Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-05-17
OIL TRUST DECISION
REvERSES TAFT
DOCTRINE
PRESIDENT BOWS BEFORE
SUPREME COURT WISDOM
Their Law Good Enough for
Me He Tells Cabinet; Demo-
Gratis and lnsurgent Republl-
cans DiSpleaSed.
Iny Morning Journal SPECIAL Leased Wire,

Washington. May i6.--Governmen-
tai Washington--legislative. execu-
tive and judicial-gave over the
greater part OF today 20 discus
sion of the supreme courts DISPOSE
tion of the Standard oil case,
! President Taft, who a little more
than a year ago. In special message
to congress said that under supreme
court precedents there could be no
such things as reasonable" and ''un-
reasonable restraints of trade. for In
other words, good trusts" and bad
trusts We're said to have been rather
disappointed that the court should
have seen fit TO reverse itself In this
important matter.
| President Taft's message was freely
quoted about the capitol and the
seemingly similarity of his views as
to the scope of the antitrust law to
| the view expressed by Associated
Justice Harlan In his dissenting opin-
ion yesterday. attracted renewed at
tontion to Justice Harlans position
as outlined In his statement to the
court following the handing down Of
the majority opinion by Chief Justice
! White
Justice Harlan held that his
/ HANAiNi dNNA'o Atsth llN ilNHl W uruip
the functions OF the legislative branch
of the government by writing into tho
statute differentian between 'reas-
enable and unreasonable
| He declared that congress had re-
| sisted all appeals so to amend the
act and that there was every reason
to believe that such an amendment
never could be put through the leg
| islative branch.
President Taft In his special mes
sage to congress on January Z, 1910.
urging federal incorporation act
declared that to put the word "reas-
enable into the antitrust statute and
thus leave II for the courts To say
what was reasonable restraint of
trade, would be to put into the hsnds
OF the courts "a power impossible TO
exercise on any consistent principle
which would insure the uniformity of
decision essential 20 good Judgment"
AS TO the doctrine OF good trusts''
and bad trusts which the majority
opinion of the court as expressed by
Chief Justice White seems TO have
laid down. President Taft In his mes
sage written more than year ago,
said:
The public. and especially the
business public, ought TO rid them
selves OF the idea that such dis
tinction Is practicable or can be in
troduced into the statute. Certainly
under the present antitrust law no
such distinction exists.
Although the presidents ideas as TO
the rule of reason" seem to be diver
gent from those OF the majority opin-
lon and to coincide more closely with
the dissenting views of Justice Har-
Ian, Mr.. Taft was quoted by callers
today as saying.
II deter to the decision Of the
supreme court. | am willing TO take
my law from IL,
Generally speaking democratic SEN
ators and representatives. frankly ex-
pressed their disappointment as TO
the rule of reason" feature of the
decision.
Chairman Adamson of the house
committee on Interstate and foreign
commerce said the supreme court had
no constitutional power to write the
words reasonable or 'unreason-
able" Into the sherman antitrust law
II was reported tonight that sever
al democrats are ready to offer
amendments to nulllfv the courts in
depreciation OF the law.
Some insurgent republican senators
also were said to have In View amend
ments TO the antitrust law, declaring
all monopolies, whether reasonable
or unreasonable, To be In restraint of
trade ana thus take from the courts
the power of Interpretation bestowed
by yesterdays decision.
representative Mann, republican
leader of the house. gave the decs-
ion his hearty Endorsement
Chairman clayton of the house
judiciary committee said the ''unex-
pectcd narrowing OF the statute.
would make necessary further legis-
lation by congress. Mr. Clayton held
to the view, however. that the courts
conclusion was correct and would be
generally approved Senator Clark.
chairman of the senate judiciary COM
mittoe, said the courts ruling was "a
wise decision"
Senator La Toilette The nsurgent
leader read to the senate Attorney
General Wickersham's statement of
last night, expressing qualification
over the supreme courts action and
II with extracts from the
special message on jan
uary 7. 1919 already referred to,
senator La Toilette said evidently
here had been a remarkable
'hange" in the Views of the admins-
ration II the attorney generals state
nent reflected the present state OF
ihHO VI iHt tNttutlNts
The Standard oil decision occupied
he cabinet almost exclusively at to-
lays session and President TAFT, hav-
ng read II over twice, also discussed
Is purport with some of his callers.
fhe attitude of the president him
elf, that he should defer to the
court and accept their law
s his law, was reflected by the
'ablnct
The decision Of the supreme court
n the tobacco case decision Is ex-
,ected May 20 and until then no
'olloy VIII be outlined by the admin
stratlon to strengthen the antitrust
NV or To solve problem that yes
orday's decision seems to have made
more vexatIous than ever.
To visitors President Taft said he
ad no present intention OF sending a
pecial message to congress propos-
ne additional antitrust legislation.
The session, the president said, was
allied 10 consider reciprocity, and
Mess some unusual emergencv arose.
le would not attempt to force other
a 4. loo -