Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-28
TRUSTS CONSIDERED
IN TAFT'S MESSAGE
Suggestion That He Postpone
Dealing With Topic Unheed-
ed by President.
SUGGESTS CORPORATIONS
GET FEDERAL LICENSES
Modification of Interstate Commerce
and Sherman Acts.
CONGRESS TO READ IT JAN. 5
Program Follows Out Policy Out
lined in Speeches Made in West
on Recent Trip-Anticipation
of Wide Interest.
Modification of Interstate Commerce
and Sherman Acts.
CONGRESS TO READ IT JAN. s

President Taft today began the prepara-
tion OF the most important special mes
sage he will send to Congress this win
ter, message that will put the country
10 thinking and Congress to acting.
This message will deal with the amend
ments which Mr.. Taft believes are neces-
sary in the Interstate commerce and
Sherman antitrust acts Recent reports
10 the contrary notwithstanding, 1t is
said that the President will take up the
antitrust act and deal with it at great
length.
He also will bring forward his ideas as
to Issuing federal licenses to corporations
The proposed license will be voluntary, to
be taken advantage of by such corpora
tions as desire to place themselves under
federal jurisdiction, or left alone, as the
directors Of the corporations see fit.
President Would Not Delay.
1t has been currently reported for some
time that President Taft might delay his
antitrust recommendations until the Su-
preme Court has finally passed upon the
recent Standard OIL decision. Those to
whom the President has talked within
the past day or two say he has decided
10 go forward with his legislative pro-
gram regardless Of the pending decision,
and that. having determined that many
changes are needed In the antitrust law,
ne will proceed to. recommend these
changes without regard to the Standard
Oil case.
The President and the members of his
cabinet. together with the interstate
eommercse commissioners. have given
more thought and study to the needed
changes In the interstate commerce and
antitrust acts than to any other subjects
since the beginning of the present ad-
ministration. The President has outlined
his views in general terms in speeches he
las made from time to time since his in
auguration. and they have become pretty
generally known
Congressional Advice Unheeded.
There has been a disposition among
some leaders Of the Senate and House
during the past two days to urge the
President not to send in his antitrust
message at this time. They argued that
pending a decision in the Standard Oil
case on proceedings brought under the
Sherman act the President. in recom-
mending changes in the statutes, might
be put by his political opponents in the
light Of granting q respite or favor to
the corporations. especially in regard to
federal charters or licenses.
1t is said. however, that Mr. Taft feels
that his views on the entire subject have
been SO fully expressed in the past and
so generally understood as rejecting his
attitude that he can go ahead with his
recommendations upon the lines decided
upon early in the fall as q result of the
many conferences with Attorney General
Wickersham and other legal advisers in
the cabinet.
Program Follows Announced Policy.
As matter of fact. the President is
said to have told his callers that he has
never at any time had any intention of
altering his Legislative program, as out
lined in speeches on his western trip.
The Presidents message will be ready
for reading in the two houses Of Congress
Wednesday, January 5. Congress reas-
sembles January 4. but will Immediately
adjourn out of respect to the late Senator
McLaurin of Mississippi.
The message probably will be listened
to with far greater interest than was the
regular message. read at the opening of
the session. 1t had become generally
known in advance that President Taft
had left the interstate commerce and anti
trust recommendations out of that mes
sage.
Dalzell for Full Investigation.
Representative Dalzell. one of the re-
publican leaders of the House. conferred
for some time with the President today
about the proposed Ballinger investiga-
tion by Congress. Mr.. Dalzell believes
that it is necessary that the investi-
cation shall be joint one, conducted
with open doors. by both houses.
He does not see how one body can
AFFORD to permit the other to conduct
the investigation alone He thinks the
country wants the facts. and that it
will be better satisfied If the work is
it Is a one-body affair,
There appears little doubt today that
the President: and the republican lead
ers have reached an agreement for a
joint investigation, that Ii will be prompt
and searching and SO thoroughly open
that no one can afterward raise the cry
OF suppression Of facts or whitewash.
Taft Against Gambling in Futures.
President Taft is expected to come OUT
In opposition TO gambling in wheat cot
ton. corn and other products Of the farm.
He has had number of talks with those
seeking to prohibit this form of gam
bling and they have found him In accord
with them to the fullest extent.
He has talked with Representatives
Scott and Lowering. who are trainers
Of bills inhibiting this form OF specula-
tion, with Secretary Wilson, Attorney
General wickersham. Secretary Knox
and others. The subject will probably
be the basis of special message.
The Scott bill places grain and cotton
gambling on the fraud list and .empow-
ers the Postmaster General to issue or
ders excluding those engaged In the