The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-27
NEW CORPORATION
Law MAY Be URGED
Believed That President Taft
FayOrs Action by Congress
at Once.
HOLDS THAT "|ACCINATION"
SHOULD AVERT DISASTER
Speculation Continues Rife as
to Possible Action of the
Supreme Court.

WASHING ION. Dec. 26.-Serious con-
sideratlon, it was announced today, is
being given by President Taft and lead
ers i'm congress 10 the question Of at
tempting 10 enact a federal corporation
act in advance OF y final decision in the
Standard OIL dissolution case. There
appears TO he an important difference Of
opinion between Mr., Taft aud his ad-
visers, who want him to withhold the
message wlTich he has announced nc Will
send to congress
II Is understood Mr Taft fears buzl-
ness generally will suffer ir the supreme
court afrirms the finding OF the circuit
court in the dissolution case and that
he strongly favors what might be termed
''voccinaLIon" Of the body corporate by
the adoption OF legislative remedy be-
fore the evil appears.
on the other hand, congressional lead
crs fear such course would supply am
muntion 10 opponents by the admins
tration by giving them an excuse 10
charge tine force OF the Taft regime is
being toward creating shelter for
nouopolies
II the president should submit his
recommendations soon after congress re-
convencs, and should follow what is said
to be his present inclination. he would
ask FOR the passage OF a federal cor
poration law without delay on tic ground
that honest business is n3enaced under
the Interpretation OF the an;-Sherman
trust act given by the circuit court de-
cision in the Standard OIL case
Will Meet Opposition.
While The presidents views is shareo
THAI 1ncre Will be serious opposition tc
any legislation app3 rently calculated to
narrow the scope of the Sherman law
They believe this opposition is so strong
over such a measure, and that it would
be the part OF wisdom, therefore. &c
a await the decision or the supreme court
Mr. Taft, IL is said, has reviewed per-
sonally the evidence in The Standard Oi
case, With the result that he believes
the decision correctly interprets the law
II so. he presumably expects the decree
will be sustained by the supreme court
The understanding OF those with whom
Mr.. Tart has discussed the ease. is thai
he could recommend the enactment o; Z
federal corporation law without becoming
amenable to n charge that he was seek
Ing 60 prejudice the supreme court
Time Is Unpropitious.
That The present is an uupropitous
time 10 send such a MESA &c 10 congress
and that no ma tier how cautious The
president might De in the wording or his
recommendation, political issue win GER
tainlY be made OF il. is the opinion oi
Republican leaders. These do not al
agree that the supreme court Will sus-
tain the decision without mitigating The
force OF that Interpretation OF the Sher.
man law They point to the fact fhai
the supreme court sustained the right
of congress 20 enact the legislation con
,ained in the commodities clause OF the
Hepburn law. but that II did SO in q
manner such a TO make 1t virtually non
effective.
1t is suggested as not impossibie that
manner might be handc0 down in the
Standard OH case,
Past decisions Of the supreme court in
cases brought under the Sherman anti
trust law have, in the main. confirmed
the coustitutionality OF the law and have
given TO II tho broadcast Interpretation.
Nevertheless. in View o. Tn" 8r-rea cn
Ing effect Of tho recent decision in TIE
Standard OIL case upon corporations gen
well be asked by the president to modify
tho force OF tho act,
The record IN the STANDARD oil case
proba bly, will reach the supreme court by
January 3. and that counsel for the gov
ernment aud the company Will concur in
a request for advancement il likely. Thus
Il may he argucd carly in March. This
would give time 10 the attorneys 10 pre-
pare for The arguments and give the court
time 10 consider the matter before It's al
jourumcnt in May.
If dispatch is shown IN getting hnai
adjudication. 1t is probable there still
would he opportunity for congress To con-
slider remedial legislation at the present
session.