Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-01-21
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTS.
Executive Approves -Four of Five Ad-
ministration Bills.

j President Wilson at {; secret con-
ference at the White House late last
night, gave formal approval to four
of the five administration bills, which
are designed to carry out his anti
trust program. The President sum-
moned to the White House Represen-
tative Henry D. Clayton, chairman Of
the house committee on the judiciary;
Representative Charles c. Carlin, of
Virginia, and John c. Floyd, of Ar
! kansas, and Senator Francis G.. New
lands, of Nevada; chairman of the
Senate committee on interstate COM
merce. The bills were gone over at
length, but it was decided not to in
troduce them in the House today, as
had been contemplated. Instead ton
tative committee drafts will be pre-
pared and distributed TO the Demo-
cratic members Of the House judiciary
committee, and the Senate interstate
commerce committee, and extensive
hearings will be held.
President Wilson's suggestion to
Congress yesterday in his trust adj
dress, that the government and busi
ness men are ready to meet each
iother halfway "in common effort to
square business methods with both
public opinion and the law fell OH
attentive ears and struck reSpon-
sive chord in representatives of diff
fering political parties. The atmos-
phere of cooperation and "accommo-
dation" in the message; the reforms
proposed, expressed in terms Of con-
servatism. and the spirit Of friendli-
ness to supersede antagonsm in
dealing with "big business" which
dominated the Presidents thoughts,
aroused expression Of approval from
ali sides. Few discordaMt notes were
sorn5ed in comments from members
of the Congress who ere to pass
upon legislation urged to prohibit mo-
nopoly and hold men of business with
in Ne law.
The chief points which the Pres'-
dent singled out as a basis for leglS-
lation are:
l. Effectaar proii,i5i: ia'e .! ti.e i;-
tcrlocking OF dircctora:es Of great
corporations--5anks, railroads, IN
dust,ial commercial and public ser
vice bodies.
. A law to confer upon the In.
terstate Commerce Commission the
power to superintend ana regulate
tha financial operations by which rail-
lads are henceforth to be supplied
with the money they need for their
proper development and lmpro'eu
transportation facilities.
The President made it clear that
the prosperity of the railroads ana
the prosperity of the country are N
separably connected in this regard,
, Definition of the many hurtiu'
70 rastraints of trade" by explicit legIS-
!ation supplementary to the Sherm""
law.
The creation of commission
"a oi6 the courts and to act as
.,oorinp house of information IN heip-
IN, business to conform with the law.
) Provision of penalties ana pun
cbments to fall upon individuals re-
.nonsibIe for unlawful business prac-
riccs.
6 Prohibition of holding con'pa-
nios and a suggestion that the voting
power of indi.'iduals holding shares
in numerous corporations might De
restricted. ,:;,,,1.
: Giving TO private individuals
the right to found suits for redress
On facts and judgments proven III
government suits. and providing thar
statute Of limitation should run only
firm the date of conclusion OF the
governments action.