New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-19
BELIEVES THAT NEW TAX
WILL STAND.
Considering amendment to Sherman
Anti-Trust Las. the Tariff Com
mission and Other Matters.

I
turbed the President in the least. as he laugh
ingly told number of callers at the Taft cot
/ tage to-day. The tests and the protests. the
President declared, were all anticipated and
| threats of the corporation lawyers now cause
/ the President any alarm
/ Mr.. Taft the father of the corporation tax
idea. is thoroughly convinced that the tax will
stand any test that may be applied to it. At
torney General Wickersham, a corporation law
yer Of note, and Senator Root elaborated
the corporation tax provision of the tariff bin.
and the measure enacted, they believe. will
survive any attempt TO nuIlify it.
Mr.. Taft views the prospect OF a fight In court
over the tax in his characteristically philosoph-
/ ical frame Of mind. He said to-day that test
cases were only natural and that no unusual
or new system Of taxation ever had been sub
mitted TO without some sort of fight
Attorney General wickersham is coming TO
see the President Friday afternoon. but tho
prospect of litigation over the corporation tax
has nothing 20 dc with the visit. Mr.. Wicker
sham has some pardon cases upon which he de-
sires the President to act and he wants also
/ TO go with Mr. Taft few OF the prelfnn-
inaries in the plan for the reorganization of the
| duties of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
| the amendment of the Sherman antitrust law
and the bringing Of interstate corporations more
| definitely under the control Of one branch of the
| government. Mr.. Wickersham has given much
study TO these subjects. which will be the prin-
| cipal recommendations of the Presidents
| sage 10 Congress in December next.
| In his speech of acceptance in his inaugural
| address and on his campaign tours President
Taft definitely committed himself to the so-calle6
| Roosevelt policies and declared that the princi-
pal aim of his administration would be to estab-
| lish the necessary machinery TO enforce these
laws 1t was necessary Mr.. Taft said. to completes
| and perfect machinery by which the standards of
the last administration might be maintained BY
which Iawbreakers might properly be restrained
| and punished but which should operate with
sufficient accuracy and dispatch as to interfere
with legitimate business as little as possible.
/ LEGAL MACHINERY INADEQUATE
! According TO Mr. Taft's view the machinery
/ TO enforce the laws the statute books is not
now adequate. He believes that the Interstats
/ Commerce Commission Is so overcrowded with
work that the long delays incident to its in
vesrigations and decisions under existing con-
ditions work hardship alike 10 the railroads
and the complainants. He believes that the
/ commission ought 70 be relieved of it's jurisdic-
| tion as an executive directing body. and that
/ It's functions should be limited 70 the quasi
| judicial investigation of complaints made by
/ individuals and by a department. of government
/ charged with the executive business of super
/ vision.
The President also believes that under the
/ Sherman antitrust law as it stands to-day
there is too much interference with Legitimate
| business He has been urged by many OF his
advisers TO recommend its repeal in toto but
the President believes there is enough good in
the statute offset any hardships it may occa-
sion, and that through amendment it can be
made into effective and just instrument
To bring about coalition of the law depart
ments Of the various government departments
which have to deal with railroads and other
Interstate corporations and trusts" so as to per-
nit of quick and decisive action In cases of Of
fence against the statutes is another OF the
problems To which the President has set him
self
He has outlined his views TO his Cabinet
on these subjects, and has left to Attorney Gen.
eral Wickersham. Secretary NageI of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor. Senator Root
and several other advisers the work of framing
the needed remedies. The President will take
the plan presented to him by his Cabinet officers
in the fall and. with his own conclusions added.
vi present 1t 10 Congress-. Mr. wickersham
has some personal views to present to the Presi-
dent He probably will not call the conferences
of advisers together until after the Presdenr
starts on his Western trip in September
Inc President received a rather mysterious
Visit to-day from Mr.. Norton. Assistant Secre-
u aCCOmDaniAd hvs
Charles g. Dawes. fsrmer Controller Of the Cur-
rency and now president of the Central Trusr
Company, of Chicago. Neither Mr. Norton nor
Mr.. Dawes would discuss their visit in anv vvav
The President said IL departmental matters
which was undecided
Mr.. Norton left here tonight for T,hIt, NJ IL
To report TO the Secretary of the Treasury Nr
MacNeagh who il was stated would come nsr
sonahy to see the President either on Fridav or
Saturday. Mr.. Dawes LETT here tonight for New
York Mr.. Norton is in charge of the Internal
revenue division of the Treasury and his visi+
may have had TO do with the collection OF th.
corporation tax
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.
Secretary Macveagh will take up with tb.
President the appointment of members OF tha
tariff advisory commission which was author
lied in the tariff bill The President has Ieft m,
Mr. MacVeagh the duty of finding the right mem
for the commission. and the Secretary has re-
ported by letter that the task was no easy one
II is likely that at the conference between the
President and Mr.. Macveagh a decision will be
reached TO whether the commission shall con-
sist of three or fise members. The President
has not determined the matter in his own mind.
The appropriation for the commission was made
in a lump sum. the number of members and
their compensation being left to the judgmenr
of the Chief Executive
President Taft Is interested in the editorial
discussions which are in progress in various
sections of the country as 10 what powers this
commission will and win not have II is saia
TO be the Presidents opinion that the com
mission will have a sufficiently wide scope of
action 10 gather almost any kind Of tarin In
formation that may be desired. The commission
was intended primarily TO assist the President