Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-04-07
PUSH TRUST BILLS
SEVERAL MEASURES TO BE
PUNCHED III ONE no ExPE-
DITE MATTERS.
VERBAL TRIMMING IS NEEDED
All Administration Bills Prepared, but
Must BE Revised to Clarity Mear-
ing Before Given Into the
Hands of Congress.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


Washington--Thu 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 will be made in
all of them before they are passed.
They are called administration meas
ures. In a 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 n sasure is
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 meet
with the favor of the opposition. Inc
majority leaders, fearing stubborn re-
sistance and delayed action, want to
get into the light 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
he knows that the interstate trade
commission bill probably will be al
tered in one or two particulars, and
that having made a 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 transformation while
it was in the hands of the interstate
commerce committee. The changes
brought support to the measure from
the Republicans and from few Pro-
gressives.
The bills relating to the control Of
stock and bead issues, interlocking di-
rectorates, Sherman law definitions
and trade relations are yet to be given
into the keeping of congress. Intheir
desire to hasten the hour Of passage
the Democratic leaders may ask that
all of these measures be combined in
one legislative act. 1t is urged that
if this is done at least three weeks
time can be saved.
It is probable that if President Will
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
unouestionably 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.
In 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 i'll 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 ono BILL
He thiuks 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-
!ation. 1t IS their hope to get it through
without serious party antagonisms.
They do not want co be under the ne
cessity of resorting to caucus to
force any ore of the bills through as
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
tolls repeal bill which is now before
the senate for fighting consideration"
Toll Debate Is Bitter.
The whole subject of the repeal of
the toll exemption clause of the canal
act is loaded with bitterness. Demo
Gratis, Republicans and Progressives
have been divided in opinion as 10 the
wisdom of doing away with the clause
of the law which allowed American
coastwise sailing ships to pass free ct
tolls through the Panama canal. The
fight in the senate and house has been
worth seeing, for during the debates
on the fioo- and in the discussions in
cloakroom and corridor men who hold
~~~-~o~~~~~>-o-~~~~-o-o
GOING LIKE THE BUFFALO