The Mena weekly star., 1910-12-08
ARE ENOUGH LAWS
TAFT DOES NOT FAVOR ANY
MORE PROTECTIVE LEG.
ISLATlON.
THINKS THERE is PLENTY NOW
His Message of Unusual Length Read
IN Both Houses Of Conaress--Given
Most Respectful Hearine-Tired
Many Members Out--New Secretary.

Washington, Dec. THAT big
business need not fear any addition
al restrictive legislation is the prom
ise OF President Taft in his message
sent to congress.
This implied promise Mr.. Taft re-
served for the last two paragraphs of
a document of unprecedented length.
1t is easy to read into these para,
graphs that there has been too much
agitation against trusts and "oig busi-
ness" in general.
The Notable Paragraphs.
The paragraphs in question follow:
do not now recommend any amend
ment to the antitrust law. In other
words, it seems to me that the exist
ing legislation with reference to the
regulation of corporations and the re-
straint Of their business has reached
point where we can stop for
while and witness the effect OF the
vigorous execution of the laws on the
statute books in restraining the abuses
which certainly did exist and which
reused the public to demand reform.
Ii this test develops a need for fur.
ther legislation. well and good, but
until then .et us execute wat we
have.
Due to the reform movements OF
the present decade there has undoubt.
edly been a great improvement in busi-
ne a.. Al.
earnestness of effort on the part of
business men to comply with the law.
They are now seeking to know the
exact limitations upon business meth
DDS imposed by the law, and these
will doubtless be made clearer by the
decisions of the supreme court in
cases pending before it.
believe it to be the interest of
all the people of the country that for
the time being the activities of gov
ernment, in addition to enforcing ex-
listing law, be directed to the economy
o. administration and the enlarge
ment of opportunities for foreign
trade, the building up of home In
dustries and the strengthening of con-
fidence of capital in domestic invest
ment.
Doubtful of Favorable Action.
Congress gave respectful attention
70 the message, but there were com
paratively few members who were
willing to concede the probability of
favorable action at the present session
on many of the recommendation con-
tanned therein. This was in view of
the fact that the session wiz close
March A.
The message was delivered to both
houses by Secretary Latta soon after
they convened Mr.. Latta made his
first appearance in the senate, arriv-
ing Immediately after the announce
ment of the presidents intention to
communicate his views 'in writing"
This announcement was made by
Senator Collum on behalf of himself
and Senator Money, who constituted
The senatorial committee TO inform
the president that the senate was
prepared to receive recommendation
from him. Almost imme diately after
ward Mr.. Latta delivered the message
io the house.
Few Stuck II Out.
AT first most of the senators listened
ittentlyely to the reading. but gradu-
ally this attention ceased on the part
of most of them and those who re-
maineG IN the chamber devoted them.
selves 10 printed copies before them
This also was the case in the house
WILL MAKE STATEMENT GOOD
Louis Brandeis Said Railroads Were