The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-11
COURT DECISION TO
EFFECT ALL CLASSES
(continued from Paae one. }


present form, it offers, in the opinion
Of members of Congress and Of corpora
ton men no material relief from the
condition that hangs upon the decision
in the antitrust cases.
The bill provides that it shall not be
construed 10 create shelter or immu-
nifty for any corporation that has ViO-
lated the Sherman law.
Nobody here shares what appears to
have been the popular impressiOn-that
the proposed federal Incorporation act
would afford relief to corporations di-
rectly or Indirectly threatened under a
possible adverse decision Of the SUI
preme court.
Nor is other legislation contemplated
that might relieve the tension. Senator
AldTich said today:
4 can conceive of no legislation with
in the powers Of congress that can meet
this situation, either in anticipation Of
the supreme courts decision or subse-
quent to it."
Unless, perhaps, the repeal of the
Sherman law" the questioner sug-
gested.
The senator smiled grimIy. It was
evident that he regarded that as outside
the domain Of possibilities.
As for the scope of antitrust cases
before the supreme court, here is what
Attorney General WiCkersham said in
connection with his motion to advance
the Standard Oil cases to immediate
hearing;
THE tobacco case, just argued and
submitted 10 the court, and the Stand
ard Oil case, present to the court prac-
tically the entire range of modern in
dustTial organizations in this country,
and substantially every feature of the
sO-called trust problem in so far as it
is affected by the Sherman act, <
It has been the policy of the govern
ment to select a few extreme instances
of great combinations, apparently con-
trolling the greater part of trade and
commerce in a particular line of indus
try, and to make them tests of the full
meaning and application Of the statute
Importance of Standard OIL Case.
The Standard Oil case is the most i'm
portant of all these cases, affecting as it
does the widest range of combinations
and contracts which may be claimed to
OFFEND against the act OF congress. I'm
der these circumstances. and as this act
in its general scope affects an enormous
number of business and Industrial organ
izations throughput the country, it is Of
mOmentOuS public Importance that this
court shall define and apply the act in
reference to this character of organiza-
ton"
The prOverbially delicate relation which
the market" wall street." and the
financial world generally bear TO the news
and gossip of the three great branches of
the government, make it superfluOus to
point out the effect which decisions of
the supreme court in these cases will have
in the field of finance. Almost pathetic
is the eagernesS with which those here
who are in communication with the mar
ket' clutch at every crumb of news or
gossip on this subject.
Industrially, as MIR. WickeFsham said
to the court, practically the whole scope
of modern corporate organization is in one
way or another involved in these cases;
good trusts" and bad trusts" apparent
ly have a stake in the affair.
Effect on Politics.
If the court should sustain the iudg-
ments of the courts below, it might call
for industrial readjustments of faF-reach-
ing effect. Political leaders here closely
rejecting the minds of leaders of indus
try, express the more or less vague hope
that the court, should it sustain the gov
eminent and be hostile to the defendant
corporations. will, in handing down it's
decision, point out some measure of that
relief which from any point of view ap-
pears outside the possible range of legis-
latiOn.
Politically, the consequences Of a deci-
sion either way must be momentous-
especially so 70 the majority party IN the
event of the defeat of the government.
IF the trusts win, and Congress is
helpless to assist In the situation either
way, where are we at?" plaintively asked
a Republican leader today.
This is the topic most discussed in
Washington just now. 1t is the subject
uppermost in every quarter. 1t has thus
far been discussed with the soft pedal
on, and, as it were, in whispers, but lead
ers in Congress admitted today that it
would be impossible much longer to con-
fine it to private conversation.
1t was discussed last night by the Pres
ident and Senator Aldrich, and will be
further discussed next week.
The tobacco case has been set for argu-
ment March IA. The oil case has been ar
gued and is now in the hands of the court
cHILD's FINE FLOWERS
Express the true valentine sentiment.
No. IL South Main.