The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-19
PRESIDENT DECIDES
ON ANTITRUST BILLS
Holds Conference With Attor-
ney-Genersl on Proposed Ad-
ministration Programme.
SHERMAN LAW PROTECTED
Supplementary Provisions" to
Be Abandoned-Might Dis
turb Laws Definition.

WASHINGTON. Feb. is.-President VIII
son had an important conference with At
torney- General McReynolds tonight at the
White House on the antitrust programme
At this conference considerable progress
was made in clarifying the Administra-
tons purpose with regard TO this i'm
portant legislation
The Attorney General and Mr.. Wilson
are in agreement as to the caution that
must be exercised In the drafting Of the
provisions Of each measure in order that
tile efficiency OF the Sherman antitrust
law may not be impaired. They are In
accord also upon the scope OF the powers
to be given the bill creating an interstate
trade commission.
1t Is fairly certain now that the trade
commission will he In effect a body sepa-
rate from the Department Of Commerce
having enlarged machinery for exercising
The functions OF the present bureau Of cor
porattona with some increased powers,
The Presidents mind IS more firmly made
up in regard 20 this measure than In the
case of ANY Of the four others regulating
trade returns, holding companies and In
terloclans directorates and giving now
powers to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission over the issuance Of railroad 90
curities.
Aba ndOns Supplement Provisions.
An important fact that became known
tonight Is that the President is consider
ing the wisdom Of abandoning certain OF
the supplemental provisions TO the sher-
man law that are embodied in the four
so-called Administration measures intro
duced In response to the specific recon-
mendations contained in the recent anti
trust message Tho President has come
to realize that the comparatively definite
understanding Of the meaning OF the
sherman law. as established by direc-
tions Of the Supreme Court, may be dan
gerously disturbed by some Of the pro-
visions suggested for the supplemental
legislation.
The President shares with his Attorney
General the fullest possible appreciation
Of the value OF the Sherman law as an
instrument for the prevention Of monopoly
and the maintenance OF competitive con.
ditions. and he would be extremely loath
to hazard the efficiency Of this Law
through the enactment OF provisions 70
supplement t. even though some Of these
might appear TO be Of pressing need.
The most important OF the supplements
provisions proposed In tho bills before tn,
House Judiciary Committee are those at.
tempting 10 define specifically acts In re,
stralnt OF trade and those Strengthening
the criminal sections Of the law.
ProEressive idea Crowded Ost.
The Presidents ideas upon the power,
OF the trade commission have taken def
mite shape. and the outlook is that The
bill creating IL will be drafted finally IL
advance of the others. No possibility ex
lists that the Progressive propaganda fol
regulating monopolies through such q
commission will ind expression in thu
measure that the White House will ap
prove. The powers to be vested In tn,
commission will be those Of investigation
in cooperation with the Department o.
Justice. of operations that may involv,
restraints of trade. This Is to be with
view to determining whether the Law
Is being violated and to aiding the De
partment to prepare an antitrust bill
| should a suit be necessary. To the com
mission will be entrusted the work o
keeping watch over corporations reorgan
ICED by court decrees or by voluntar.
agreements with the Government.
1t will be made very clear by the pro
visions OF the bill. however. that the com
missions views at all times will be sub
ject to reversal by the Attorney General
| simply through the exercise Of his prerogs
| tives for the enforcement of the Sherman
law. No avenue will be left for the es
tablishment OF a system OF 'immunit!
baths for corporations Investigated b!
the commission.
Department of Jastice Supreme.
| The bill will be no drawn az to empha
size the necessity for cooperation betwee'
II and the Department OF Justice, and NJ
doubt will be left as to the supremacy o
the latter.
| Likewise, the commissions findings y
TO whether a dissolved corporation 4
living up to the courts decree will hav
to be passed on by the Attorney Genera
before the violations are brought formal.
to the attention of the court
The President Is inclined TO favor the In
sertion In the trade commission bill Of
provision that II need not report upo
Investigation OF corporations whose capt
tsiization Is under $4,000. 900. The com
MISSION according to this provision. woul
have the power to investigate small cor
porations. but no formulated reports woul
be required OF such Investigations.
This provision would DO designed
simplify the work Of the commission b
preventing many useless investigation
that might be demanded Of corporation
whose operations do not affect the geners
welfare. 1t would be In Nns with tn
principle that the President has accepte
of differentiatinE between monOpolisti
activities and those Of smaller scope, In
yolying simply restraints Of competition