The Washington times., 1913-12-07
WILL CURB TRUSTS
WITHOUT THE COURTS
McReynoIds Lauds Wilson Pol
icy Of Quietly Making Changes
When Demanded.

u
nolds, discussing the case of the New
Haven railroad, has made it clear
that it is the policy of President Will
son to Curb trusts without recourse
to the courts wherever possible.
Mr. McReynolds, in an interview in
New York. referred to the desire of
President Wilson not to interfere
with honest business and to give
every reasonable aid to persons or
corporations that seek to comply
with the law.
Wants To Aid Business.
He praised the work and the plans of
the President and said that Mr.. Wilson
wished not only to help honest business.
but in the case of the New Haven Rail-
road both the President and he himself
wanted to do everything to conserve as
far as possible the interests of investors.
Mr.. McReynolds spoke of his own
work In the reorganization of his de-
partment He said that so tremendous
has become the work of the department
that there is enough work for one man.
without considering the necessary steps
Of reorganizing the department or the
new business that constantly comes up.
He would like to have the Department
OF Justice run like a large law office,
and his aim Is to bring about reform
and better conditions by suggestions
rather than by long and expensive liti-
CATION.
He said that many things already
have been accomplished in this way
without publicity, because corporations
in many instances have shown desire
to follow the suggestions of the depart
ment rather than go into the courts.
viii Be The Last.
Mr.. McRsynolds said that a suit
solve the alleged monopoly Of trans
portation facilities of New England
would be absolutely the last resort of
the Wilson Administration to correct
conditions there.
He said that il the directors Of the
New Haven work out their own solu-
ton of the big problem now confront
ing them within reasonable time there
would be no legal action. but added
that the law must be obeyed.
The Attorney General talked freely
concerning the New Haven problem. He
made 1t clear that the policy of the
Administration had been outlined thor
oughly to Howard Elliott, chairman Of
the New Haven beard Of directors, and
there could remain no doubt in Mr..
EIliott's mind as to what the Admin
istration wanted done.
No time limit has been set. The At
torney General realizes that 1t has taken
twenty years for the New Haven to
bring about the muddle, as he terms 1t,
in which the new directors now find
things and that it will not be possible
for the board or any group of lawyers
to work out a solution in ten minutes.
Will Extend Help.
Mr.. McReynolds said he was hopeful
that a reorganization suitable to the
Administration would be worked out,
and that he was ready to extend help
in every reasonable way, because he
thought that Mr.. Elliott seemed to have
taken that view of the situation, and
because he believed that the selection of
A. T. Hadley, president of Yale Univer-
sfty, as director of the road was
hopeful sign.
Mr.. McReynolds was emphatic in
saying that a monopoly exists. and COM
petition must be restored Throughout
New England. How that can be done,
he did not explain in detail, as he is
willing to wait and see IL the new board
of the New Haven offers a plan.
He said that his views on dissolution
of pig corporations were well known.
and he made it clear that If you take a
big corporation, divide it into five parts,
and, give to the holders of stock in the
big corporation proportionate amount
of stock in the five smaller concerns,
competition Is not obtained.