The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-03
EXTRA SESSION
IS SUGGESTED
Some Who Have Faith in
RooSevelt'S lnfaIIibiIity Think
They See a Way Out.
OTHERS DESIRE TO ESCAPE
ROOSEVELT'S FRIENDS FEAR RE.
VERSE EFFECT.

"oobiilS tOlis 1NON. --lt was lCdiHcQ
here today from undoubted sources
that President Roosevelt is now being
urged to call an extra session of con-
gress to deal with the financial situa-
tom The request comes from and rep
resents the judgment of the conserva-
tive leaders in the financial world, who
have represented the present situation
as one compelling action of character
that will eradicate all ground for sus-
picion of American Industrial methods.
The president has been assured from
most reliable sources that there will
be no opposition on the part of the
| great Industries of the country to the
enactment of the necessary laws to
carry out his ideas of federal control
to the extent to which he has expound-
ed them in his recent public utterances.
| These assurances are made at this time
| to avert what has been represented as
the most dangerous situation which has
confronted the country during an ex-
tended historic period-that is, the
seeming growing lack of confidence
based on known Irregularities in busi-
ness methods in some quarters, and no
sure and speedy means of separating
the good from the unsound.
Provincetown Proposal.
To this end it is suggested that the
president set congress to the task, first
| of making such amendments to the
financial laws as Will result in the
maximum of fexibility with the mini
mum of basic change in our system.
| Next, and perhaps most in Importance,
/ hot thn no. bieyc
tions or corporate control into succlnct
recommendations for enactment into
| law. In this connection attention has
| been directed to what he said at Pro-
! vincetown, Mas, Aug. 20 last:
Il believe in a national Incorporation
/ law for corporations engaging III inter
state business. I believe, Furthermore,
that the need for action is most press
| ing as regards those corporations
which, because they are common car
riers, exercise a quasi public function,
and which can be completely controlled
in all respects by the federal govern
ment by the exercise of the power con-
ferred under the interstate commerce
| clause. and, If necessary, under the
post road clause of the, constitution
Il The national government
should exercise over them a similar SUI
pervision and control to that which il
exercises over national banks. We car
do this only by proceeding further
along the lines marked out by the re-
cent national legislation.
Almost every big business concern
is engaging In interstate commerce
and such a concern must not be al
| lowed, by a dexterous shifting of posi-
ton, as has been too often the case il
the past, to escape thereby all respon-
sibility either to state or TO nation"
Laws to Have Teeth.
To meet his views, the president Their
suggested amendments to the Sher-
man antitrust law and the adoption OF
a criminal clause to that and the inter
state commerce regulations. The bene-
fit of having federal legal machinery tC
detect and eradicate unwholesome bus
mess methods at this time was said tC
be the desirable end to be accom-
| plished. This would mean, it is pointed
out, practical wiping off of the slate
and a starting afresh under business
conditions which would have and which
would bear the closest public scrutiny
That the president has given the re.
quest for an extra session careful con-
sideration is indicated by those who
have been asked to lend their advice
in the matter. That the information a.
to existing conditions is not alarming
has been the continuing assurance
which has come from the government:
casual observations. With this in view
the president has been told that the
call for an extra session of congress.
might have the reverse effect from
that desired by those who. are urgine
such action; that it would tend to EN-.
pnasize in the public mind an appre
hension of unfavorable ! condition.
| which do not exist
Failing in obtaining an extra ses
sion, those who have madA the appea
for it have presented an alternative
or an additional request, that the pres
ident make a public statement of tn,
assurance he feels in the sound condi
ton of public credit This, too, ha!
met with measure of opposition from
the administration advisers. Boil
suggestions are still matters of consid
Grafton, although no information what
ever is Obtainable regarding either di
rectly from the White House.