New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-13
CONSULTS TAFT ON
TRUST PROSECUTION
Attorney General Wickersham
Discusses Suit Against United
Shoe Machinery Company.
OBJECTS TO SECRET TRIAL
Mr.. MacVeagh Also Confers
with President on Customs
and Other Questions
Moving Pictures Taken.
cBy STAFF Correspondent, of The Tribune.

| CBy staff Correspondent OF The Tribune)
Beverly, Mass. Sept. 12.-President Taft
put I'm busy day. having as his guests
at luncheon Attorney General Wicker
sham and Chandler =. Anderson, Solici-
/ tor OF the Department OF State. Later In
the day Wayne MacVeagh, Secretary OF
the Treasury. arrived, and also Dr. Cieve-
land, of the Economy and Efficiency Com
mission.
The Attorney General Is on his way
from Breton Woods, y. H., where he has
been enjoying n brief rest, to his sum-
mer home at Cedarhurst, Long Island. Ac-
companied by Miss Wickershani, he mo-
tored to Beverly to pay his respects to
his chief While In Boston Mr. Wick
ersham had a conference with the United
States Attorney. Asa y. French, regard
ing the prosecution OF the United Shoe
Machinery Company, against which SUIT
is pending for alleged violation OF the
Sherman antitrust law.
Mr.. Wickersham told his local repre-
sentative that he regarded the decision OF
the United States court that this case
should BIO tried behind closed doors as AN
unhoard OF proceeding and expressed
confidence that some method ~ouid De
found to prevent the proposed star cham
Der proceedings. He was impressed WIN
the view that the court had not taken
into consideration the radical dinerehce
between a suit to which only private III
diyiduals are parties and suit brought
by the United States for alleged violation
OF a statute.
Just what action will be taken by the
Department OF Justice was not indicated
by Mr.. Wickersham, but he promised MS
representative In Boston to give the mat
fer his careful personal consideration
with a view 10 devising some method Oh
circumventing a decision which ne IL con-
fident Is contrary to the spirit OF the law
and which he Is convinced would not meet
with the approval OF the Supreme court
Of the United States
Telegraph and Telephone Merger
When asked to-day regarding the pro-
ceedings against the merger of telegraph
and telephone lines. By which the Bel
Telephone Company absorbed the west
ern Union, tho Attorney Genera. Ssid
they had not reached the stage or prose-
cution. nor was IL certain they wouId 90
40 Various complaints have been nled
and an Investigation has been ordered
hut the results Of the investigation have
not vet been submitted 20 the Attorney
General.
There are various phases OF this merger
which will receive careful consideration
before any prosecution f. Instituted. IL Is
asserted by the merged companies that
,hev are not naturally competitors within
the meaning OF the Sherman law, ana
that instead. each Is supplementary 10
the other. so that. a. result OF the
merger. they are able TO furnish the pun
lie with Ear better facilities than has been
hitherto possible. Attention IS called to
the instances where points which cannot
be reached by telegraph can be reached
by telephone. and TO the new system OF
sending messages as FAR as may be by
telegraph and then forwarding them to
their destination by telephone.
one phase of this situation which VIII
receive the most careful consideration Is
in. contention that both telephone and
telegraph lines are as much public utili-
ties as are railroads. and that they should
be brought under the same supervision
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion az the railroads. being permitted TO
effect mergers, but all their practices and
regulations being subject to review and
control By the commission, precisely as IN
the case OF railroads. In addition to the
mere rates. which are now subject TO the
control Of the commission as result or
the so-called railway rate BILL passed
during the Taft administration.
Moving picture men who failed TO get
good Aims OF the President yesterday be- |
cause Of poor weather conditions had bet |
ter success to-day In addition 10 the
President. they obtained pictures OF Sec |
rotary Macveagh, Attorney General Wick |
ersham and Solicitor Anderson. Mr.. TAFT |
wore his broadest smile when told TO
Look pleasant, please"
The resignation OF Robert G. Valentine |
as Commissioner OF the Bureau of Indian |
Affairs was received by the President to- |
night and was accepted promptly. No
successor to Mr.. Valentine will be named |
until the Secretary of the Interior. MI. |
Fisher. returns from his visit TO Hawaii. |
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