The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-14
FOR FEDERAL
LICENSE LAW.
Understood That Taft viii Rec
OMnleRd Il.
NOT To Be MADE COMPULSORY

A Special Message on Conservation
Also ProbabIe-Pinohot to Be Inves-
tigated Along With BaIIinser-Dees
This Mean Dismissal Of Chief For
sster7-Taft May Veto "Pori<" Bill.
Washington, Dec 27.-It Is becoming
the settled opinion In Washington that
the president will ask for no amend
ments to the Sherman antitrust law
before the supreme court decision on
the Standard Oil case and perhaps not
afterward. At one time he was in ia
vor of an amendment exempting GER
tain classes of corporatioDs-oth
the "good trusts'-from the operations
of the act, but is now said to have be-
come convinced that the supreme court
does make such exemptions in its in
depreciation of the law and that the
amendment is therefore unnecessary.
1t is probable, however, that Mr.. Taft
will recommend the passage of a fed
eral license law, though not a COM
pulsOry one. This will enable corpora
lions doing an interstate business to
Incorporate in Washington instead of
In New Jersey or some other state. 1t
will also give the national government
close supervision over all companies
that do take out federal franchise.
A Conservation Message.
1t is probable that the presidents
special message relative to interstate
commerce will go in shortly after the
conservation Of natural resources will
not be much behind it. That Mr.. Taft
has grown FESTIVE under the criticisms
Of Secretary Ballinger, which by i'm
plication at least have reflected on his
own attitude toward conservation, is
an open secret. In his special mes
sage on the subject he will try to set
all doubts on the subject at rest, ex-
pressing in the most positive and I'M
qualified manner his entire agreement
with the conservation policy laid down
by President Roosevelt.
Is Pinohot to Coz
While Mr.. Taft will take strong
stand for conservation, however, there
Is growing belief that he will dis
cipline If not dismiss Clifford Pinchot,
the head of the forestry service and
the one man who in the past has been
the actuating spirit In the whole con-
servation movement. This is indicated
In Secretary Ballinger's request that
not only his own office, but the forestry
bureau, be included in the Forthcoming
congressional investigation. The old
story to the effect that there Is presi-
Dental politics back of this entire con-
troversy and that those who are criti-
cising Ballinger are trying to work up
heard every day in Washington. Here
Pinchot, Garfield and others who are
with them are referred to as the back
from Elba" crowd. Personally have
always regarded the tale as fantastic.
l am now ready to modify that opin-
ion to the extent of admitting that
there may be some irresponsible people
who hope for such a result, although it
is scarcely credible that they have de-
liberately planned for it. Even though
there is a shadow of truth in the ru-
NOR l am certain that Mr.. Roosevelt
has absolutely nothing to do with it.
If for no other reason, he is too shrewd
a politician to go into any such crude
and boomerang sort of campaign.
Moreover. it is not his way of work
ing
What Forestry Inquiry May Mean.
1t is undeniabe that certain Of the
administration people have become inn
Filtered toward Pinchot Not'only so,
but the land thieves, timber thieves
and powerful interests that want to
grab water power sites, coal lands and
other resources have it in for the head
forester and will do everything in their
power to discredit him. | have little
doubt that most of this story about
the third term was started by these
people in an endeavor to prejudice Taft
and his friends against Pinchot. With
such influences at work there is no
what a congressional in
quiry might do. These interests have
their friends in congress, and there is
no man in the government service they
would rather discredit and get rid Of
than Pinchot
A "Porkless" Prospect.
There is woe in the pork brigade in
The dread rumOr has spread
that Taft will veto any river and har-
Dor bill framed along the old lines. He
will insist that congress declare gen
tral waterways policy and make every
individual improvement conform there
to. With a congressional election next
year, what will the members do who
get a slice OF government mon
ay TO improve some creek. swamp or
nill pond I'm their districtsI In the old
lays pork was as efficaciOus in
greasing a members way back into
the house as the fat fried a score Of
years ago was in smoothing the way to
The White House i'm a presidential cam
Saign. To make everything now con-
form to a national waterways policy
might leave several statesmen at home.
It is a fearful prospect. Ny own