Important Legislation
Even though Taft was less of a firebrand than Roosevelt, Taft did support the progressive agenda, working to significantly strengthen the Interstate Commerce Commission, allowing it to suspend railroad rate increases and to set rates itself, as well as regulate telephone, telegraph and radio communications. Furthermore, Taft approved of the progressive movements for the 16th and 17th Amendments(federal income tax and the direct election of senators, respectively), but would not see either passed during his presidency. He also passed the aforementioned Payne-Aldrich Tariff, which, though a conciliatory measure, alienated both wings of his already-unstable party and led to a total breakdown of tenuous Republican unity. Taft also dissolved more trusts than Roosevelt did, using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to great effect and filing more suits in his four years than his predecessor had in seven and a half.