The sun., 1913-12-23
PRESIDENT HINTS AT
MORE DISSOLUTI0NS
Keen Interest ut Capital in His
"Sccrct" List Of Capitu-
lating Concerns.
RELIEVED TO Re NOT LARGE
American Bill Board Association
and New Haven Road
Are Negotiating.

WASH iNGrOS, Dec. ss-fTesluent VIII
sou amplified to-day his statement In the
recent letter to the Attorney General ex.
pressing his conviction that the business
men OF the country are imbued with q
des.rc to bring their operations within
tic provisions Of the law.
The President, in conversation with a
group Of visitors let II be known that from
d.y 20 day he has received many evidences
o, this wholesome attitude OF big busi-
ness" men toward the Sherman act. II was
indicated that the President, IT he SO de.
ares. could make public list OF cor
rora,ions which were likely to assent to
.rrecments for dissolutions or reorgauiza
tons similar to that which forestallcd
a suit by tho Government against the
Bel telephone system
THIS latter remark probably occa.
sorcd a greater interest among business
circles here than anything which has
been said 10y the Administration since the
announcement of the telephone agreement
las, week
Members Of Congress realized that the
following up OF the telephone agreement
with others Of the same character and inn
portance would have an increasingly salu-
tary effect on the financial situation gem
orally.
Curiosity was expressed as to whether
or not the President referred to any of
the corporations against which the De-
partrent Of Justice has suits pending or
INTO which Investigations are being made.
Belief In Washington.
While the President proclaimed In this
opnv.rsation his confidence that he had
evidence OF AN impulse on the part Of the
corporations to take the initiative in find-
,ng out what the law required them to do
and then conforming to these require
ments it is believed by well informed
persons that in the main the information
which has come to him Is of a very gem
e~al nature.
Doubt is entertained as to whether or
40; the Presidents list OF corporations
which have formally signitied their desire
to rsorganize themselves with closer
eye to the requirements OF the Sherman
act is large.
The onl, corporation which has entered
into negotiations with the Department of
Justice since the announcement Of the
'enephone agreement is the American Bill
Board Association. whose affairs have
been under the scrutiny Of u. Carroll
TODD the trust buster Of the Depart
m.nt.
Within few days man has pre-
serted himself at the Department who
said he had authority to enter into uegO-
u"'ioi.s 10 adjust the operations of the
associ"tion to the demands OF the Gov
ernu-nt without Il suit. These n.gotia-
tons, However. have not progressed far.
pf course there is another corporation
o. which the public has knowledge which
has b,ssn lptprrl.iRiDg IDEAS with th,
Department looking toward the same end
Tor several weeks. That is the New Haven
rsilruai
Considerable progress has been made in
these uegotiations and the chief problem
which remains to be solved nov is for
President Elliott to ge, the support Of
the board of directors for the policy OF
reorganization which he practically is
wiling to undertake.
The Governments Demands.
tn. Governments demands. generally
Speaking. are that the New Haven re-
'inqIisn certain holdings in trolley and
Steamboat lines and by various steps Of
reorganization bring about Il condition OF
competition among the roads of New
England
Mr.. tiiou's position is not far removed
from an agreement to these demands and
the belief among persons familiar with
u" affairs of the Department of Justice
u that the time is not far away when
formal agreement can be submitted and
pa>s'd upon to the satisfaction of both
Side.
III. Attorne, General and the President
veard with distinct approval the recent
Passing over of the annual dividend by
the Sew Haven directors. This was re-
rsrded as victory for President Elliott
and indirectly for the movement toward
reorgu uization.