Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-27
A TRusT-BusTER'
Ellis Of Ohio Will Keep
at His Task.
Program Of New Administration
in This Matter.
Department will Seek Better Team
Work Than in Past.

Washington, March 26-Wade H. Ell
lis of Ohio is the man through whom
Attorney General Wickcrsham will
Worl, iii carrying out President Taft's
policy for the prosecution of antitrust
cases
Mr.. ELLIS has been retained as special
assistant to TIL" Attorney General to
hayc charge of all Investigations and
prosecutions of Niolators of the anti
trust laws. Later, if Congress CStaB-
fishes the new bureau of corporations
that TAFT wishes it t. appoint, Mr., Ell
lis Will be placed at its head.
What the President has in mind is
to bring about a closer and more eftec-
tive rtlaton between the Department
of Justice The bureau of corporations
of the Department Of Commerce and
Labor, ana the Interstate commerce
commission. AT present these three
branches OF the government are not
working with the harmony desirable
The Department of Justice and the
Department of Commerce and Labor
get along fairly well. But the attitud"
Of the interstate commerce commission
sorIctlnies causes friction.
system of prosecution Of the railroads
is that much Of it is done by special at
tolncyS urun the nomination of the in
tcrStatc commerce commission. These
attorney $ are carried on the rolls of the
Department Of Justice. but the Attor-
,my General has no power to direct and
central their movements.
When they work UP q case against a
railroad the attorneys frequently evince
q dcsir" to take it along through the
courts themselves instead Of turning it
over t. ,he regular United States at
torlcy. This practice will be stopped
~ President Taft through. the Attor-
ncy General.
Nv degrees tho friction will be check
cd and the whole power Of prosecution
placed in the hands of the Department
Of Justice. where the President thinks
it ought to he.
As outlined by him, the Presidents
policy will he to have the bureau OF
/ corporations of the Department OF
Commerce. and Labor look for evidence
il all antitrust cases. Evidence ir
railroad cases will be turned over tt
the interstate commerce commission
That body will review the evidence and
if it thinks a prosecution is justified
will forward it to the Attorney General
=" will pass it over to Mr. Ellis, who
| in turn will put in operation the wheel.
| Of his trust-busting bureau. No prose
~: ,ons will he attempted by the inter
| state commerce commission.
| That such a system will be fought b!
| the momijcrs of tho interstate com
| m"TcC commission is anticipated. Jus
| hny. much the President can accomp
| li:h without special legislation by Con
| :yrg IS is not certain at this time
| SON" powers of the interstate com
| more" commission cannot En curtailet
| without legislation. Moral suasion
! from tho White House may do a grca
| dead The members of the commission
| it must he remembered. do not hold Of
fee for life. 1t is not unlikely that the
| Will come to So" tn" light of Prcsiti"n
Taft's reasoning Wien it i put t
them clearly.
| At any rate the truSt-buStinG burca
| Of the Department of Justice is to y
| tho whole works. in the matter of an
! THRUST Investigations and prosecution
! undo; the Taft administration. Eli