New-York tribune., 1908-04-29
TAFT ON LAWS DEFECTS
SPEAKS At CIVIC FORUM.
Time to Call Halt on Rich Maze
factors" He Says.

uban Secretary Taft was introduced to the
audience at Carnegie Hall last night under the
auspices of the Civic Forum, Isaac N SehgTnan
turned the occasion into a Taft boom meeting
introduced by Mr. Segman as our next Presl-
dent" the Secretary Cheered long and
loudly and when ne was through with his
speech and answers to questions there were
continued demands for more cheers for our
next President" Mr. Taft said nothing. but he
smiled and smiled.
At the Iast moment It was announced that in
stead of speaking about the Influence OF Amer
lean Institutions on Popular Government in the
World" he would discuss Delays and Defects
in the Enforcement Of the Law in This Coun-
try" Mr. Taft hade a long address on this sub
ject pointing out the deficiencies of both GRIM
inal and civil procedure. He emphasized the
delay caused by the right Of appeal, and now IL
could be diminished by restricting the right of
appeal without sacrificing the rights OF the hll-
gants or Of the defendants. He told how, IN MS
opinion. the restriction Of the right or appear
would not only not diminish any of the rights OF
any one concerned, but would increase the
chances OF the poor man in court of law He
smoke Of the recent railway discrimination trials
and the ability of the wealthy malefactor with
acute counsel to take advantage of technicah-
ties.
When il came to answering the numerous
questions from the audience Mr. Tart hao d
ready. direct reply to every one OF them SeV-
eraI OF them were openly traps devised by MS
listeners to snare him, but they did not WORK
we'll
Which has brought the greater restraint Oh
trade-.My policies great trusts? was one
Of them. Secretary Taft laughed as he said
that he supposed that he could not deny that
he knew what the quotation marks on my pol
fria int 10
one What has brought the greater restraint
of trad5-Theodore Roosevelts policies or great
trusts? I should answer It this way, that Iheo-
dore Roosevelt's policies have brought ABOUT
great restraint of illegal trade He went on
again after the applause had died away, And
that the combinations OF capital which nave
been conducted in violation Of the antitrust
law have brought about a greater restraint OF
legal trade"
One question put to Mr. Bryan at Cooper
Union last week was, IF elected, what would
you do about child labor" Mr.. Bryan evaded
II by saying that a hypothetical question was
involved. Mr.. Taft answered IT in this way last
night:
I am strongly. very strongly, in favor Of stat
utes. which are constitutional, to restrain the
use of child labor in factories and in any place
which Will diminish the growth Of the child and
prevent it receiving sufficient education. The
question which Jurisdiction shall operate.
whether state or national, is that involves
consideration OF the interstate commerce
clause Of the Constitution that perhaps 1 ought
not 10 express my opinion upon because have
not discussed the question In the Senate, and I
have not had occasion to examine the question
in the Cabinet, and so, rather than give you
curbstone opinion. l simply express myself as
I have-that child labor statutes ought 10 be
passed by the jurisdiction able to pass them, and
that there is great room for Improvement in
some states in this country, and in other states
the legislation is quite up 10 the requirements
OF modern ideas
The first question asked from William
Ffnlay. It was: Does not the present war
about injunctions and so forth indicate that
there certain powers which ought to be taken
out of the hands of courts and put into the
hands OF the executive Department."
Mr.. Taft replied: IF by any strained con
struction this refer to judicial process and
procedure perhaps can get it within the scope
of the subjects answer NO The present war,
If there is a wa about injunctions, ought not
to be taken out of the hands Of the court and
put into the hands Of the executive department"
MR. TAFT'S ADDRESS.
His views on present day evils and some of
their remedies follow:
The highest function OF The supreme Court Of
United States is the Interpretation OF the Con
stitution of the United States. to guide the
other branches OF the government and the people
of the United States in their construction OF the
fundamental conduct Of the Union Take It all IN
all. discharge OF this function II Is the most
novel il many respects the most important
branch OF the government It is the background
OF the whole government. It is the balance wheel
in its car Of ultimate decision TO the respective
jurisdiction of the various departments of the ma
tionHl government, to the boundaries between
state and national control. and to the guaran-
tees life liberty and property 70 The lndlVldual
The supreme courts of the United states exercise
a similar but Of course less important jurisdic-
lion within their respective states, IT is TO be pre-
Slrrned courts the course or
their hearings on general law Will lay down prin-
cple with sufficient clearness 10 enable the in |
r-rior to dispose OF similar cases before
them with reasonable accuracy.
DELAY IN APPELLATE COURT.
Speaking of the delay of cases in the inter- |
mediate appellate court, he said: