Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-11
EFFECT OF DECISIONS
What Will Voters Do in Ad-
verse Court Action?
MOOTED QUESTIONS TODAY
Democrats See Chance for Their
Party Success.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS DEMUR
Administration Officials Think
Public Will Construe Fairly Eff
forts for Legislation.
M00TED QUESTIONS TODAY
REPUBLICAN LEADERS DEMUR

The possible political effect of the adj
verse decisions of the United States cir
cult courts in the commodity clause and
Standard Oil cases is under consideration
by the leaders of both parties. Will vot-
ers of the country hold the republicans
responsible for failure to enact legisa-
ton that will be upheld by the courts?
Will the decisions bring about further
popular clamor against the courts. with
more or less connection of the administra-
ton and the dominant party?
Administration officials hold that the
people ought not and will not blame the
party for adverse decisions of the courts
but democratic leaders To-Day took the
ground that the public will not take into
consideration that it is the work of the
courts that has, defeated so many of the
reform plans of President Roosevelt, but
will in a spirit of all-around dissatis-
faction over the failure to accomplish
much. take it out on the republican party.
Only a few months ago the United
States circuit court at Chicago heavily
scored Judge Lands of the district court
for imposing a fine of $L9.UOOGO upon
the Standard OIL declaring that the fine
amounted to conflscation. The Depart
ment of Justice is forced to appeal to
the United States Supreme Court and ask
ii 10 uDnOlO Tile llIle. WHICH ItSultcu HI
much credit to the administration at the
time it was imposed.
Compelled to Go Higher Again.
Now the legal department of Presi-
dent Roosevelts government is COM
PEELED to again go to the higher courts
from the decision in the commodities
case. holding that the railroad rate law
cannot prevent railroads hauling and
selling coal mined in their own coal
mines This is as great a victory for
the railroads as that won by the Stand
ard Oil against the Lands fine.
The decisions. together with the lack OF
activity on the part of the administra-
ton in anti-corporation directions during
the last six months, will be used extern
sively by the democrats, II was stated
today on good authority. Attention was
called to the fact that the Department OF
Justice has done practically nothing for
months against the great trusts that are
supposed to be violating the Sherman anti
trust law. Many Of the big trusts are de-
lighted with political exigences that seem
to defer actions against them in the
courts. it is asserted, and democrats will
use this and numerous other things to de-
clare that the administration has accom-
plished nothing, after all, against illegal
combinations of gigantic wealth.
Railroads Defying Rate Laws.
Even the railroads. it will be pointed
out. defy the railroad rate laws in their
universal announcement that after the
election they will probably raise freight
rates or reduce the wages of their en-
ployes. Nothing but the sympathy o:
large interests with the republicans. it is
held, has prevented the railroads making
the contemplated raise in rates before
this. The laws passed for the supposed
control of the roads are so ineffective that
nothing can be done to prevent them act
ing as they deem best, 1t Is declared.
Attorney General Bonaparte will be in
his Office Monday, and is expected to con-
fer frequently in the next few weeks with
President Roosevelt. who will also be
back in Washington the 22d of this month.
Solicitor General Hoyt of the Department
of Justice will also be back at his desk
next week. and many of the other alb
sentees will be on hand prepared to carry
out any program of the administration as
to the trusts. either in fighting adverse
decisions already rendered or in beginning
new processes in the courts.