Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-25
ANTITRUST LAW
PROSECUTIONS
PreSt. Taft Issues Statement De-
filming Administrations Atti-
tude Towards Then.
JUST THE SAME AS HAS BEEN
No New Departure From Policy That
Was Announced In Message of
Jan. ., 1910.

| Washington, Jan. 25.-President Taft
today made public the following state
ment as TO the reports that the ad-
| ministration is planning crusade
| against unlawful combinations OF
capital:
No statement was issued, either
from the attorney-generals office or
the White House, indicating that the
purpose OF the administration with
reference to prosecutions under the an
thrust law Is other than as set forth
in the message OF the president of
Jan Z, 1910.
Sensational statements as If there
was to be a new departure and an in
discriminate prosecution of importanc
industries have no foundation The
purpose OF the administration is ex-
actly as already stated I'm the presi-
dents message"
The statement was issued after the
president had talked with James j.
Hill and had received the information
that prices were crumbling in New
York under the various reports printed
yesterday and today. There was no
statement from the White House eX-
cept the foregoing.
Mr, Hill on leaving the White House
said he did not pretend to represent or
speak for the president in anything he
said, but he was sure that the prcs;-
dent would not attack corporations of
themselves, but only the sins of the
corporations. II the corporations were
violating the laws of the country he
supposed they would be brought to
book.
THE SPECIAL MESSAGE.
In his special message on interstate
commerce and antitrust laws, Presi-
dent Taft. In connection with recon-
mendation for a federal Incorporation
act. said:
1T is the duty and the purpose of
the executive to direct an investigation
by the department OF justice through
the grand Jury or otherwise, into the
history, organization and the purposes
of all the Industrial companies with
respect to Which there is any reason
able ground for suspicion that they
have been organized for a purpose and
are conducting business on plan
which is in violation OF the antitrust
law S---5s.s- -
THE work is heavy, but il Is not be-
yond the power of the department of
justice, il sufficient funds are fur
niShed. to carry on the Investigations
and to pay the counsel engaged In the
work. But such an investigation and
possible prosecution of corporations
whose prosperity or destruction affects
the comfort not only of stockholders
but of millions of wage-earners. ON
ployes and associated tradesmen must
necessarily tend to disturb the con-
fidence of the business community, to
dry up the now flowing sources of capt.
tai from its places of boarding. and
produce halt in our present laosper-
ityl that will cause suffering and
strained circumstances among the in
nocent many for the faults of the
guilty few
THE question 1 wish in this message
to bring clearly to the consideration
and discussion of Congress Is whether
in order to avoid such possible busi
ness danger something cannot be done
by which the business combinations
may be offered a means, without great
financial disturbance. OF changing the
character, organization and extent of
their business into one under the lines
of the law under federal supervision,
securing compliance with the antitrust
statutes"