The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-12
WEBB TO INTRODUCE
BILL TOSTRENGTHEN
THE SHERMAN LAW
Representative Not in SYM
pathy With Other Leg
islation
ALL COMBINATIONS
SHOULD BE STOPPED
Would Amend Sherman Law TO Pre-
vent Forming of Combinations or
Agreements. Written. Oral
or Otherwise

Washington, January 11.-Several new
measures relating TO monopolies viii he
thrown into the arena Of antitrust Iegis-
l.tion when Congress reassembIes tomor-
row. a brief bill designed to strengthen
the Sherman law win be introduced by
Representative Webb of North Carolina.
Representative Hinebangh of Illinois, pro-
gressiye, VIII introduce two resolutions.
One would direct the Attorney General
to report to the House on the legality Of
relations existing between the Pennsyl-
vaniu railroad. the Pennsylvania company
and the Baltimore ana Chio railroad The
others would order an investigation of
relations between the New York Central
railroad system and its subsidiary lines,
and the influence OF interlocking of that
SYSTEM and the influence of interloclSns
stock control upon the railroads costs.
Sc rNice and rates
Repl sentative Webb Is not altogether
ir sympathy with other measures planned
for the antitrust progress, aud he Will
urge action along the lines of his bill
to amend the sherman law NJ my pro-
posed amendment is adopted he said to-
night, then every contract. combination
or conspiracy in restraint of any part OF
tInde or commerce. whether slight or ma
teral, becomes Illegal | believe 1t
would give the sherman law all the Vi
taltS il ever had and all that the coun-
try wants
The Amendments
Tho webb bill would amend the sherman
law so as to read as follows:
EVERY contract, combination In the
form oftrust or otherwise or conspif-
acy or agreement, whether written, oral
or otherwise, In restraint of trade or
commerce, or any part of trade or
commerce among the several states,
or with foreign nations. Is hereby ds-
clared TO be illegal. unless the per-
sons entering into such contract, conf
hination I'm the form Of trust. or con-
spiracN, or agreement whether writ
ten or otherwise, in restraint OF trade
In commerce. or any part thereof. shall
affirmatively show upon an Indictment
or civil action for violation of this Sec
tion that such contract, combination III
the form OF trust, conspiracy, or agree
ment in restraint of trade or commerce
or any part thereof. does not iniure the
business of any competitor, and that
such contrast combination. canspii--
acy or agreement. is not to the det-
riment of the public, and that such re-
straint of trade or commerce.. or any
part thereof Is not unreasonable Every
person who shall make any such con-
tract OF enBaSt III any SUCH toilpliie-
tion or conspiracy or agreement. shall
be deemed guilty of Il misdemeanor and.
on conviction thereof, shall be punished
by fine not exceeding $4,000 or by
Imprisonment not exceeding one year.
or by both said punishments in the
discretion of the court
All trust bills introduced tomorrow
Will be referred to the judiciary com
mittee. which meets Tuesday. Mean
time the committee majority VIII pre-
pare for a conference With President
Wilson az quickly as possible. Repre-
sentative Carlin's bills. prepared by his
subcommittee on trusts. will not be
introduced until after the committee
meets or the views of the President
haye been ascertained
Representative Hinebaugh said to-
night that his resolution on the New
York Centrars relationships was de-
signed to get accurate information for
Legislation to remedy existing evils. He
said that while j. =. Morgan q CO.
had announced resignation from the
directorships of the three New York
Central system roads. 1t did not appear
that the company had sold or trans
ferrcd any of its stock in these various
roads