The jurisdiction of the court shall be ex clusive. The proceedings therein shall have precedence over other cases pending, and "shall be in every way expedited." No order of the commission or judgment of the court shall relieve any person, etc., "from any lia bility under the anti-trust acts." By section 6 the commission has power (except as to banks, and common carriers subject the acts to regulate commerce): a. To gather and compile information con cerning, and investigate, the organization, business management, etc., of any corpora tion, etc., engaged in commerce (but not those excepted as above), and its relation to other corporations, individuals, etc.; b. To require by general or special orders such corporations, or any class of them, to file with the commission under its forms, annu al or special, or both, reports, or answers in writing to specified questions of the commis sion as to its organization, business, etc., and its relation to other corporations, etc. These are to be made under oath or as the commission may prescribe. c. Whenever a final decree has been entered against any defendant corporation in any suit brought by the United States under the anti-trust acts, to make investigation, upon its own initiative, of the manner in which the de cree has been or is being carried out, and up on the application of the Attorney General, it shall be its duty to make such investiga tion; d. Upon the direction of the President or either House of Congress to report upon the alleged violation of the anti-trust acts by any corporation ; e. Upon the application
of the Attorney General to investigate and make for the readjustment of the business of any corporation alleged to be violating the anti-trust acts; f. To make public from time to time such portions of the information obtained by it hereunder, except trade secrets and names of customers, as it shall deem expedient ; and to make an nual and special reports to Congress and to submit therewith recommendations for addi tional legislation ; and to provide for the pub lication of its reports and decisions, etc.; g. From time to time to classify corporations and to make rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying out the Provisions of the act ; h. To investigate trade conditions and with foreign countries; and report to Co• gress with recommendations.
Section 7. In any suit in equity brought by the Attorney General, as provided in the anti-trust acts, the court may, upon the con clusion of the testimony, if of the opinion that the complainant is entitled to relief, iefer the same to the commission, as a mas ter in chancery, to ascertain and report an appropriate form of decree therein.
The act contains drastic provisions for eliciting evidence, through the District Court, and an immunity clause to witnesses, and other details as to which reference must be made thereto. See Act of Oct. 15, 1914 (Clay ton Act), discussed by Mr. Taft in Amer. Bar Assoc. Rep. (1914).