The Washington herald., 1914-06-11
|W'ILS0NO. k.ON
TRUST Bill ADD!
Approves Plan to Enlarge
Powers of the Trade
Commission.
WANTS LAWS PASSED
President. Against Wishes Of Congress
Leaders. Insists on Compile
ton of Program.

President Wilson yesterday approved q
plan to change the administration trade
commission bill SO as to give that body
some of the semi-judicial powers ad-
vocated In the Bull Moose platform The
amendment, which is to be proposed to
the Covington bill in the Senate as
result of the Presidents attitude. con-
fers upon the new commission the power
to issue orders restraining business prac-
tices which 1t deems unfair or oppres-
sive.
The amendment would mark q radical
change in the administration antitrust
program and information Of the Presi-
dents attitude came as a surprise to
persons who had followed closely Mr..
Wilson's attitude as disclosed in the
various conferences which preceded the
drafting of the Covington bill.
Another development with regard to
the antitrust situation was the nat
refusal Of the President to assent to
arguments for the curtailment Of the
antitrust program at his session. The
President told one of the administra-
ton leaders in the House, who called
upon him to urge such curtailment.
that he would insist upon the compile
ton of the full antitrust program al
this session. 1t is known, however,
that leading Democrats in both the
House and Senate still are hopeful that
the President will assent to cutting OF
part of the program a S ii now stands,
in order to hasten adjournment.
The Covington trade commission bill,
as reported from the House Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce
and passed by the House last week. in
vests the proposed commission merely
with power to examine and report upon
the affairs of business corporations 1t
does not authorize the commission to
pass upon the legality of the practices
under observation.
Senator Hollis and Representative
Stevens. of New Hampshire. and Louis
E. Brandeis of Boston. called at the
White House yesterday to urge that the
President approve an amendment to the
Covington bill comforting this additional
power upon the commission The amend
ment urged was the adoption of two
sections Of the trade commission bill in
troduced by Representative Stevens.
which was pigeonholed by the House
committee.
The difference between the Stevens and
the Covington bill generally was regarded
as vital at the time when the admins
tration's views were being formulated
strong effort then was made. notably
among the interested business men, to
nave Inc powers OF the new commission
to the sphere of regulation SO
as to correspond in large measure with
those of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. 1t was recalled at the time that
one Of the chief planks in the Bull Moose
platform had provided for the regulation
of the trusts by commission. The Presi-
dents stand. in which Attorney General
and many of his chief ad- |
visers concurred. was against giving the |
such broad powers.
Yesterday. however. he seemed to |
nave undergone a change of mind Ac-
,ording to those who conferred with |
him. he indicated that he would favor
he desired amendment.
There was strong disposition last |
hight to believe that today's action on
he Presidents part foreshadows an
extensive shifting around of the anti
rust program as II passed the House,
Ind with the consequent elimination
II several provisions of the Clayton
,mnibus bill. which embodied all the
eatures of the program except the
rade commission and railway securi-
les measures.