Evening star., 1909-05-04
Will Propose Changes in Laws
Controlling Corporations.
READY FOR NEW CONGRESS
President to Submit Recommends
tions at Session in December.
VENEZUELAN ENVOY RECEIVED
Executive Asked to Discuss Govern.
ment of District at Business
Mems Dinner.

The Interpretation by the Supreme Court
Of the commodities clause Of the Hepburn
rate law was discussed at the cabinet
meeting today.
| The President joined his lawyer advisers
in a dissection OF the opinion. The end
In view is the preparation OF recommenda-
| tions, which the President will address ~
| Congress next December, on the whole
scope of amendments to both the Hep
/ burn interstate commerce act and the
| Sherman antitrust act.
Those few radically disposed persons in
| clined to find some criticism of the ad-
| ministration for failure to flourish the big
| stick will feel easier if they learn. as they
| will. that the President will place before
Congress eight months from now clear
| and distinct recommendations for definite
| legislation on the series of acts under
| which the government proceeds to handle
the railroads and other corporations.
Control Over Railroads.
dent intends to ask Congress to amend
| the Interstate commerce act I'm important
particulars. and that he will in no wise
\
that the government should retreat from
its attitude toward the railroads. Neither
| will the President propose such amend
| ments as will tend to cripple the common
carriers of the country.
He will wish to do what is possible
to make them prosperous and enable
them to extend their lines and their IA
cilities. At the same time he will pro-
pose no law or amendment to existing
laws that will take away the govern
r1a IN hA ivnt NJ SNnV1
troll and supervision.
The opinion was strong today that the
President will ask Congress to take ad-
vantage of the decision of the Supreme
Court that the government has the con-
stttutiOnal right not only to prohibit rail-
roads from transporting commodities di-
rectly owned by them. but also to pro-
hibit the transportation OF commodities
Indirectly owned or controlled. such as
will become the case by ownership OF
stock in separate companies.
If the President proposes to strengthen
the commodities clause by prohibiting
railroads from owning the stock OF COM
panies that own the coal mines or other
commodities he will have such follow
ing in Congress. 1t is predicted. as will
bring about the enactment of such
amendment or amendments.
1t is at least certain, from information
today. that the President will not be
satisfied with evasion of the commodities
clause by the indirect method the rail-
ship in companies under other names. but
| really the same as the original company
itself. 1t is a method Of beating around
the bush that does not appeal to that
sense of fairness or respect for the law he
is said to hold.
Stops for All Loopholes.
BY the time December comes around
the administration will be prepared. it is
understood. to meet the loopholes left by
<Ia
will be presented early in the session and
which will deal with other phases of the
interstate commerce act
President Taft will give more attention
| In his first formal message to the Sher-
man antitrust act than to any other
thing. He has well settled ideas as to
this act and the Importance of clear
ing it up that not only the courts and
the lawyers, but the general public. will
know what the law means and what its
purposes are. AS the law now stands no
two judges can agree as to Its scope. with
the result that 1t hangs as a menace to all
business, legitimate and otherwise.
Wade Ellis. assistant to Attorney
General Wickersham. recently made a
speech to the New York Bar Associa-
tion which is well understood to have
been read by the President before de-
livery. This speech refers to the ne
cessity for clea ring up the uncertainty
of the Sherman act. but hints at the
altogether from the provisions of the
law. transferring whatever authority
there may be in the act over the roads
to the interstate commerce law, there
by Placing in one law all provisions
relating to common carriers. The Sher-
man act would then apply to other
lines of business. as was apparently
I intended by Congress should be the
case.
The administration is now proceed
ing against the Hartman roads under
| the Sherman act. alleging that they
have conspired to restrain trade. Fur
ther proceedings under this law are
likely to be taken.
Secretary Ballinger left the cabinet
| meeting early today to take train
for Chicago. where he goes as the
| representative of the administration to
attend the peace congress in session
there.
President Gets Invitations.
Several invitations to visit cities of the
nation were received by the President to-
day. Senator Cuiberson asked the Pres
ident to visit Galveston whenever he has
an opportunity. The President has ex-
lpressed a strong desire to accept the in
vitation at the first favorable opportunity.
Representative Knapp of New York in
lvited the President to attend the annual
encampment of the United Spanish War
n
p and 4. The President does not think
he can go.
Senator Warner introduced to the Pres
ident George l.. WeitZel. secretary of the
American legation at Panama. Mr.. Weitz-
el is expecting promotion in the diplo-
matte service.
| Ex-Secretary John d. Long of Massa-
chusetts paid his respects To the Presi-
dent today. Mr.. Long said that although
he is seventy years old, he has never felt
better.
Still Working on Judgeship.
| The North Carolina judgeship a regular
nightmare to the President every time
| It is mentioned. was brought up again
today Senator Overman of that state in
troduced DR.. W. l.. Poteat. president OF
the Wake Forest College
| DR. Poteat called on the President to
urge the appointment of ex-Judge f. w.
lTimberlake of Wake Forest Mr.. Timber
lake served on the North Carolina bench
| for a number of years.
| Ex-Judge Spencer B. Adams of North
L cd he pr,aS