The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-19
Taft's Request For Inter-
state Laws Will Be Post
poned Until Winter.
TO GIVE CONGRESS
TIME FOR THOUGHT
Believes Supreme Test of the In
stitutiOn of Private Property
Will Come Soon.
By JAMES HAY, i.

CINCINNATI. Feb 19-William How
ard Taft viii not request any important
interstate corporation legislation OF the
extra session Of Congress which he will
convene March Is to revise the tariff.
Practically the entire field OF lawmak-
ing which IS regarded as necessary to
define better ana more clearly the reIa-
ton of the Federal Government to the
big corporations of the country viii be
held until the regular long session Of
Congress cOnvenes next December.
Between now and that time Mr.. Taft
and the lawyers of his Cabinet Will give
the deepest study possible to all the
problems which have arisen out Of the
new era OF Governmental control OF big
corporations Of capital II is said By
Mr.. Tafts friends with whom he has
talked about the matter that he hopes
10 make his message to congress next
winter an able legal document, drawing
up in a concise manner what he be-
lieves 10 be the proper policy for the
Government TO follow regarding inter
state corporations.
Inaugural Address.
IN his inaugural address, which Is
now completed, he VIII refer in general
terms to the question. Similar refer
ence viii, in all probability, oe found
in his message TO the extra session.
But his direct requests and recommend
ations for big legislation along this
line will be postponed until next win
ter
For this there are two reasons. ac-
cCIdins 10 his friends one is that he
beIeves the House and the Senate, Ia
BORING under the hurry ard strain OF
an extra session called part eularly for
tariff revision will M sr -
1OT enactlnS legislation which demands
Jne closest ana most extended delibera-
ton. Another is that he and his pros
pecIiFe cabinet members require time
10 work out the details OF their policy
as regards the corporations doing in
terstate business.
Supreme Test Coming.
Mr.. Taft is already on record in his
public speeches as believing that in the
next decade or TWO viii come the su-
preme test Of the institution Of private
property as defined under the terms O.
the Constitution He realizes that The
increasing demand for governmental
regulation and supervision Of big aggre-
cations Of capital means that the lines
concerning the corporation question
must be closely drawn.
He has never expressed anything b-t
the greatest optimism as regards the
outcome, and he still believes that the
Constitution Is good enough for me
He does see, however, that his admin
lStratiOn viii have 10 begin the harvest
ing Of the first fruits Of the Roosevelt
aSitaJions for reforms. Not only VIII
additional and supplementary legisIa-
ton Affecting corporations be needed.
lut other matters are constantly fore
ing themselves to the front
Details Not Completed.
out for his plan for Iessening tie
powers Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, increasing the powers OF
the Bureau o. Corporations in the De
partment OF Commerce and Labor. and
creating q new bureau in the Depart
menJ Of JuStl-a 10 investigate and
prosecute cases Of infractious of the
law By interstate corporations
The Importance Of this question is one
great reason why Mr. Taft has made
every effort possible 10 have eminent
lawyers in his Cabinet He does not
rely on his own ability 70 solve all the
problems which VIII come up in ConneC-
ton with ii. and he - hunting for all
the advice and counsel he can get
Welcomed on Change.
The PresIdent-eIect was welcomed up
roariously early this afternoon. at the
Cincinnati Stock Exchange and hailed
as Brother Bill" in recognition OF his
uewly-acqUired Masonic honors- This
evening he VIII be guest Of honor at
the Knockers Club banquet, which Will
be- a feast OF reason and q flow Of
song" according 10 the advance notices.
Mr. Taft and party viii leave here
1T 10 o clock tomorrow afternoon and
arrive III Philadelphia at I:l0 O'Clock
Sunday morning While in the Quaker
city, ne will be guest Of the eminent
specialist and author. DR.. : Weir