The Florida star., 1902-08-01

laSrapnS In regard 10 the ADMINS
tration and the trusts
| ''It is stated upon what seems tt
be very good authority that variou.
members of the administration art
Idevoting a great deal of time anC
thought to the matter of proposed
legislation dealing with trusts, anC
that when congress reassembles ii
the fall a measure will be presented
which will embody the views o
President Roosevelt and some o
his most influential advisers.
Acknowledgement Knox is said
to be at work upon such measure
and the newspapers state. that Rep
resentative Littlefeld, of Maine,
has been taken into the councils OF
the president, and is likely to be
prominent in urging the proposed
measure upon congress.
"It is known that President
Roosevelt is deeply interested IN
the regulation of trusts, and
there is every reason to believe
that his interest will take the
form of practical suggestion to con-
gress. 1t is doubtful, however,
whether Mr.. Littlefield's relation
to the proposed legislation is as in
innate as some journals have stated.
The probabilities are that a bill will
be prepared during this summer,
the provisions of which will be di
vulged to the country in a few
speeches by some member of the
cabinet during the fall campaign.
There is every reason to believe
that whatever practical suggestions
the president makes will be thor
oughly constructive in character.
and that the legislation which he
has in mind will disclose no feat
ures not already outlined in his
message of last December and in
his speech at Pittsburgh.
1T is not expected that he will
take up the matter of tariff revenue
in connection with the trusts, but
it is quite certain that he Will seek
in some way to secure publicity in
the management of trusts and In
all their relations with the public.
His course is outlined in a few
words from his message of last De
cember: "Publicity is the only sure
remedy which we can now invoke.
What further remedies are needed
IN the way of governmental regula
tlon or taxation can only be deter
mined after publicity has been OBJ
tanned by process of law and in the
course administration. The first
requisite Is knowledge, full and
complete, knowledge which NAV
be made public to the world"
We wonder if the ''practical sug
gestions that The Outlook SAYS the
president will make to conerrs-
will be as barren of results a. the
action that he had taken again,,
the beef trust a couple of months.
ago? When the prices of beef sail |
-d skyward in May the president |
made a grand flourish of trumpets |
and "A charge against the beef trust,
The result was a statement on the |
part OF the trust magnateS that the
Drlces of beef would subside within
month, but where are they now ?
higher than they We're in Nav
md no remedy in sight.
The Out!ook's exposition of the
Presidents attitude toward the
rusts is done for fixed purpose.
[ Is intended to quiet public feel
ng against the trusts and maintain
unity and peace in the Republican
'arty for the congressional elec-
ions. We feel no hesitancy i'm say
ne that neither the Republican
'arty nor the administration itself
will take any decisive steps against
he trusts in this falls campaign.
IOr two years from now. They re-
Ilze that the power behind the
hrone' holds together their sup
'ort, and all the talk against trusts
rom a Republican standpoint can
e taken by the people of this
Ountry as mere talk for effect.