Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-29
SENT TO CONFERENCE
THE BILL PROVIDING FOR DE-
PARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
Modification to Be Asked by Senators
Providing for Publicity as
to Corporations.

The Senate committee On cOHlmeICe W
day heard the report Of the subcommittee
appointed to analyze the department or
commerce bill as 1t passed the House. ana
make suggestions as to what II any amend
ments should be made to the measure, but
decided to report the bill back to the Sen
ate without amendments and ask for con-
ference with the House. Accordingly,
after the Senate convened the bill was thus
reported by Senator Hanna, and the Sen
ate ordered a conference, with Senators
Hanna. Nelson and Clay as conferees' on
the part of the Senate.
The senators appointed to represent the
Senate in the conference are the men who
have acted as the subcommittee, and their
efforts will be directed toward securing
amendments along the line recommended
by the subcommittee. The principal amend
ments relate to the provision authorizing
the President to transfer the interstate
commerce commission to the proposed de-
partment and to the amendment for bu-
reau of corporations inserted by the House.
The trust provision constitutes section e
of the House BILL and the Senate commit
| tee will ask for modification Of that pro-
vision. which will direct the corporation
| bureau to secure all obtainable information
| concerning corporations and which will
authorize the publicity of such information
at the discretion of the President.
The committee Also adheres to Its op-
position to the inclusion of the interstate
commerce commission in the new depart
ment.
The Trust Provision.
The text of the proposed trust amend
ment follows:
Section 6. That there shall be in the
department of commerce and labor bu-
reau to be called the bureau of corpora
tons, and a commissioner of corporations,
who shall be the head of said bureau, ap-
pointed by the President, who shall receive
a salary of 5000 per annum. There shall
also be in said bureau deputy commits
sioner, who shall receive a salary of $500
per annum, and who shall, in the absence
of the commissioner, act as and perform
the duties of the commissioner of corpora
tions and who shalt also perform such
other duties as may be assigned to him by
the secretary of commerce and labor or
by the said commissioner. There shall
also be in the said bureau a chief clerk
and such special agents, clerks and other
employees as may be authorized by law.
'The said commissioner shall have power
and authority to make, under the direction
OF the secretary of commerce and labor,
diigent investigation into the organiZa ton,
conduct and management Of the business
of any corporation joint stock company or
corporate combination engaged in COM
merce among the several states and with
foreign nations, excepting common car.
riers subject to AN act to regulate COM
merce,' approved February 4, 1887, and to
gather such information and data as will
enable the President of the United States
| to make recommendations to Congress for
| legislation for the regulation of such COM
| merce, and to report such data to the Presi-
dent from time to time as he shall require;
and the information so obtained, or as
much thereof as the President may direct,
shall be made public.
I'm order to accomplish the purpose of this
section, the said commissioner shall have
and exercise the same power and authority
in respect to corporations, joint stock COM
panies and combinations subject to the
provisions hereof as is conferred on the in
terstate commerce commission in said act
to regulate commerce., and the amend
ments thereto in respect to common car
riers. SO far as the same may be applicabl
including the right to subpoena and COM
pei the attendance and testimony Of wit
nesSes, and the production of documentary
evidence and to administer oaths. All the
requirements, obligations, liabilities and
immunities imposed or conferred by said
act to regulate commerce and by an act
in relation to testimony before the inter-
state commerce commission, etc, approved
February II, 1893, supplemental to said
act to regulate commerce shall also apply
to all persons who may be subpoenaed to
testify as witnesses or to produce docu-
mentary evidence in pursuance of the au-
thority conferred by this section