The Washington times., 1903-12-07

Corpora lions and the work Of the De
partment Of Commerce and Labor are
the first topics discussed in the message
OF the President today transmitted TO
Congress. The message begins;
THE country Is TO be cOLgra tuIated
on tho amount OF substantial achieve
mCrs which mas marked the past year
both as regards our foreign and as re
CARDS our domestic policy
with a nation as with a man. The
most important things are those OF
the household. and therefore the coln-
Try is especially TO be congratulated
on what has been accomplished in IN.
direction of rovidinE for the exercise
of supervision. over the great corpora
tions and combinations of corporations
engaged in interstate commerce.
The Congress has created the De
partment of Commerce and Labor in
Guiding the bureau OF Corporations.
with for tie first tire authority to
secure propt- Publicity 0f such pro-
ceedings OF these great corporations "a,
The public has the right 10 know. Il
has provided for the ox2eCiung of suits
for the enforcement CT the Federal an
thrust law. and by another law II has
secured equal treatment 10 all producers
in the TRANSPORTATION of their goods,
thus taking a lOnE stride forward ina
making effective the work of the In,
terstate Commerce Commission.
The New Department.
The establishment Of the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor, with the
Bureau of Corporations thcreunder
marks 2 real ,.ivance in the direction OF
doing all that is possible for the so,u.
lion Of the questions vitally affecttns
capitalists and wase-workers.
The history of the establishment Of the
new departmcnt is gone into and this
comment Is made on It's purposes:
1T is not designed TO restrict or con-
troll the fullest liberty of legitimate bust
ness acton, but TO secure exact and au-
thent-c Information which VIII aid the
Executive in enforcing existing laws
and which VIII enable the Congress TO
enact additional legislation If any
SHOULD be found necessary. in order TO
ffcVenr The rev from obtaining privi-
lcses ut the expense OF diminished op-
portunities for the many.
The preliminary work OF the Bureau
Of Corporations IN the department has
shown the wisdom Of its creation Pub
Lefty in corporate affairs VIII tend to
do away with ignorance. and viii az
ford facts upon which intelligent ac-
tion may be taken.
Purpose OF Bureau.
80 The purpose of this bureau
3 not 10 embarrass or assaU legitimate
business, bat 10 aid in bringing about
= better Industrial condition condi-
ton under which there shall be ObedI-
cnce TO law and rcco. gnitiOn of public
obligation by all corporations. great or
small. The Department of Commerce
and Labor will be not only the clear
ing house for information regarding the
business transactions Of the nation but
the executive arm OF the Government
10 aid in strengthening our domestic
and foreign markets. in perfecting our
transportation facilities. in building up
our merchant marine. in preventing the
!. entrance OF undesirable immigrants, in
8 improving commercial and Industrial
conditions. and in bringing together on
BcOmmOn ground those necessary part
ners in Industrial progress-capital and
labor
80 Publicity can do 10 harm to the
= honest corporation. The only corpora
#rion that has cause 90 dread Il is the
corporation which shrinks from the
ght. and about the welfare Of such
corporations we need not be oversensi-
tive. The WORK Of the Department Of
q commerce and Labor has been condi-
toned upon this theory. of securing
fair treatment alike for labor and for
capital