Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-11
ADMINISTRATION
PUSHES STEEL SUIT FOR
POLITICAL EFFECT.
U. s. STEEL DECISION
OF FAR. REACHING EFFECT
If Sustained by United States Supreme
Court Way Will Be Opened For
Remedial Legislation and Campaign
lssue-Rulins Of Lower Court Not
Expected to Be Overturned.
Lsnecial correspondence.l

Washington, June 11.-Far-reachtng
effects on legislation are expected az
the outgrowth of the recent decision il
favor of the United States Steel Cor
poration, assuming that this decision
is substantially upheld by the supreme
court of the United States.
All over the country. this election has
been interpreted as meaning that the
era is at an end in the United States
wherein the big aggregation OF capital
for the conduct of business is esteemed
to be illegal or outside the bounds OF
right public policy even tho it does not
engage in trade practices which are
obviously reprehensible. 1t is generally
doubted whether the supreme court
will overturn the decision of the lower
court. altho Attorney General Gregory
holds the same view of the law as did
Attorney General Wickersham.
If the supreme court finally says the
United States Steel Corporation has the
right to exist under present laws, then
il is plain that congress will either have
to enact new laws if it is going to pry
open vast aggregations OF capital or It
will have to let them live. The indica-
they will be allowed to live.
Democrats Not in Favor Of Law.
1t is well-known that this admin
stration had no enthusiasm whatever
for breaking up the United States Steel
Corporation. The department of justice
has decided to appeal the suit because
it is considered good politics to do so
and because the officials of the depart
ment want the supreme court finally
to pass on the meaning of the Sherman
law and do not want decisions OF the
lower courts to stand as the interpreted
ton of its meaning. But the appeal Is
commonly referred to here as one pure
ly formal and not intended to crush the
steel corporation.
The next question is what congress
is going to do about it. The disposition
in congress In the first place will be to
do nothing this side of a supreme court
decision. When the supreme court
speaks. if it says the steel corporation
can exist. it is considered now highly
improbable congress will enact any
legislation calculated to put 1t out OF
business or to put out of business other
great aggregations or combinations OF
capital. Any aggregation OF capital, OF
course, will be open to attack II It's
trade methods are such as to bring on
it the enmity Of the public and of the
government. In the case of the steel
corporation. il the court view is cor
rect, its methods were not such as TO
make it properly subject to the lnhi-s
billions of the Sherman law.
But on another phase of the matter.
it may be expected there will be strong
pressure for legislation. This is with
respect TO stricter regulation. 1t will
be contended in congress that II the
policy of this country is to be to allow
great aggregations of capital such as
the steel corporation then there must
be stricter regulation or the public Will
get hurt. Such regulation will be urged
thru the interstate trade commission.
Many members of congress were con-
vinced last session the commission was
given too scant power. The coming
regular session will doubtless see vari-
GUS bills presented looking to greater
powers for the commission.