New-York tribune., 1911-11-15
MAY FAVOR
CHANCESI SHERMAN LAW
He Prefers, However, a Federal
Charter Law for Regulation
of Corporations.
POINTS NEED CLEARING UP
He Would Have a Specific Deli
milton of What Great Busi-
ness Enterprises May
Not Legally Do.

Washington, Nov. 14.-President Taft
Is not inclined to approve any amend
ments m the Sherman antitrust law
unless IL becomes apparent that Con
gress will not pass a federal incorpo-
ration act. He indicated this to-day.
Mr.. Taft is anxious to have some leg
islation to clear mp the situation Tor
business men. so they may realize eX-
actIv where they stand. but he made
II ,aain to-day that he preferred 70 see
the changes i'm the regulation Of COM
merce accomplished through federal
charters which could provide certain
defined limitations for corporations. lie
lat II be known that. should this prove
imnossible. he would indorse amend
monts 10 the Sherman law pointing
out specifically what big business en-
terprises may not do.
Il is the Presidents idea that If the
Sherman law he amended 1t should de-
fine specifically what constitute Of
ferces against it, Crushing of compe-
tition. combination TO ruin competitors
or IN raise prices and other acts of the
Lind should he specifically named. in
his opinion.
President Taft also believes that the
amendments If made, should be so
framed as to make if unnecessary tor
the government To prove that coih-
bination which has come to operate n
restraint Of trade originally was intend
od for that purpose. as is now the case.
In the Standard oil suit the Department
of Justice had to begin with the COM
nanv's record more than thirty years
ago and work down To date To prov"
that the combinations were Intended
to crush competition.
Law Not To Be Weakened.
rbora would be considerable risk IN
on,. .,ttempt To amend the Sherman law
the President has been told ana 1t IS pe-
Iioved he shares this view He has made
If plain. however that he Will not sym
r,tbize with any. attempt to emasculate
,i,.. sherman law, and he again to-day
o,,,,reseod the sentiment which he en-
hodied in his Pittsburgh speech-that he
had no sympathy with the statement
that business men did not know when
they were doing wrong.
After the Cabinet meeting to-day,
which was A long one, the President IN
1io,,ad that recommendations for trust
,aoislation in his message to Congress
would be along these lines. No Dill VIII
be prepared. the President merely rec
o,,mending the legislation. All the
,,,or,bere Of the Cabinet to-day strongly
,d,,ised tbe President to make his mes
sooe short and he adopted their view
Tbs tariff and legislation supplement
.,, IN the antitrust law VIII be
,ha ir,nortant topic of the Presidents
annual message to Congress as mat
,ors NOW stand The Tariff Board
80 CONNECTED its work on the
,a.,ioo schedule 10 such an extent
that il will be possible for President Taft
=, covcr the important points OF 1t In his
rcg,,Ior message. The report user may
49, con, In later and the cotton report.
It'll, Ga not So near completion. will
rrohahlv be sent in before the holidays
with a brief message
President Taft will also refer To
Alaska but only briefly as the subject
will be covered Thoroughly 10y secretary
Fisher I'm his annual report