The Washington herald., 1914-01-15
PRESIDENTMAKES
TRUST WAR Plans
Program Discussed in Two
Hours Conference with
Judiciary Committee.
WANTS SHORT SESSION
After White House Debate 1t Is Said
Congress Will Adopt Presi-
DENTAL Suggestions.

-Four members of the House Judiciary
Committee spent two hours in conference
with President Wilson on the antitrust
program yesterday afternoon. In that
time they looked over and discussed the
Presidents special message on antitrust
legislation, listened to an elaboration of
the views set forth In that message, in
formed the President of the lines fol-
lowed in the tentative bills prepared by
a subcommittee, and came away declar-
ing that nothing in the conference indi-
Gated the future necessity of materially
changing the bills which the committee
has prepared.
Yesterday morning the Senate Commit
tee on Interstate Commerce. headed by
Senator Newlands went over much the
same ground in the course of a two-hour
conference.
One result of the two conferences is
that the leaders of both committees are
prepared to include in the antitrust pro-
gram the Presidents interstate trade
commission idea, providing for a body
with fullest inquisitoriai powers, which
will serve in an advisory capacity to the
courts in dealing with alleged viola
tions of the antitrust laws As a result
the leaders in the House committee have
determined to add this feature to the
program tentatively determined upon,
and the Senate committee understands
that the President will insist upon this
feature.
Four Contentious Made.
The President probably will read his
message on the trust question next Tues
day or Wednesday. Only minor changes
were determined upon as result OF
yesterdays conferences. The message
deals with the question in broad terms
and bounds the Presidents policy with
four principle contentious. These are:
l. That the legislation shall be definite
in character, taking from the courts
much Of the discretionary power now
vested there in determining what con-
stitutes combination in restraint OF
trade.
>. That guilt must be made personal.
directors of shining corporations being
held directly accountable. and imposing
heavy liabilities both as to fines and i'm
prisonment
3. Absolute prohibition against inter
locking directorates among corporations
which are or naturally would come in
competition with one another. this to in
clude banks. railroad lines, steamship |
lines. industrial and trading companies |
T. The creation of a trade commission
as described above.
Secrecy Order of Day.
Only four members of the House |
Judiciary Committee attended the con- |
ference, though it was understood that |
all Democratic members had been in
vited. Many, however, were out of town. |
Those who attended, Chairman Clayton |
and Representatives Carlin, Floyd, and 4
Webb, have taken the lead in framing |
the bills which ii is expected the Or
ganization program will be based upon.
When the President was forced to
terminate the conference at O'Clock last
night the conferees had just about start
ed out on a practical basis, and it was
decided that another conference would be
held in the near future at the call of the
President. Deep secrecy marked all the
of the conferees, following
the session.
After leaving the President and be-
fore meeting the waiting newspaper
men, the four gathered together. for
all the world like a football team dis
cussing signals Immediately before or
during a game, and, with heads and
shoulders touching. decided upon what
not to tell the scribes. Then, still
crowding together, they timidly ad
and crowded around. while
Uncle Henry" Clayton informed the
men that the four had been
in conference with the President and
had discussed the antitrust question
along general lines. All attempts to
separate them were futile and, though
it was long after dinner time and the
four men live in widely different To-
cations, they marched off across Penn
sylvania avenue in the general direc-
tion of Rock Creek Park, and finally
shook off the newspaper men. When
last sighted they were travelling in a
direction, with their
heads and shoulders still close to-
gether
Early Adjournment Urged.
\ serious attempt is being made to
bring both ends of the Capitol and the ,
White House into substantial agreement ,
- HE ~