The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-12
A NEW TRUST
POLICY?
Story Which is Current in
Washington
THE GOVERNMENT WILL
-
II Is Said, Drop Some Proseeutions-Ta
Unrufled by Oil Case, Reported
This Is Also Said to Be the
Attitude Of wickersham.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL

4 Warrington, March 12,--Ihe report has
gained currency here that the new ad.
ministration means TO drop proceedings
in q number Of the so-called antitrust
cases. This has come out az 3 result
Of the abrupt ending Of the rebate prose.
eution in Chicago. Neither Attorney
General Wickersham or President Taft,
tits said, are much concerned over the
outcome Of that case They both have
expected such an outcome in a number
81 cases that have been brought by the
department Of justice in recent years. 1t
Is further reported by the New York
Times bureau that Mr.. Wickersham will
take measures before very long to fore.
stall similar results in a number Of the
newer cases by dropping the proceedings
on bis own motion. The new attorney
general is going through the records Of
the department with the most painstak-
ing care. He win examine each case
now pending, and win consider all the
evidence il Is possible for the department
TO produce il the cases come 10 trial.
Whenever be reaches the conclusion that
the chances are against securing convic.
tion il is probable that he win dismiss
the case President Taft also is said
to believe that there is great deal Of
junk on the department docket, and
that number Of cases were instituted
without any great hope Of making a
successful prosecution. These cases win
be cut out, and the energies Of the de-
partment viii be concentrated on those
in which there is good chance Of OBJ
tanning favorable results.
Mr. Wickersham has not taken much
personal interest in the Standard On
hearing, for il was recognized that Dis
trict Attorney Sims was competent to
fight it through and the disposition Of
the department was not to embsrrass him
with too many orders. Martin A. Knapp,
chairman Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, with Commissioners Glenn
ents and Proutv called on the attorney
general late Wednesday afternoon. Mr..
Knapp declared that the call was a for
NAL one, and that II was made merely
for the purpose Of paying respects TO
the new head Of the department Of JUS
tice II is understood, however, that the
decision Of the Chicago court was dis
cussed in the course OF the visit, but in
an informal way, It is expected thst a
conference will be held in the next few
days. or as soon as the detailed report |
Of District Attorney Sims Is received |
from Chicago. The Interstate Commerce |
Commission never has been satisfied that |
the evidence proposed by the govern. /
ment was strong enough to push the suit /
10 a satisfactory conclusion. The mem /
bers Of the commission also were in
conference with President Taft and an.
nounced that they were to have another
conference. Ii Is understood that the
president desired 10 be fully informed as
to the affairs Of the commission and that
much Of the time Of the conference was
spent by him in inquiries.
Attorney General Wiekersham has been
to choose his assistants with
Dut consideration of political influence
1r political services rendered. This pol
CIV Was decided on by the President AT
ter conference with Secretaries Knox
ind Wiekersham. One cause Of friction
1t the Department Of Justice which Mr..
will attempt to smooth
)ver is the appointment of attorneys
~ the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Under the policy laid down by Presi.
lent Taft it il desired to have the Com.
MISSION appoint attorneys, but on the
completion Of their investigations they
IRE to turn the results over to the De-
1artment OF Justice, instead Of having
he attorneys try to carry their own
asses to the courts.
Many persons in Washington yesterday
eealled the severe language used by
Roosevelt when the Circuit
jourt Of Appeals reversed the verdict
nd fine Of So, 240,0 00in the initial prose-
ution of the Standard Oil rebate case
efore Judge lands. He caused a state.
lent to be issued by Secretary Loeb,
aying Of the opinion handed down by
ndge Grosscup.
The president would regard 1t as
ross miscarriage Of justice If through
ny technicalities of any kind the de-
endant escaped the punishment which
'ould have uRquestionably been melted 9
ut TO any weaker defendant who had !
cen guilty of such oifense.
THE president will do everything in {