The Washington herald., 1909-03-11

What can be done TO make more ef-
fective the work Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. and the Sherman
antitrust law, is the question that has
come squarely up before President Taft,
and although his administration IS less
than a week old. he has already begun
making plans.
The members OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission called at the execu-
tive Offices yesterday afternoon and were
in consultation with the President nearly
an hour. When they left the members
said they did not so into details in dis
cussing their work. but that they would
return at an early date and so over mat
ters more fully.
The object OF the visit yesterday was
simply to give the commission an Op-
portunity TO meet the President, as n
body. and be ready 10 transact bust
ness" when the time comes.
Are sadly Lacking.
While # is generally known that both
the Interstate Commerce Commission and
the Sherman antitrust acts are sadly
lacking IN many points just what the
Taft administration will do has been
the cause Of a great deal OF speculation.
Former President Roosevelt called atten-
ton 10 the inefectiveness Of these acts
on many occasions. and in his letter OF
/ acceptance President Taft also intimated
that ne would attempt TO make them
more satisfactory
Accordingly the President has already
/ begun to formulate plans as TO what
! amendments are needed 10 give the ut
most efficiency 10 these important en-
actments. he has delegated a greater
part Of this task 10 Attorney General
/ Wickersham and Secretary Of Commerce
and Labor Nagel- Since the admiaistra-
/ ton Of the two acts IS the duty OF these
1 two departments. Il Is. perhaps, not
/ strange that he has asked the heads Of
these two branches OF the Cabinet to give
| particular attention 20 what Is needed to
Z perfect them
Criticism of Choice.
In this connection some say II is rather
/ peculiar that he should have delegated
/ this authority 10 the two men OF mis- Cab
| met who have been subjected 70 the most
/ adverse criticism. as having been in their
! private capacities most affiliated with
the large corporations and trusts OF the
country.
Others believe that this delegation Of
authority only goes 10 show in what high
regard the President holds these two
members or his Cabinet, notwithstanding
their affiliations while in private life
/ The President has not been unmindful
/ OF the caustic criticisms that have been
( directed time and time again at both Mr..
/ Wickersham and Air. Nagei, but he has
/ felt sure that whatever their environ
ments may have been IN the past. they
/ were quite capable OF serving the public.
! He gives abundant proof OF his conf
I lence in them by assigning them 10 the
/ tasks OF determining what amendments
are necessary to make the antitrust and
/ Interstate Commerce acts all that they
I should be.
II is believed in some quarters that the
I President does not think the acts need
radical changes. The fact that most
I OF the provisions Of both laws have been
/ upheld by the United States Supreme
I Court is said 20 make the President be
\ lieve that as far as possible the laws
I should stand. He thinks II would be
/ folly 10 insert a lot OF new provisions
I that would be certain 20 cause another
| storm OF protests. and have to go before
I the courts again TO be approved.
This not only would be an uncertain
course 10 pursue. but also would require
several years
FavOrs New Division.
OF course. II cannot be said with any
degree OF certainty what changes the
/ President advocates or believes would
help strengthen the acts However. he
| Is known 10 favor the establishment o.
new division. to be. perhaps. part OF
the Department Of Justice This division
would be charged especially with the
duties of enforcing the Interstate Com
merce Commission act and the Sherman
antitrust act Il would work IN CO.
| operation with the interstate commits
/ sion and the Bureau Of Corporations oi
the Department OF Commerce and Labor
He believes that the chief Of the pro
posed bureau should be a lawyer, who
would have corps OF detectives and
other assistants necessary 10 carry or
Investigations and prosecute the great
malefactors.
The plans OF the President do not in
! clude anything radical. chiefly because
he does not think there is occasion 70 b,
radical He believes that the spirit ot
the laws is all that it should be. but
thinks the clauses relating 20 their exc.
cution could be strengthened.
The whole idea OF the President in set
ting his two Cabinet officers to work OF
acts now IS 10 be ready wher
dlar session Of the Sixty-first Con
81 conveneS in December to send
comprehensive message TO both house.
telling exactly what he thinks woulC
best serve the country.