The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-27
PRESIDENT TAFT'S
COMING MESSAGE

Washington, Dec. 26.-Serious con-
sldcration. It was announced today,
is being given by President Taft and
leaders in congress 10 the question
OF attempting to enact a federal in
corporation act in advance OF a final
decision in the Standard Oil dissolu-
tiUn case. There appears TO he an
important difference OF opinion be-
tween Mr., Taft and his advisors. who
want him to withhold the message
which he has announced he will send
TO congress-
1t is understood Mr.. Taft fears
business generally will suffer II the
supreme court aiIirms the findings Of
the circuit court In the dissolution
case and that he strongly faeors what
might be termed, vaccination" of the
body crporate By the adoption OF
legislative remedy before the evil APP
pears.
On the other hand. congressional
leaders. fear such course would sup
ply immunity to opponents of the
administration by giving them an eN-
cuse to charge the force OF the Taft
regime as being toward creating a
shelter for monopolies,
If the president should submit his
recommendations soon after congress
rc-conveues, aud should follow what
is said TO be his present inclination,
he would ask for the passage Of a
federal corporation law, without de-
lay, on the ground that honest bust
ness is menaced under the interPrc-
tation of the Sherman antitrust act
given by the court decision in the
STANDARD Oil case.
While the presidents view is shar-
ed by congressional leaders. they rec
ognize that there will be serious op-
position 10 any legislation apparent
ly calculated to narrow the scope of
the Sherman law. They believe this
opposition Is so strong that there
would be q protracted contest over
such measure, and that it would be
tho part of wisdom, therefore. to
await the decision of the supreme
court.
Mr.. Taft, it is said. has reviewed
personally the evidence in the Stand
ard Oil case with the result that he
believes the decision correctly inter
pretS the law If so, he presumably
expects the decree will be sustained
by the United States court
Present Time Unpropitious.
That the present is an unpropitious
time TO send such a message to con-
gress and that no matter how eau
tlouS the president might be In the
wording of his recommendation poll
tical issue will certainly be made of
it. is the opinion of Republican lead
ers. These do not all agree that the
supreme court VIII sustain the de-
cision without mitigating the force
Of that Interpretation OF the Sherman
law. They point 10 the fact that the
supreme court sustained the fight Of
congress to enact the legislation con
tained In the commodities clause of
the Hepburn law, but that IT did 80
in a manner such as 10 make 1T vir-
tually non-effective
II is suggested as not impossible
that Il decision with the edge dulled"
In like manner might be handed
down in the Standard oil case.
Past decisions OF the supreme court
In cases brought under the Sherman
antitrust law. have In the main. con-
firmed the constitutionality OF the
law and have given 10 it the broadest
interpretation Nevertheless, In view
OF the far-reaching effects OF the re-
cent decision in the Standard OIL case
upon corporations generally. both
good and bad. congress may well be
asked by the president To modify the
force OF the act
The record In the Standard case
probably will reach the supreme court
by January 3. and that counsel for the
government and the company VIII
concur IN a request for advancement
for II may be argued early in March
This would give time TO the attor-
neys 10 prepare for the arguments
and give the court time 10 consider
the matter before its adjournment IN
May.
II dispatch Is SHOWN in getting final
adjudication II is probable there stin
Will be opportunity for congress to
consider remedial legislation In the
present session.
n..rot