The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-17
ANTITRUST BILLS
TO HAVE HEARINGS
Plan to Rush Measures Through
Senate and House Commit
tees Abandoned.
FAVOR TRADE BOARD OF )
President Is Expected to "Point
With Pride" to Depart
ment of Justice.

! WASHINGTON, Jan. l6.--PreparatiOns
have been made BY the appropriate com
mittoes In Congress to begin work on bills
proposing supplementary antitrust legs-
lation ~ coon as President Wilson's mes
sag Oh the subject has been submitted
| Present indications are that hearings will
be held on the measures. thus giving an
opportunity to all persons concerned to
offer testimony. The question was dis.
GUESSED ~ White House conference 70.
day IN which President Wilson and Chair
man Clayton and other members of the
| House Judiciary Committee took part.
II was indicated Il: the White House
yesterday that the antitrust bills prob
ably would be rushed through without
Hearings before the senate and House
committees. After his call at the White
| House to-day Chairman Clayton made
" plain that he favored hearings.
| Senators who are In the confidence Of
the Administration on the antitrust leg
islative programme asserted to-day that
the plan contemplates n trade commits
sion to be composed of at least five MEM
bers. Senator Nevlands. chairman of the
| Interstate Commerce Committee OF the
Senate, Is In favor OF such a commission
and has hill pending Senator Cum
minis OF Iowa. who is also member OF
the Interstate Commerce Committee. has
a bill providing for a more comprehensive
project.
| II looks as II Joseph Il. Davies Of Wis.
consin. Commissioner of Corporations.
would be chairman of the new commits
| sion.
| Trust legislation was considered briefly
at to-day's Cabinet meeting. The Presi-
dents final draft of the message was con.
| sidered and approved. The message will
follow along lines already indicated in
| Washington dispatches to THE SUN.
Creation Of Trade Board.
| President Wilson's message, 1t rs
| understood. will discuss the corporation
question in broad. comprehensive
| manner. There Is good reason to believe
| that the President will point with pride"
| to the success of the Department OF
Justice under this Administration In
settling antitrust cases out Of court.
lie is expected 10 suggest that the crea-
| ton of trade board charged with the
duty OF collecting facts concerning the
| operations OF corporations and giving such
data to the public may prove useful
| agency in the development OF the policy
| laid down by Attorney-General Mckeyn-
| ods of settling antitrust cases without
| resort to the judiciary
| While the Interstate Commerce COM
mission is a quasi judicial body and indie
pendent in all respects of the President,
IL is understood that Mr.. Wilson will make
some references to the pending rate cases
that may have an influence upon the
commission. The Eastern railroads have
asked the commission for authority to
increase freight rates on an average OF
: per cent. II was said Tonight that In
his coming message the President may
include "A paragraph that will make known
to the commission his attitude toward
this important question
Reaasurinx to Business.
| In short, the message is said to be re-
assuring TO big business and little bust
ness. The President will make II plain
that this Administration Is ready at all
times TO cooperate with business for the
benefit of the country as whole and
| that punitive measures will be adopted
only when corporations refuse to comply
| with the law. Conservatism Is said To be
the dominant note In the message.
! \ good deal OF curiosity has been en-
| pressed regarding the Presidents eX-
pressons on proposals that have been
made that In amending the antitrust law
exemption from prosecution should be ex-
| tended to labor organizations and Nolun-
tary associations Of farmers. II is the
understanding that In the message to be
! read next week the President VIII make
no reference to the subject.
Representative Stanley OF Kentucky
called at the White House to-day. lie
then went to the Capitol and introduced
la bill TO amend ana foriify the Sherman
antitrust law.
| Instead Of amending the sherman law
the new Stanley bill provides for supple
mental legislation. which will make the
sherman law applicable to the state of
trade In any degree and also give every
person who has been injured in his prop
erty or suffered such injury by any un-
lawful combination the right to bring an
equity suit in the Federal courts for
appropriate relief. While Mr.. Stanley IL
in thorough harmony with the Presidents
plan the bill introduced to-day was not
pr, scented as an Administration measure
but as Mr.. Stanley's individual bill.
Although IL is not provided for in the