The Washington times., 1909-08-07
President Has Scheme to
Amend Railroad and Cor
poration Laws.
TARIFF STRUGGLE
TO BE ECLIPSED
Break With Aldrich and Cannon
Likely to Come at the
Next Session.
By JOHN sNuRE.

by JUaN SNUkE.
President Taft has an ambitious
program of legislation in mind
touching railroads and all corpora.
tons in interstate commerce.
He will give in detail his views on
what should be done in the annual
message Re will send to Congress in
December. He hopes to see this pro-
gram carried out at the next regular
session.
So comprehensive Is this pro-
gram, that it will be little short of
marvellous if the President secures
all of if or anything Ike all Of it. Il
may well happen that all the rest of
his administration will be spent in
fighting for it.
At any rate. the President IN
tends to force 1t to the front, and
there are not lacking many shrewd
observers who believe that such a
storm will arise in Congress next
winter over additional legislation
relating to railroads and corpora
tions that the memories of the
struggle over tariff IN the special
session viii be well-nieh wiped out.
" my expect To see break between
ths F'f ssident and Senator Aldrich Al
that time, and TO see the completion
OF the break between Speaker Cannon
and the President, which began in the
closing weeks of the special session.
It is not impossible, too, that the Pres
ident in carrying forward his plans
may be compelled TO align himself with
the Republican forces which have been
insurgents IN the House on rules and
tariff, and in the Senate on the tarin
btu.
What President Wants.
The President has in mind three great
propositions on which he wants legis.
iatiOn next winter.
First-A complete oyerhauIinr Of the
syseem of administering the interstate
commerce law with the administra-
tive powers over common carriers taken
from the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion.
Second--Amendment OF the Sherman
antitrust law, so as 10 permit combina-
tions OF sggresations of capital which
are not objectionable, and are not IN
tent on sitting competition
Third-Granting to the Interstate Com
merce Commission the authority TO con-
troll the capitalization, not alone OF
railroads, but Of all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce.
These are the three principal propo-
sitions only. In addition TO them there
Is a number OF steps to be taken, at
least considered, for making the inter-
state commerce laws more effective.
Involve Whole Question.
It is needless to say that these things
involve almost the whole question OF
the relations between the General Gov
ernment and the railroads and inter
state corporations and they also con-
cern the ever-veXing problem of the
rights of the States. It viii take the
brains of the ablest lawyers in the
country 70 work them out.
The settlement Of the tariff Is no
more difficult than IS the adjustment OF
the questions involved IN the program
OF the President. In some respects.
questions more vital to the general well
fare Of the public and 70 the future con-
duet Of Government are involved than
in the tariff. ii is likely, too that more
intense public interest viii be aroused
in these matters before they are dis
posed OF than the tariff gave rise 10 in
the special session.
President Taft recognizes the difficulty
Of the questions involved. For that
reason, he IS consulting the best law
yers Of his Cabinet and Of Congress.
Why He Has Lawyers.
In view Of the fact it was In the mind
of the President to have these questions
settled IN his administration. it is not
difficult TO perceive why he has been
insisting so strongly in surrounding
himself with able lawyers as members
Of his official family.
The single question Of whether the
Government can step In and regulate
capitalization OF railroads and corpora
tions generally viii require much study,
and will give rise to no end of legal
difficulty. Especially Is this true as d
corporations not in the business OF
common carriers
When IL comes 10 amendment OF the
Sherman law, there Is little doubt this
viii give rise 10 an ugly controversy,
and that any effort to amend the law
will be stoutly resisted.
Senate Committee Opposes.
The Senate judiciary Committee has
made report against the amendment
Of this statute on the lines proposed in
the noted Civic Federation bill which
President Roosevelt lndOrsed. In thaE
report. the law was warmly commended
President Taft would like 10 see this
statute emended so that reasonsbIs
combinations not intended TO stife COM