Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07
ACTION IS EXPECTED
Presidents Announcement a
Warning to Congress.
CONTROL OF TRUSTS
DISCUSSION OF STATEMENT IS
SUED LAST NIGHT.
First Effect Will Be to Focus Public
Attention on Proposed Legisla-
ton at the Capitol.

Profound interest was aroused among
senators and representa- tives concerned in
trust legislation by the formal statement
given out at the White House last night
expressing the views OF President Roosevelt
upon desirable antitrust legislation. In the
opinion Of well-posted men at the Capitol.
the object and effect Of the Presidents an
nouncement is to warn Congress that the
administration expects action upon this sub
ject at the present session Of Congress.
Due significance is attached, of course to
the communication of the Attorney General
to the House and Senate Judiciary commit
tees yesterday outlining the views of the
Department of Justice, but added impor-
tance is given to Attorney General Knox's
letter by the prompt Endorsement of his
position by the President The procedure
was so unusual as to attract general notice.
The public has been informed from time
to time that the President has pressed upon
statesmen visiting the White House his
views of the desirabiity of legislation at
this session. In the statement given out
last night the President Is cons. .dered to
have clinched his remarks made to con-
gressmen personally and to have made pub
lie record of the attitude of the executive.
Effect Of Public Opinion.
The first effect Of this in the opinion of
men who are keeping in touch with the
situation will be to focus public attention
upon Congress and to bring the pressure Of
public opinion to bear in favor Of congress
sional action.
In view Of the fact that the judiciary
committees Of both houses are at work upon
proposed ANTITRUST Legislation, 1t might be
said that such pressure: was unnecessary.
But it is a notorious fact, known to every
one at the Capitol, that theaybelief widely
prevails among infiuentiaF senators and rep
resentatives that nothing Is likely to be
done at this session. Men are skeptical of
the probability of results being accom-
plished. This skepticsm finds expression in
the public prints and in the daily conversa-
tions of statesmen in corridors and cloak
rooms. 1t is known that influential senators
and representatives. Of. the stand pat'
class are opposed to anti-trust legislation
except Of the mildest forua0 The influence of
this element to prevent legislation If they
set their wills to 1t is recognised.
The republican party pledged itself to
regulation of the trusts IN the last cam
paign. President Roosevelt personally has
committed himself beyond the possibility
Of withdrawing. to Conservative and wise
regulation and restriction Of monopolies
that operate in restraint lbf trace. The re-
sponsibility for carrying out the promises
made by the party and Its head now is
placed upon Congress and upon the repu5li-
can leaders in the House and the Senate
who control legislation Of a party character.
Leaders to Get Together.
1t is thought that the next move will be
for the party leaders In the two houses to
get together and decide what legislation
is practicable in the short period of time
remaining before the expiration Of this Con-
gress. 1t is realized that the manifold
branches of the trust question cannot be
dealt with adequately within the brief time
n- cciI oofi pre eci6 q n l.
mated more than once, however, that If
this Congress cannot find time to attend to
the case, an extraordinary session or the
next Congress might take the matter up.
1t is pointed out that the recommendations
Of the Attorney General concurred in by
the President and his administration, do
not cover wide range Of legislative action.
Some statesmen think that 1t Is not an i'm
Congress.
The best judgment at the Capitol is that
it will be possible. IT, the republican man
ayers deem 1t adv sable, to pass bill carry
the administration. The first of these is
that "a special act should be passed at once
to speed the final decision OF cases pending
or to be raised under the, present antitrust
law providing for the hearing of such cases
by full bench Of circuit judges and for a
direct appeal from the circuit courts to the
Supreme Court of the United States:
1t must not be forgotten that the Depart
ment or Justice already has Degun actlOn
against two classes Of alleged evils arising
from combinations Of capitalize so-called
beef trust affecting prices Of one of the
necessities of life, and the attempted mer-
ger of two great western railway systems
threatening to affect transportation rates
are the cases.
The other recommendation demanding
publicity be met, 1t is said, by the pas
sage of the bill creating the special bureau
In the proposed department Of commerce to
collect information bearing upon the cap
italization and organization of combinations,
the maintenance of rates and granting of
rebates. The proceedings In Congress along
this line for the next two weeks will be
watched with great interest. Senator'S and
representatives who are sincere in their
opinion that something should be done at
this session say that it will be difficult for
the 'stand patters'' to wriggle out of the
situation in which the administration has
placed them. ~