The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-04
1t Is Predicted That This Will
Become the Center of a Hot
Fight Before Close of the
Session. $3.50
SOLONS WAITING FOR
PRESIDENTS ADVICE
There Is More Doubt About
This Feature of the Mes
sage Owing to Numerous
Contradictory Tales.
american News Service)

NAHleTlcdn news SERVICE 5
Washington, Dec 4-With the open
ing of Congress only a few days away.
and President Taft's blue penciled
message in the government printers
hands, the great issue to the fore to-
day is the Sherman antitrust law. 1t
is predicted that this will became the
center of hot conflict in congress be-
fore the session ends.
Arriving senators and representa-
tives are anxious to ascertain what
President Taft will recommend in the
way of amendment to the law. There
is more doubt about this feature of the
message than any other for the reason
that within the last few DAYS contra
dictory statements have been circulat-
ed to the effect that President Taft will
urge complete changes in the law, and
again. that he will suggest that con-
gress wait until the supreme court Of
the United States has passed upon the
appeal of the Standard Oil case, which
is expected to be heard by the court
early next January.
An Important Statute.
There is no law on the statute books
that is as important to the corpora
tons and the railroads of the country
as the Sherman antitrust law. The
most drastic provisions of that law
have been upheld by the courts.
1t is admitted that the strict enforce
ment of the law retards legitimate bus
mess combination and for this reason
%I4 - 4
the statute so as to promote legitimate
combination of capital, received the ap-
proval of former President Roosevelt.
This is one of the Roosevelt policies
| with which Taft is in full accord
Some of the leading members of the
house and senate wko are lawyers say
there is no logic in the suggestion that
congress wait until the supreme conr:
, has handed down it's decision in the
Standard Oil case before taking up the
question of amending the Sherman act.
Any delay in the matter at the coming
session. they say. would surely carry
the subject over until after the elect
ions next year.
People Are Watchful.
They admit that it is one that de-
mands careful consideration for the
people and will not sanction any
amendments to the law that would dc
prive it of its power to check unlaw-
! full combinations in restraint of trade
by which healthy competition would
| be destroyed. Large employers have
written to the president PROTESTING
against any changes that would exempt
organized labor from the application
of that section of the act relating to re
straint in trade. 1t was this provis-
ion of the act that was invoked in the
Danbury hatters case. Since that de
cision the American Federation of La
Dor has been assiduously at work
striving to secure legislation amenda
| tory to the act that would exempt or
ganized labor from its operation. This
feature of the message was discussei
with Mr.. Taft by Mr.. Gompers at the
conference at the White House las
Monday. The president did not com
NIT himself, however, although it i;
believed he is favorable to such ar
amendment to the Sherman antitrust
| law
There are now pending in the hous,
several bills amendatory to that law
but the one that will be known as thu
administrative is to be introduced ir
the house early this month. 1t vii
be drawn by the Encouragement art
will be submitted to the cabinet for ap
proval, after which it will be made
public.