The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-06-02
Vote to Begin on the Vari-
Gus Desired Amend
mentS
FIRST TO BE TAKEN UP
is THE EXEMPTION
Another Relates to peace
! able Boycotts-Clayton
Bill Nearly Finished

! Washington, June 2-Yesterday was
counted upon as field day for labor in
the House With the resumption OF the
consideration of the Clayton omnibus
antitrust bill and an agreement to inn
mediately begin voting upon the amend
ments which the labor unions want at
tached to the bill, the American Fedora
tion OF Labor officials were watching
with interest what the House would do.
| Representative Kitchin of North Caro-
| lima, Henry OF Texas, chairman of the
rules committee: Heating of Colorado,
| buchanan of Illinois, and Others of the
so-called labor group in the House,
were ready to work for the labor amend
ments, if necessary, though counting
upon easy adoption OF them.
| The first of the amendments which
the House agreed to vote upon as soon
as it convened yesterday was that to
amend section seven eXempting labor,
agricultural and other mutual help or
carnations and their members from
having their existence, operation and
legitimate objects held to be in viola
ton of the antitrust law. The amend
ment reads:
Nor shall such organizations, orders or
associations, or the members thereof, be
neld or construed to be Illegal combina
tions in restraint of trade under the
antitrust laws.
The second amendment, describing
"peaceabe" boycotts, strikes, pieketing,
assemblies OF either side near strike
scenes. and so on, declares:
Nor shall any of the acts specified in
this paragraph be construed or held to
be unlawful.
The concession of these amendments
to the bill followed conferences at the
capitol and at the White House. The
labor leaders claim they are vital as
showing that the existence of the labor
organizations is not violation of anti
trust laws and as legalizing them and
their work. The judiciary committee
in charge OF the bill, insists that they
add little to the provisions of the bill
and are in practical effect duplication
of the sections as framed. The House is
expected to finish the Clayton bill with
in forty-eight hours.
Representative Webb. presenting the
first committee amendment, providing
that no labor or farmers organization
should be held to be a combination or
conspiracy in restraint of trade, said he
believed the provision complied with the
declarations Of the Democratic platform
I'VE have embodied in this amendment
the best legal opinions of the best judges
in the United States" he said and
pointed to a United States circuit court
decision last Friday. at Richmond, Va. |
which held trade unions were legal I'M
der the Sherman law
After about two hours discussion the |
first Webb amendment was adopted. On |
a rising vote 2G7 members. all who were |
present. voted 20 write the amendment |
INTO the bill
Representative Murdoch. Progressive
leader, eonteuded the meaning of the
was doubtful IF this |
amendment really exempts labor unions |
from the provisions OF the Sherman law"
he said. "this is the end of one Nof the /
most notable legislative battles. but il |
it does not we are enacting legislative
tragedy here to-day"
The amendment Mr. Murdoch contend I
ed, would send labor back to the courts
TO find ont whether it was really exempt |
from the Sherman law. Eight, ten or
twelve years from now" he concluded.
THE courts viii decide what this amend
ment means