The Legal World effect in New York on Sept. 1. Under the law a child of more than seven or less than sixteen years, who commits a crime, except crimes punishable by death or life imprison ment, shall not be known as a criminal but as a juvenile delinquent. The punishment is the same as it was previously. Senator Cummins of Iowa has a plan for the enactment of legislation by Congress which would give the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to establish a general schedule of freight rates for the entire coun try. This plan is similar to one adopted in England. He also proposes to make the orders of the Interstate Commerce Commis sion official as to rates, except where the constitutional question of confiscation is in volved. The project promises to attract some attention in Congress next winter. The model pure food law proposed by Dr. E. F. Ladd of North Dakota was referred to a special committee for investigation and report at the thirteenth annual convention of the Association of State and National Pure Food and Dairy Officers, held at Denver in the latter part of August. The advocates of the Ladd law maintain that the federal law is not suitable for the needs of all the states, and also that the national law should attempt no more than the regulation of interstate commerce. The opponents of the Ladd law, on the contrary, assert that any breaking away of the states from the federal laws would result in chaotic conditions. The prospects grow that Congress will be confronted by a notable program for corpora tion legislation when it assembles in Decem ber. President Taft appointed several of the government officials chiefly concerned with corporation matters to confer as a commission for the purpose of finding what should be done to amend the Sherman act and the inter state commerce law. This commission con sisted of Attorney-General George W. Wickersham, Solicitor-General Lloyd W. Bowers, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Nagel, Inter state Commerce Commissioners Knapp and Prouty, and Representative Townsend of Michi gan. The commission has held conferences in New York City at the New York Bar Associa tion in West 44th street for several days, but the result of these will not be made public till the commission has completed its work. It is believed that the commission is giving much consideration to the question of the functions of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the supervision of stock and bond issues of corporations engaged in inter state commerce, and that it may recommend making the Interstate Commerce Commission a quasi-judicial body exclusively, its investi gating functions being transferred to the Bureau of Corporations and the Department of Justice. President Taft may announce the Commission's findings on his return from his Western and Southern trips. Among the things which the President is reported to
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favor are some curtailment of the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission, some extension of the power to make physical valua tions of railroads, a change in the commodities clause excluding common carriers from all other business than that of transportation, and a prohibition of the holding company device in the case of railroads. AttorneyGeneral Wickersham has expressed the opinion that the legislation desired by the President can be framed constitutionally and that a detailed program can be worked out before November. President Taft takes the con servative position that as practically every corporation of appreciable size throughout the entire country does an interstate business to undertake to license all would work a hardship. He has attempted, therefore, to state the broad general principle that federal license or supervision should be limited to those having the power "or the temptation" to effect restraints of interstate trade and monopolies.
Personal— The Bench Judge Needham C. Collier, formerly of the Supreme Court of New Mexico, has become editor-in-chief of the Central Law Journal. Alexander H. Robbins, the former editor-inchief, continues as managing editor. Sir Henri Taschereau, Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, Quebec, recently asked to have his leave of absence extended until May, 1910. No doubt existed that his request would be granted. His Honor was last reported to be enjoying the invigorating air of the Mediterranean. Henry S. Hulbert of Detroit was on Aug. 25 appointed associate judge of the Probate Court in that state. He was the first and only choice of Probate Judge Durfee, with whom he had been associated for seventeen years as register of probate. Among his new duties will be the charge of the Juvenile Court, in which department, it is thought, his experi ence in the management of boys will make him most successful. According to current reports Associate Jus tice John M. Harlan of the United States Supreme Court has no intention of retiring from the bench at this time. Justice Har lan will be seventy-seven his next birth day. Moreover, a rumor has been in cir culation to the effect that Associate Justice McKenna is about to retire, but this is emphatically denied by his friends. Associate Justice William H. Moody of the United States Supreme Court arrived at his home at Haverhill, Mass., Aug. 31, suffering from an attack of rheumatism. As he was crippled in his lower limbs, and his frame was worn with the effect of his long illness, he was moved to his home in an ambulance, under conditions of secrecy, the desire having
