subcommittee at Work.
Some time ago a subcommittee of the
Senate Interstate Commerce commits
sion was appointed by direction of Sen
ator NeWiands, the chairman, to incor-
porate INTO one measure all features Of
the various bills Contemplated. since
that committee has been at work many
stumbling blocks have been enco1nf-
cred as to how far congress should 90
IN enactlng legislation supplementary
70 the sherman act; just What would
strengthen the provisions of the act
and just what might weaken it.
AFTER many conferences of democratic
ana republican senators, who in turn
nave conferred with House members of
the Interstate commerce and iIIdiciaT ~
committees, a tentative amendment to
the Senate bill to create an interstate
commerce Trade commission has been
| designed to take the n1aco 80 ,n.or
0iils to prohibit or regulate interIocking
directorates. holding companies. stock
watering; to provide for government
securities and to solve the probIan ~
destructive price discrimination II
would provide that all these proh1ans
DC referred to the proposed interstate
trade commission, directing an exbauS-
tive study of the subject for The in.
formation of congress-" N
MAY NOT STRIKE.