Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-23
SUNDAY IS BUSY FOR TAFT
HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TIME
FOR CHURCH.
Cabinet Members Confer With Him
on Antitrust Legislation-No.
Army Reduction.

BEVERLY, Mass, August o;.-The ad-
ministration. after a conference between
President Taft and members of his cabi-
net. Mr. MacVeagh, the Secretary of the
Treasury; Attorney General Wickersham
and Mr. Meyer, the Secretary of the Navy,
on the Sherman antitrust act, in the
light of hundreds of decisions. became
firm Yesterday i'm the conviction that only
the most carefully considered changes IN
even the wording of the different sections
of the act could be suggested to Congress-
and that these suggestions should deal
only with the application of cases which,
il is believed. were never in contempia-
ton by the trainers of the original statute.
Take two instances: a merchant or
manufacturer engaged in legitimate
business that covers certain states wishes
to sell his business and his goodwill and
so in the terms Of the sale obngateS hlm-
self TO the purchaser not to go into the
same business in those states. such Il
restraint of trade has always been en-
forced at common law.
Again. the employees of an interstate
railroad combine and enter upon peace
able and lawful strike to secure better
wages. At common law such was not a
restraint on trade or commerce. or vlo-
lation of the rights of the company or the
public It is the belief of the astute
lawyers of the present administration that
neither case ought to be made a violation
OF the Sherman act.
In company with these suggestions will
probably be others for changes required
in the executive departments concerning
better endorsements.
Many other phases of the Sherman act
were also discussed today, and will be
brought later before other members of the
cabinet. Attorney General WfckerShar
leaves tomorrow for New York, but Sec
rotary MacVeagh will remain on the
North Shore for a few days before re-
turning to his summer home in Dublin.
Interstate Commerce Act.
Regarding the proposed changes in the
interstate commerce act, 1t is stated tina,
the efforts of the present administration
will be toward lifting from the shoulders
of the present board the work of investi-
eating rates and alleged violations of the
act and shifting such labors to the De
partment Of Commerce.
The retrenchment plans which Secretary
Meyer has inaugurated in the Navy De-
partment are expected to take definite
shape before Congress meets through the
reports of the three boards which are
making rigid Investigations along such
lines. Secretary Meyer will have a tele-
phonic conference with Rear Admira
Swift, commandant of the Boston YARD
and chairman Of the board on navy yarC
administration. and If Ine time limit fol
that boa rd $ report, which is October /. il
unproductive of definite results the board
will be given a few weeks more.
4 definite denial was made yesterday II
the summer capital of the report that 3
reducti ion of the regular army was unde,
| contemplation.
The only functions which the President
will attend during the twentythree re-
| naming days of his stay in Massachu
sets are the Yale Clubs outdoor meet al
Brookline. September 8; the luncheon to
the Sender yachtsmen on the May1ower
September 8, when the Taft cup will be
presented to the winner of the German
American series, and the banquet of ths
Boston Chamber of Commerce, Septem
Der IA, the eve of his departure on hi.
western trip. Both the Yale field day anG
| the Sender luncheon are of private ma
ture so the only public appearance of the
| President will be in Mechanics Hall, IL
Boston. when he will clear his throat fol
| two months of oratory.
A Mighty Busy Man.
| President Taft was so engrossed in the
| cares of state yesterday that even church
| attendance was omitted. During the fore
noon a long list of pardon cases was con
| sidered, while in the afternoon the intri
cate and delicate questions of the per
/