New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-28
W|CKERSHAM PLANS
GREAT STEEL BATTLE
Does Not Expect Oil and Tobacco
Decisions to Govern
Present Suit.
LOOKS FOR NO COMPROMISE
Says Business Must Readjust It.
self to New Conditions
Court Procedure
Outlined.

Outlined.
Washington, oct. 27-Department Of
Justice officials do not feel that the SUI
preme Court decisions in the Standard
Oil and American Tobacco cases Will de-
eide the United States Steel Corporation
case. Attorney General Wickersham de-
clared to-day that ne is more than ever
convinced that each case must he set
tied on its own merits and that the OH
and Tobacco cases cannot fairly be called
models" for solving the trust question.
Mr. Wickersham was asked if he hoped
to see business return 10 the conditions
of competition which prevailed before
trusts came into existence.
y do not" he replied. Il cannot be-
cause l do not think 1t possible. We
cannot return to our swadding clothes.
We must readjust 20 a new set of con
ditions entirely"
do YOU think that can be done within
the present laws, without further up
setting business?" he was asked
Il hope So" he replied, but ! do not
know
at ought TO be made clear Mr..
Wickersham continued, that there is no
conflict I'm the steel case between the
Department of Justice and the Stanley
committee Of the House of Representa-
tives which has been investigating the
Steel Corporation. That committee has
been conducting its Investigations to de-
termne what legislation may he de-
srable to meet the economic question
raised by trusts and combinations; the
suit filed by the Department of Justice
is. a legal proceeding 10 compel the OBJ
servance of the law
When the Attorney General was asked
if he hoped the Steel Corporation would
volunteer to readjust its Organization
and avert further prosecution of the
suit. as has been done by the lnterna-
tional Harvester Company, the Electri-
cal Trust. the Southern Wholesale
Grocers' Trust and other combinations,
he indicated that he expected no such
concilatory move on the part of the
Steel Corporation.
Department of Justice officials THINK
it will be a fight TO finish.
Mr. Wckersham declined to say if he
was preparing or considering criminal
prosecutions Of any Of the defendants in
the case.
Rubbish! Says Lehman OF Report.
Some comment was caused by the fact
that the name of Solicitor General Fred
eriek W. Lehman does not appear on
the complaint Rumor had it that Mr..
Lehman had not been named i'm the
governments bill because he was being
considered for the vacancy in the Su-
preme Court caused by the death Of Jus
tice Harlan and that as a justice he
might be called upon TO sit in the case.
Rubbish" was Mr. Lehmanns only
comment when he heard this rumOr.
Ii was pointed out that the office Of
the Solicitor General is so heavily taxed
with Supreme Court cases that it was
impossible for Mr.. lehman to take
charge Of the case, though he will be
associated with it, 1t was said to-day
that Jacob NJ. Dickinson, eX-Secretary
OF War. who has been engaged as the
governments special counsel, would oc-
cupy the same position in the case
against the Steel Corporation that Frank
/ b Kellogg did in the Standard Oil case.
Court Proceedings Begin December 4.
| The Steel Corporations first step in
the legal battle with the government will
be taken ON Monday. December a. On
| that day an array of counsel which
promises TO include some Of the most
| brilliant legal minds in America will for
mally appear before the United States
! Circuit Court at Trenton, y. j., in which
/ the governments dissolution suit has
! been brought.
! on January =, 1912. the Steel Cor
poration is expected TO file its answer 10
the governments charges. Several legal
maneuvres Of which the steel Corpora
tons lawyers could avail themselves
may postpone the date of their answer,
TO they have the right TO ask the court
to give thirty days more grace thus ex-
tending their time 10 February >
In the mean time they may demur TO
some Of the governments allegations or
they may file bill of exceptions. Either
action would automatically delay the
actual beginning Of the trial The gov
eminent expects that none Of the formal
tiles OF law will be overlooked by its OPP
ponents 1t is possible, however, that no
legal technicalites may be thrown in
the way, and in that case the earliest
date on which the trial can begin is
January ,
The procedure will ne for Judges Gray,
tanning and Burlington to appoint a
master TO hear testimony. The master
so appointed will take evidence in vari-
Gus parts of the country. 1t required a
wear and half TO take the testimony in
the STANDARD oil case. That was con-
sidered fairly good time. The govern
ment hopes to do as well with the Steel
Corporation.
When the taking of testimony is
finished and both sides have been heard
the Circuit Court viii decide the issue.
Whichever side loses will appeal, and
by the operation of the so-called ex-
pediting act the case will go to the SUI
preme Court
Certificate Of Importance
When the bill was filed at Trenton
Yesterday Attorney General Wickorsham