The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-03
Bis INTERESTS ARE
PRESSING TAFT ON
z TRUST LAW
Senator Aldrich Persuades President
Sherman Law Must Be Repealed
Chief Executive Holds Some
Combinations Are Good.
Some of the Older Members of Con-
gress Have Advised Taft Not
To Act at Present.
BY gibson GARDNER.

| WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. 81
President Taft has been working on
special message recommending the
repeal OF the Sherman antitrust law
He believes that statute should be
amended In such a way as TO relieve
corporations from the effect of the
circuit courts late decision in the
Standard Oil case.
Senator Aldrich has persuaded the
president that business Is seriously
menaced by the Standard OIL prece-
dent. The Rhode Island senator does
not pretend TO hold original opinions
on the legal phases of the matter, but
he has been advised by the New York
attorneys for Standard and other In
terests that such is the fact
1t was the presidents plan at first
to leave the Standard Oil precedent TO
the supreme court. But New York
Influences are pressing for Affirmative
legislation.
The president has been told that he
will be supported by the business SON
timent or the country in urging re-
peal Of the sweeping provision Of the
Sherman act which makes IL apply
to all combinations In restraint Of
trade"
The president is a convert to the
idea that there is a difference between
corporations. He holds that some COM
binations are useful while others are
not; some trusts are good" and
others are bad" He is opposed to
statute CHASING all together and plac-
ing them on the list Of prohibitions.
Another thing which President Taft
favors is the amendment OF the law
SO as to make II take account OF the
element of intent" A statute Which
carries criminal penalties. he holds,
should be drawn and construed In
such a way that there could be no
punishment unless the accused had
been clearly shown to be guilty OF
criminal intent
Coupled with the request for re-
peal OF the Sherman act the president
has planned to discuss the provisions
of federal incorporation law
Some OF the older members Of con-
gress TO whom the president has
broached his ideas have advised delay.
They tell him that political condi-
tons are not suspicious. With the
congressional elections promising a
think II would be unwise to father
Legislation loosening mp the provisions
|of the antitrust law.
The Standard OH decision will come
|up from the circuit court In time to
take its place on the supreme court
docket in January. II Is proposed by
the department of justice to ask that
1.-THE case be expedited. Therefore 1t
may be argued In March, but this
would be too late to permit congress
Isional action in case the court failed
Ito grant the relief desired by corpor-
late Influences.
| In deciding against the Standard Oil
| Co. the United States circuit court or
dered that the trust be dissolved be-
cause violated section l and section
| 2 of the Sherman law. These sections
| follow:
Section /. Every contract, combln-
alton In the form OF trust or otherwise
Tor conspiracy, I'm restraint Of trade or
commerce among the several states, OF
with foreign nations. Is hereby de-
cleared to be illegal