The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
President Takes Keen Delight
In Proposed Meeting With
President Diaz
WICKERSHAM PLANNING
DEPARTMENT CHANGES
Interstate Commerce Commission Is
To Be Reorganized and Other
Changes viii Be Made in
Branches of Department.

Beverly Mass, August 20.-President
Taft today accepted an invitation to visit
Mexican territory on OcteDer 16 next,
when he will exchange visits with Presi-
dent Diaz OF Mexico at Ell Paso and Ciu-
dad Juarez.
Senior Don Francisco Leon De LaBarra,
the Mexican ambassador, personally con-
veyed a message from President Diaz to
President Taft today.
Incidentally, the ambassador briefly
discussed with the American chief magis-
trate the situation in Central America,
where 1t is said there is considerable un-
rest over the report that the United
States and Mexico. acting in common,
may exert a still stronger influence for
the settlement of the constantly arising
difficulties among the little republics by
amicable means, and thus put an end to
frequent wars and revolutions.
The ambassador declared at the con-
clusion of his interview that there was
little of political significance in his visit.
Later, however, he sent a series of long
cablegrams in cipher to the City of Mex
leo.
Taft's Anticipation.
President Taft is looking forward with
keen delight to his meeting with Presi-
dent Diaz. The details of the visit are
yet to be worked out.
President Diaz first VIII visit Mr. Taft
In the city of Ell Paso, Tex. Then the
President, crossing the international bor-
der over the Rio Grande, will return the
of Cfudad Juarez. United States troops
will be gathered at Ell Paso and Mexi-
can troops at Cuidad Juarez, to lend an
official aspect to the exchange of formal
tiles.
President Taft had a brief talk with
Attorney General Wickersham this after
noon, but put off until tomorrow the Sc
rious consideration of the outline of pro-
posed changes in the interstate COM
merce and antitrust laws, which Mr..
Wickersham has been considering and
which he will lay before a commission of
government officials by Mr.. Taft in New
York city next week.
Wickersham's Plans.
Attorney General Wickersham will also
take up the matter of the reorganization
of the department of justice, of the bureau
of corporations In the department of
commerce and labor and of the interstate
commerce commission, looking to effec-
tive cooperation of these agencies in or
der to secure a more rapid and certain
enforcement of the laws affecting inter-
state railroad and industrial combna-
tions.
The commission, which will meet in
New York to begin consideration of the
recommendations it hopes to have ready
for tho President when he returns to
Washington in November. includes Attor-
ney General Wickersham, Secretary Ma
gel of the department of commerce and
labor, Solicitor General Bowers and
Messrs. Knapp and Prouty of the inter
state commerce commission.
Attorney General Wickersham declared
today that the problem to be dealt with
was a big one, to be approached with
much deliberation. The President is sim
ilarly impressed and regards the work of
formulating the needed changes into prac-
tical shape as creative work of the high
est order. The amendments to be pro-
posed. he declared, are just as necessary
in the protection of legitimate business
as in the clinching of reforms begun
under the last administration.
Relief for Railroads.
Relief of the railroads from certain
restrictions of the antitrust law will be
urged. On the other hand, President Taft
regards his administration as pledged to
legislation looking to proper federal
supervision and restriction to prevent ex-
cessive issues of bonds and stocks by
companies owning and operating inter-
state commerce railroads. Some method
of controlling holding companies is to be
devised
The President and Mrs. Taft had their
first sail on the yacht Sylph this after
noon. Heretofore they have confined
themselves to the shore, taking long aft
ernoon automobile trips. Sailing out of
the harbor, the Sylph headed Gloucester
way, and did not again return until after
o'clock.
1t was officially announced tonight that
the itinerary for Mr. Tafts trip is closed
and in the hands of the railroad officials.
No further changes of any sort can be