The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-07
CONSULTATION OF CABINET Roosey s Official Family
 An Session. RLy ITS ARE A SECRET ssemberS Will Not Talk for Publication. It h Known, However, That Several Important Matters Were Dis-
 cussed, Including Bridge
 at st. Louis.
RE; JLTS ARE A SECRET

Washington, Oct. 6.-Several import ant questions were discussed at today cabinet meeting. although at the con clusion of the session It was an nounced officially that no details or the discussion could be made public In fact 1t was announced that hereafter no information would be given out oy cabinet officers of their semi-weekly meetings with the President, but that such Information as 1t was deemed proper for the public to have would De given to the newspaper men by Secre- tary Loeb.
 Mi. Loeb stated that nothing could he made public regarding tooay meeting, although the cabinet was Tn session two hours and half. Secre- 1 taries Root and Taft remained with the President for q considerable time after the other members had left the execu- tive offices, all of the members having been in attendance except Secretary Shaw, who is out of the city.
 Despite the injunction Of secrecy placed upon the cabinet officers, It Is | learned that action was taken In two or three important matters and that others were considered. The monop- | oly enjoyed by the Merchants Bridge Company of St. Louis of bridge and ferry routes across the Mississippi riv- CT was considered at length. Com | plA1nk was fHdue dsdiiSt tNt 1 Company about year ago that 1t was | charging exorbitant rates for carriage across the river and the complaint was made the subject of an exhaustive ln- | vestigation by Secretary Taft. The charter under which the company op- crates provides that 1t shall not form combination with any other bridge or l ferry company on penalty of forfeiture of it's bridge to the United States gov ernment. Secretary Taft in his report on the inquiry submitted that the mat i ter be handled by the Department Of Justice.
 After considering the subject today 1t was decided that Attorney General 1 Moody should begin appropriate" ac- ton against the bridge company. The Attorney General made the official statement of the action taken: Tt was l determined by the President that upon l the complaint pending in the Depart I ment of Justice against the monopoli- zation of the two bridges and the ferry across the Mississippi in St. Louis ap- propriate action should be begun by | the Attorney General"
 Mir. Moody said he could not say at | this time what action he might con slider appropriate" He did not know. he said, whether the action would look to the forfeiture of the charter of the Merchants Bridge Company or not, as he would have to go over the law bearing upon the matter before reach ing any determination.
 Taft's investigation.
 l The determination of the Attorney General to bring suit Is the result of Secretary Taft's investigation. It is | understood the suit will be based on an alleged violation of the antitrust laws of the United States. The Congress sional charter for the bridge company provided for their forfeiture in case of a monopoly. Secretary Taft found that the violation of the law had not been sufficient to work forfeiture and 1t is expected that Attorney General Moody | will proceed under the Sherman act.
 Considerable attention was devoted by the meeting to the consideration of questions arising from complaints from the Chinese Government that It's sub jects were unjustly discriminated Against the United States at the ports of this country. Secretaries Root Taft and Metcalfe have given much time to this question and with the President they participated in the dis cussion.
 Secretary Root brought up several matters. including the reply which this government Is to make to the invitation of Empefor Nicholas of Russia to take part in the second peace conference al
 The hague
 The draft of the reply has been made and was talked over by the cabinet
 The proba blity is that 1t will be for.
 warded in a short time.
 Secretary Wilson brought to the at
 tention of the President and cabinet q
 determination he had reached regard
 ing the inspection of meats. He in
 dicated that under the law meat pack
 CTS could not be forced to pay the cos
 of meat inspection. He had decided
 however, that hereafter the packers should pay for seals or tags placed upor
 inspected meats intended for export
 This will bring a revenue to the de
 partment of $50,000 year. The stun
 the Secretary proposes to use in ex,
 tending the inspection of meats tC
 packing houses, which have requested
 that they be given inspectors. bu
 whose requests have not been compiled
 with because the department has no
 had the funds with which to pay tn,
 inspectors. The idea of Secretary
 wilson was approved by the cabine
 and 1t will be put into operation al