Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-09-04
LEARNED cONfERE ES
Nee ling Consider Ways And
Means For Better Law
Enforcement.
Before Adjourning the Commission
Will Complete a Comprehensive
Report AS to Necessary
:
Changes.

Report As to Necessary
Changes.
New York, August 31.-The COM
mission appointed by President Taft, |
consisting of Attorney-Genera1 Wick
ersham, Secretary of Commerce and
Labor Nagel, Secretary of Interior
Ballinger, Solicitor-Generai Bow
ers, Commissioner Prouty, of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, and
Representative Townsend, of Michi-
gan, to recommend amendments to
the interstate commerce and anti
trust laws and to reorganize the ex-
ecutive departments to make the en-
forcement of existing laws more eff
fective, met here today to begin it's
important work and shall probably
remain in session for week or
more. Before adjourning, the COM
mission will complete a copprehen-
sive report embodying it's views con-
corning the necessary changes and
amendments. This report will be
L
he leaves for Chicago on his Western
tour, September Is. The President
intends to make a careful study of
the report of the commission and in
tends to use the material contained
therein as the basis of number of
speeches he expects to deliver dur
ing his trip through the West and
South.
President Taft fully recognizes that
not only is the effectiveness of ex-
isting laws crippled, but the admin
istration is greatly handicapped in
their enforcement by the lack of a
which the different departments
would have a clear field for work.
At present, for instance, the bureau
of corporations and the bureau of
labor of the Department of Commerce
and Labor encroach upon and dupli-
cate work done by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
| There is also conflict of authority
between the Interstate Commerce
Commission and, the Department of
Justice. The Department of the Inte-
rior in land fraud and other cases
has encroached upon the Department
of Justice. The President is desir-
Gus of removing all friction, and
wishes to have some plan evolved un-
der which the Department of Com
merce and Labor through it's bureau
of corporations and bureau of LABOR
will be enabled to work up cases in
which violations of the interstate
commerce and Sherman anti-trus1
laws are suspected. The Department
of the Interior will perform the same
service in alleged violations of lant
laws.
It has been suggested that in the
Department of Justice there be estab
lished a bureau of prosecution tt
which will fall all prosecutions whe1
the evidence obtained by the othe
departments justifies appeal t. tht
courts. 1t is believed that The Inter
state commerce commission will b,
reduced to quasi judicial powers, ALT
will not investigate as we'll as pun
: ish violations t.f the interstate com
merce act, such investigation t., COM
: under the jurisdiction of the Depart
n.ent of Commerc aad Labor
It is expected that tie commission
will recommend to the President Ger
, tain amendments to the interstat
commerce laws and the Sherman an
THRUST law. 1t is believed the com
mission will recommend that powe
be granted the government to con
!, troll the classifcations made by tn
, railroads aud also to determine tn
4 reasonableness of rates in advanc
r Of their going into effect. The mem
: bers of the commission are known t
t be Of the opinion that the Sherma
antitrust law should be amended S
that permanent injunctions may on
ly be granted after hearings and tha
temporary injunctions should be re
= stricted to a specified time limit. TIL
:: commission also favors that the LAY
+ be so amended that labor organize
: tions will not be guilty of conspirac
e when engaged upon a peaceful strik'
= President Taft believes the mos
v effective administration Of the law
: can be brought about by making tn
d Interstate Commerce Commission
It judicial body, the investigation {
e complaints to be conducted by tn
l. bureau of corporations and rrosect
IS tions to be under special bureau |
e the Department of Justice. He al
e ticipates little trouble in framin
q suggestions for the control of ovel
n capitalization of corporations and th
over-issue of stocks and bonds. H
believes it will be more difficult |
draw up the proposed amendments I
the antitrust law.