The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10
THIS CONGRESS- |S TAFT'S LAST CHANCE White House Has a Definite
 Programme
  TO BE MORE MESSAGES Antitrust Amendments, Arbitration Treaties and Tariff Programme Are Three Policies Presi-
 dent Advocates
TO BE MORE MESSAGES
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

Congress will do it's part in initiating th' | legislation which is to consume it's tim'
 during the next six or eight months; bu
 the White House has a definite and Inn portant programme, and the Presiden
 proposes to make the most of the one ses
 sion yet remaining of his administration
 to put this programme through.
 This is the last chance he will have to
 appeal to the lawmakers, unless he shoulc
 be reelected, and he is preparing 10 pro
 pose legislation just as though he did not
 expect another term in the White House
 He is not going to take any chances, but
 will urge that. his pet measures be given | full and final consideration between now
 and June or July next.
 While it is true that he will recommend
 many new laws and many amendments tc
 old ones, it is easily seen that he has a 1 greater interest in his antitrust
 amendments, his arbitration treaties and l his tariff programme than in all else com | bined. They are the three policies of 1 this last year of the present administra tion. Only one of them is wholly orig
 inal with MT. Taft, that of arbitration; but he has absorbed the tariff and the l ami trust measures and made them his | own, insofar as they are now before l Congress.
 From time to time the President will send in additional messages to Congress:
 in fact, he already has at least six in
 mind. but they will be devoted entirely
 to special subjects
 In his antitrust programme, Mir. Taft
 has slightly reversed himself For a
 long time, ever since the Standard Oil
 and Tobacco decisions, to be definite, he
 has regarded the present sherman anti
 trust law as sufficient for all needs, both
 in protection to the general public and for
 the guidance of the monopolies them-
 selves.
 Now. however. the President is con
 vmced that some amendment to this im- l portant law should be made. He has con- l ferred with many of his cabinet advisers and with other friends and has decided that the corporations should nave the benefit of more definite regulations, a model by which they may be able to de- tefmne. without expensive court proceed ings, whether they are within the law or whether they are Violaters of it.
 Involved in this antitrust programme, too, is the recommendation for a federal |
 incorporation act. This has been one of Mr. Tafts pet projectsi. He has re- peatedly urged Congress to provide for the chartering of all corporations engaged ] in interstate commerce, not only on the l ground that the public should have op- portunity to inspect the affairs of any
 such concern. but able to give the cor porations the benefit of mild federal i supervision.
 1 There was even time when, the Presi-
 dent regarded the corporation tax and the l federal incorporation plan as the solution for the whole problem of trust regula- ton. By one he has insisted the cor poration could be taxed, and by the otter its accounts could be examined period ioally to determine whether or not it was playing fairly with the public.
 Now il is evident to the White House, as it is to the capitol that the prohibi- 1 tive law, as embodied in the Sherman act. should not only be enforced but should be more specific in it's indictments and
 that this act should be made to apply l where the corporation tax ana the fed
 eral charters fail to meet the require
 ments of the public welfare.
 I In few days, too, the report of the l stocks and bonds commission will be 1 before Congress and this should be the
 subject for additional corporation law. 1 in the view of the White House. fl l recommends that the federal govern :
 ment be given the power to regulate l the stock and bond issues of trans portation companies. and that the pub 1 lie be not compelled to pay profits | to railroads on vast issues of watered l stocks. This report will be the suh-
 Ject for a special message to Congress.
 Cabinet advisers and with other l friends and has decided that the col : l porations should have the benefit cf | l-G .1.4. | which they may be able to determine
 without expensive court proceeding,
 whether they are within the law. or whether they are violators of it. | There was even a time when the l President regarded the corporation tay
 and the federal incorporation plan as
 the solution for the whole problem of
 trust regulation. By one, he has in-
 sisted, the corporation could be taxed
 be examined periodically to determine
 whether or not 1t was playing fairy
 with the public.
 1 Now it is evident to the White
 House, as it is to the capitol, that
 the prohibitive law, as embodied in the
 sherman act, should not only be en- l forced but should be more specific in
 it's indictments. and that this act
 should be made to apply where the
 corporation tax and the federal char l ter fail to meet the requirements of l the public welfare.
 In a few days, too, the report oi 1 the stocks and bonds commission will l he before Congress and this should be the subject for additional corpora
 ton law. in the view of the White i House. It recommends that the federal government be given the power to reg | ulate the stock and bond issues ot | transportation companies. and that tro
 public be not compelled to pay profits
 to railroads on vast issues of watered
 stocks This report will be the subiec, 1 for a special message to congress. | MT. Taft's arbitration ambitions arc
 well known to the country--quite as well known as they are to Congress 1 When the Senate refused to ratify the ] peace conventions during the extra ses- i sion. he announced that he would carry ] his case to the people. and he kept | his word by making nearly 70 people
 speeches during his long western trip l The issue between the Senate an
 the White House yet remains how
 ever and neither has so far shown
 any disposition to recede. The Senate holds that it's constitutional authority ' | to review all international agreements
 would be abridged by the ratification | of the treaties, whereas the President
 holds that this objection is purely academic and should not stand in the | way of the pacts.
 l As for the tariff program of the White House, this is to be governed l by the report of the tariff board or the various schedules now being i,i-
 vestigated by that body.
 1 Two special messages on the tariff
 already are promised, to follow the an-
 nual message. One of these messa ges will recommend for consideration the | report on the wool and the other or 1 echa d1Ilo of hN pI. fn.