The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-23
NEW TARIFF BOARD IS
SOON TO Be FORMED
Sherman Antitrust Law Is Taken Up
But 1t Is Decided That No
Change Is Advisable at
This Time.

Beverly, Mass. August 22.-The cares of
state weighed too heavily upon President
Taft today to permit more than an hours
absence from the summer White House,
and it was not until the sun was setting
that business gave way to pleasure and
the big motor car whirled the chief ex-
ecutive away from a cabinet meeting for
drive along the Essex county shore with
Mrs. Taft.
Even church attendance was omitted in
the interest of humanity, for during the
forenoon long list of pardon cases were
considered while in the afternoon Secre-
tary of the Treasury Macveagh and At
torney General Wickersham and Secre-
tary of the Navy Meyer discussed for an
hour or more the intricate and delicate
questions of the personnel of the new
tariff board, the changes in the inter-
state commerce and antitrust acts, and
some economic measures which have
heen instituted in the navy department
The makeup of the new tariff board was
discuss ssed in detail and list of 40 or more
n lnes for the three places was carefully
examined. No definite action, however
Will be taken until a more complete cab
met meeting Is held.
Regarding the proposed changes in the
intsi state commerce act, it is stated that
the efforts of the present administration
will be- toward lifting from the shoulders
ofthe present board the worlS Of investi-
eating rates and alleged Violations of the
act ana shifting such labors to the de-
partment of commerce.
After a long consideration of the Sher-
man antitrust act and in the light of
hundred; of decisions, the admnistra-
tion Il firm in the conviction that only
the most carefully considered changes. in
even tne work OF the different sections
Of the act can be suggested to Congress-
and that these suggestions should deal
only will the consideration of cases
which It is believed were never in con-
tenn IL ton by the trainers of the original
statute. Take two instances mer-
chant or manufacturer engaged in a legit-
innate business that covers certain states
wished to sell his business and good will
and so in the terms of the sale obligates
himself to the purchaser not to go into
the same business in those states. Such
9 restraint of trade has always been
forced at common law. Again the en-
ployes of an interstate railroad combine
andenter upon a peaceable and lawful
strike to secure better wages. At COM
mon law such was not restraint on
trade or commerce, or a violation of the
rights of the company or the public. 1t
is the belief of the astute lawyers of the
present administration that neither case
ought to be made a violation of the Sher-
man act Many other phases of the Sher-
act also were discussed today and
will be brought later before other mem
bers of the cabinet. Attorney General
Wickersham leaves tomorrow for New
York. but Secretary MacVeagh will re-
main on the north short a few days be-
fore returning to his summer home In
Dublin.
The retrenchment plans which Secretary
Meyer has inaugurated in the navy de-
partment are expected to take definite
shape before Congress meets, through the
report of the three boards which are
making rigid Investigations along such
lines. Secretary Meyer will have a tele-
phone conference tomorrow with Rear
Admiral Swift, commandant of the Boston
yard, and chairman of the board on navy
yard administration, and if the time limit
for that boards report, which is October
l. is unproductive of definite results, the
board will be given few weeks more.
definite denial was made today at
the summer capital of the report that a
reduction Of the regular army was under
contemplation.
The only functions which the President
will attend during the % remaining days
of his stay in Massachusetts are the
Yale clubs outdoor meet at Brookline,
September 6; luncheon to the Sender
yachtsmen on the Mayfower, September
o. and the banquet of the Boston cham
ber of commerce, September Il, the eve
of his departure on his western trip.