The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-02
ROOSEVELT ACTED
WITHOUT ANY
AUTHORITY
THIS is REPORT OF SEVEN MEM.
BERS OF SENATE COMMITTEE.
He Had No Right to Allow the Alb.
sorptIon Of Tennessee Coal g.
Iron County, They Declare.

Washington, March 2.-Seven mem
bers OF the senate committee on Judi
ciary signed the report declaring that
President Roosevelt without author
ity OF law, sanctioned the absorption
of the Tennessee Coal and G Iron
company by the United States Steel
Corporation, and that the merger was
in violation OF the Sherman antitrust
law, Two Of the majority of the COM
mittee, however. attached certain In
dividual views which to a degree
minimize the effect of the declaration.
Under an agreement reached in the
committee on judiciary yesterday, any
views submitted have the standing OF
individual opinions only. Chairman
Clark today reported the disagree
ment in the committee, and soon af-
forwards, Senator Culberson presented
the views of seven members Of the
committee These were signed by
Senators Nelson. Klttredge and For
aker (RepublicanS) and Culberson.
Bacon. Rayner and Oyerman Demo
cTats)."
Senators Nelson and Bacon In the
opinion of Mr.. Nelson the President
was not authorized to permit the ab-
sorption, which is declared to have
been in violation of law. Mr.. Nelson
things, however, that the President
may have been misled or duped by the
officials OF the United States Steel
Corporation, Messrs Frick and Gray.
who urged upon him the necessity Of
permitting the steel corporation TO
buy the Tennessee concern, In order
TO save a business institution Of New
York City during the panicky days OF
October and November, 1907.
Mr.. Bacon expressed doubt whether
the senate should pronounce finally
upon the question whether the Presi-
dent committed a wrongful act. for the
reason that the senate is Judge In i'm
peachment proceedings.
He takes the position that the mer-
ger was illegal, but that the senate
should not take any action to prejudice
any proceedings that might hereafter
be brought before 1t,
From the report signed and submit
ted today, it appears that had 1t not
been for the illness Of Senator Bacon
and his absence from the committee
of Yesterday, the report declaring the
! President acted without authority OF
law would have been adopted as the
| opinion OF the committee. In any
event. Senators Culberson and Kilt
redge take the position that majority
OF the committee has reported that
the merger was Illegal, and that the
! department of justice should proceed
against the United States Steel Cor
poration TO dissolve It, The disagree
ment from the resolution was placed
in calendar, and will expire with the
! close of the present session.
Later. Senator Foraker fled. his In
! diyidual views, declaring that he did
not think 1t necessary for the com
mittee to consider whether the trans
action was violation OF the anti trust
law.
He said that the reply OF the com
mittee should be confined to the one
question as to whether the President
! was authorized to permit the merger
and that this should be answered III
the negative. In view of the fact thai
reports OF the steel corporation called
upon the President and asked his ad
vice concerning the transaction. ant
that the question also was submitted
to Attorney General Bonaparte. Sen
ator Foraker took the position tna
the steel corporation should not bt
condemned for Its action.