The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-06
lTTORnEY GENERAL
WOULD GET ACTIVE
ASKS CONGRESS ron LAWS TO
Asu MIN IN PROSECUTING
THE oCToPL
SHERMAN ACT is O. *.
HE SAYS NO ADDITIONAL LEGTsLA-
TFox NEEDED, EXCEPT IN
THE CRIMrSAL PRosECU-
TONS.


demand for legislation permitting the
department OF justice 10 carry on itH
litigation against the United States
Ehoe Machinery company and the so
called coffee trust was the most i'm
portant measure advocated by At
sorney General Wickersham in his
annual report, which was read In both
houses Of congress today In add
ton 10 this trust legislation. an
nounoement was made cf a second
procedure against the LehiGh Valley
coal and railroad companies at an
early date.
Strong COMMUNICATION OF the recent
decisions of the supreme court In the
rssea OF the standard cl company
and the American Tobacco company
was also contained in the attorney
generals report He stated that in
his opinion no additional legislation
10 limit and define the sherman anti
trust act was needed
With regard to criminal presecu
tion under this law. however Mr..
Wtckersham was 81 the opinion that
the governments suits against trust
efiicaais during the past year were
far from encouraging
The attorney general reported that
there was collected and paid into the
treasury Of the United States, az n
result of suits brought or eompro~
Hsises effected during the fiscal year,
the sum OF s2.eIs,s33.9e. besides
sT3e,lss.f6, collected by the solicitor
Of the treasury In compromise claims
not In suit, making an aggregate total
VI s2.1se.oTe.lb. During the past
"a
civil cases to which the United States
wac q party. and ie.lss criminal pro-
eecntions. were disposed of in the
circuit and district courts. and 1912
cases in the court OF claims.
Reviewing these figures and refer
ring TO the efficacy of the Sherman
law, the attorney general said
$50 n assp strongly ut the opinion that
the advocacy of amendments TO the
4 Hherman antitrust law, which shall
pArtieuisrize different acts as censti-
tuting unlawful restraints of trade has
AfH origin not so mich. with those WIS
desire it's enforcement as with those
who desire TO secure means OF evad-
ting It."
Praises Commerce Court-
The Offices performed by the Com
merce court were highly commended
by Attorney General Wickersham.
With regard to this subject he said
-In my opinion the Commerce
B court has proved a far more salts
I factory instrument for the determi-
nation of legal questions arising out
OF the orders Of the Interstate Com
merce commission than the former
method by which such Questions wers
passed upon In the various circuit
courts throughout the country.
The attorney general advocated tbs
enactment of laws defining this scope
Of judicial review
In that section OF the report dsvotet
tn the national banking laws the at
torney general stated that there ha,
been an unappreciabie falling off OF
criminal violations of the nationa
Ranking laws reported to the depart
ment OF justice by national bank ex'
Afniners during the past fiscal year.
Favors Public Hearing,
With regard 10 the government
care against the United States Sho'
Machinery company. which was stop
ped on the order Of the attorney gen
eFal, following a decision handed dowf
which excluded the public from be-
+ ing present at the taking OF testimony
the report says:
I'm the prosecution Of defendant
charged with monopolizing or attempt
Il Ing to monopoizc commerce II IL th'
y experience Of the department tina
newspaper reports OF evidence Kiver
In the examination OF witnesses. otter
Seads 10 persons having knowledge oi
the facts furnishing the government
with yaiua bic evidence bearing upor
the questions In dispute. Even II tbs
court In this ease has placed a cor
I rect construction upon ting law. in
handing down an opinion excluding the
public from the hearing. In my judg-
ment congress should by statute alter
the rule"
To Fight White Slavery.
I'M regard 10 the white slave traffic
q the attorney generals report requests
An appropria ton Of at least 5000 0OG
he made 10 carry on the worn Of the
department
The Inauguration Of a bureau 10
fnck into the claims Of various per-
sons against government irrigation
D lands was also advocated by the re-
port, the attorney general stating that
u sas impossible 10 make proper head
d way against those who had endan-
4 Eered the success of the great trriga -
a ZION projects OF the United states by
their litigation against the government
unless such an appropriation was
made
Tho report advocated the establish
msrt Of the merit system IN the de-
partment OF justice and suggested a
methodical examination OF the referees
Offices with view 10 placing limi-
fation upon the fees they may deIua nd
I Tor the administration Of their trusts
The establishment of n salary list for
v court clerks. instead of the present fee
system, was also advocated.