The Washington times., 1901-11-01
TO URGE TRUST LEGISLATION.
Presidents Message VIII Refer to
Inadequacy of Present LAWS

1t is the opinion of some of the in
huential Senators and Representatives
with whom President Roosevelt has con-
suited lately that the most radical or at
least the most outspoken, portion of his
message. with regard to public questions.
VIII be the paragraph on trusts. This does
not mean that Mr.. Roosevelt intends TO
recommend drastic legislation against
industrial combinations. but rather that
he regards the trust que estiou generally as
one that foreshadows trouble In the
future If not wisely handled. and that
Congress ought to deal with ii carefully.
but in its own way
While he may have no specific recon-
mendations to make with regard to the
KIND OF a trust-regulating law that should
De passed, the President will again
enunciate the strong convictions he has
oiten expressed on the general subject Of
the necessity of finding some legal way
to restrain the growing power of indus
trial combinations
According to popular opinion here the
Presidents me=sage will be a more con-
servative document than might be sup
posed from a knowledge Of Mr. Roose-
veits forceful and original way of doing
things. 1t will be original in the sense
that 1t will be written by himself in his
charaeteristically vigorous language and
that 1t will deal with every public question
OF Importance and general interest. But
1t Is understood that his specific recon-
mendatons for legislation will be very
few. He prefers to leave it to Congress
to say how the different subjects should
De dealt with, contenting himself with
cdilnS attention to the relative impor-
lance OF each one, and making known to
T,',it 1GiisIess ana the country his own views
Throughout the document bovra,,av
tnere Will be much more generalization
lhan might be anticipated In a paper writ
zen Dy theodore Roosevelt But he be
neNes that conservatism is demanded ar
present more than radical legislation
report has lately been published 10
the effect that the Department Of Justice
VIII very shortly institute proceedings
against powerful corporation or trust
for violation Of the Sherman Antitrust
law The statement has been made that
the Attorney General has been for some
time gathering evidence against this
corporation, and that the district attor-
neys OF various States are preparing to
follow up these proceedings by other
suits from time to time
There is little or no truth in these re-
ports. The Attorney General is not pre-
pairing any case against any corporation,
Tor the very good reason that he well
knows that his predecessor, Mr.. Griggs,
found out through decision OF the SUI
preme Court of the United States that
the Sherman Antitrust law is so fun of
holes that 1t will not hold water. In the
present shape of national legislation il is
useless, even II otherwise desirable to
proceed against any trust, and the De-
partment OF Justice long ago abandoned
any attempt to enforce 1t.
only twice since the present Attorney
General took Office has he been asked to
institute proceedings under this law
Once was last summer, when a commit
tee demanded that he furnish them with
the evidence against the Carnegie Steel
Trust, as they called II, which the COM
mittee presumed him to have become pos
sessed of when acting as the local attor-
ney in Pittsburg of one branch of the Car
negie corporation. Since then a request
has been made to the Department of JUS
tice to take action against a corporation
which, If the evidence outlined to thesAt-
torney General exists, has plainly yio-
lated the law. He has replied that # such
evidence can be furnished it would be his
duty and pleasure to file the suit In ques-
tion.
Whether the alleged evidence exists has
not yet been demonstrated. The fact that
the request was made Is probably re-
sponsfble for the report that the Depart
ment OF Justice is about to bring suit
against powerful corporation or trust.
In whatever recommendation President
Roosevelt may make to Congress on the
subject of trusts it is safe to assume that
he will reflect, in a measure at least, the
good judgment and ability as a lawyer
he has the very highest regard. Ii Is
more than likely that the Attorney Gem
eral has as strong convictions on the sub
ject of the necessity of legislating on the
trust question as has President Roosevelt