The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-01-07
WATCHING PRESIDENT AND
CONGRESS.


greater interest is shown in tho
things which may take place ia
Washington in the next few days
than was exhibited at the opening
of the session on December s. The
serious work of Congress is to begin
today. Several questions which
were postponed by the Presisest in
bis regular message, so as 10 be
dealt with more fully in special
communications, will now be
presented to Congress. One of
these relates to amendments which
he will propose to the interstate
soaameree act and the Hepburn
law. Summaries of what M. Taft
is expected to recommend on that
question have often been sent from
Washington. Railways, shippers
and the public have a large interest
in learning what he will urge. The
fact that half a d0zeR railway chiefs
had a conference with him yesterday,
in which they objected to certain
features of legislation whIca are
believed to be in the Presidents
plan, shows the concern wbish the
roads have In this big question.
There is doub, as to the legislation
which Mr.. Taft will urge on the
trust question, or whether he wiz
touch that issue at all until after the
Supreme Court deals with the trust
cases which are before 1t on appeal.
Yesterday argument 10 the case
against the American Tobacco Com
pany was started before the court.
Some of the best lawyers in the
governments service are at work on
the case. The government Is
endeavoring to dissolve the tobacco
company, on the ground that 1t Is
an unlawful combine in the meaning
sf the Sherman act. The Standard
Oil case, in which other points are
involved that touch the Sherman
,{aw. will be brought before the
..2&stt as soon as the attorneys on
bota sides can get 1t up TOR hnal
sct,on These suits, and the fear
Of something radical in the rfe'l'
dents message, partly account tor
The weakness of the stock market
Yesterday. Another reason for the
decline IN stocks was the advance
in. the rates for money because OF
the preparations for the heavy
xiehursemeDts for interest and
d;vidends this week and next. One
more adverse influence was the
declaration of war by the American
Federation Of Labor against the
United States Steel Corporation for
its open shop policy. None OF these
factors are likely to persist. In Its
.,r;fe hitherto with the big steei
.ompany the federation has been
beaten, and it probably will be this
fine The officers of the company
~xnress the utmost confidence In
heir ability to retain voice in the
runnjng of their mills, especially as
thew pay somewhat higher pilces'
fer most kinds of work, than are
,iven in the closed shops which the
rniops control. For the moment,
however. steel stocks are a little
lower than they were just before the
beginning of the year.
Itis we'll for the railway chiefs to
l.t the president hear their side oil
,he interstate commerce question
Undoubtedly he is glad to hear it.
But the panic talk which some OF
the railway men are SAID to be
;odule,ng in as a consequence OF
adverse legislation is needless. Ire
.,esidep, is not ths entire govern
uent He believes that The country
vill be benefited by the enactment
ofths legislation which he proposes
Rut Congress may take q dIfierent
,,,ev and in the framing OF statutes
csnersss is a body that will have to
reekoned with. The things
,hicb the President will recommend,
vh,,ever they are, will have to run
H. .