Evening star., 1914-02-10
SWEEPING GRAFT,
HIS PREDICTION
James E. Bennett AssaiIs
Trade Commission Plan Be-
fore House Committee.

Denouncing the administration trade
commission bill as opening up theh love
Hest graft of century and as sur
passing Russia in inquisition." James E.
Bennett today told the House commerce
committee that such a law would drive
small corporations out of business. Rep
resenting a number of corporations. he
questioned its constitutionality.
This bill as at present drawn" he
said; would give the vital secrets of the
small corporation to its big competitor.
1t would show up the weak points of the
small concern and open it up to the at
tacks of its rivals.
This thing would open up the loveliest
graft that you gentlemen ever saw. With
thousands Of special agents roaming
around the country prying into the hun
dreds of thousands of corporations graft
would be widespread.
Cites Possible Evils.
These agents would have no qualiflca-
ton but political pull. no civil service ex-
animation is required. and they could be
sent into any corporations Office to make
a report. which would be binding on that
corporation. If you slipped him $50 or
the report. There you are This is a
tremendous inquisitorial power. Russia
never had anything like this. that gave
such power without let or hindrance.
Mr. Bennett argued that the bill vio-
lated the constitutional guarantee against
unlawful search and seizure.
Wilson to Meet Senators.
President Wilson will confer tomorrow
with the Senate committee on interstate
commerce regarding his antitrust legis-
lative program pending In Congress. Sen
ator Newlands, chairman, said that re-
publican members of the committee would
Join with the democrats in the confer
ence which wi be held at the White
House.
Before delivering his trust message to
Congress President Wilson conferred with
the interstate commerce committee
S nee that time the tentative trust bills
have been drawn and hearings nave been
held before House committees. The Sen
ate committee has held no hearings. hut
has had under careful consideration the
interstate trade commission bill. which it
proposes to amend. The perfection OF all
the tentative trust legislation will be dis
cussed with the President.
Hearings Continued
Hearings on the proposed administration
trust reform measures continued today
before the House committees on judiciary
and interstate and foreign commerce.
with more than a dozen witnesses on the
days list.
F K. Fernald. representing a medicine
company; Frank w. Whitcher of Boston,
Mass and A. G. Thomas of Sandy Spring.
Md, were called before the judiciary COM
Inittee by Chairman Clayton.
Assume Trust Responsibility.
Chairman Newlands of the Senate in
terstate commerce committee. although
expressing the hope that republican mem
bers of the committee will continue to
give the committee the benefit of their
advice regarding the trust bills now pend
Ing, made it clear today that as the re-
sponsibility for legislation rests in the
hands of the democrats they intended to
frame this legislation as they deemed
best.
His statement was made in reference to
the bolt of Senators Cumnins and
Clapp. both republican members of the
committee, who have declared that il the
bill is to be handled in a partisan man
ner they do not intend to take part in the
committee deliberations.
The House judiciary committee has an
nounced the following schedule OF hear
ings on the antitrust bills:
Schedule of Hearings.
February 1o-F. X. Fernald, repre-
senting a medicine company; Frank w
Whitcher OF Boston and A. C. Thomas,
Sandy Spring. Nd.
February 11-Eben Minahan Green
Bay. Wis. Herbert Knox Smith, former
United States commissioner of corpora
tions; William Draper Lewis, Philadel-
phia. and D. r. Richberg, for the pro-
gressive party.
February 12 - Lawrence Chamberlain.
New York, and Gustavus A. Rogers, New
York, representing motion-picture con-
cern.
February 1s-Louis D. Brandeis, Bos-
ton.
February 17-Charles Dushkind and a
committee Of ten. New York, and Joseph
r. Darling, New York
February 1S- Committee from the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States. and L. c. Boyle. Kansas City.
Oh pr1y scln