Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-25

Commerce.
be supposed that the bureau would be a
publicity institution. Present indications
are that 1t will be anything but that, so
far as the general public is concerned. The
tendency is rather for It to become a bu-
reau Of investigation and secrecy, that is,
secrecy for every one but the President.
There is decided air of reserve about
the work.. contemplated and pending, of
this bureau. Thus far no one has been
able to get an inkling Of its plans, and no
promises are made that information Will
be given out. The bureau is said to be al
work. but the specific nature of the work
and the; lines along which it Is being, con-
dueted are carefully guarded.
This probably-is due to the forethought
of the wary old senators who shaped the
law creating the bureau There was
great deal of uneasiness In Congress about
the possible operations of this proposed
new branch of the executive arm of the
government. Senators and representatives
were av6rse. to equippfng bureau with in
QuiSitorial powers so Swee ping as those
contemplated by the projectors OF, the plan.
Pressure from the administration in behalf
of publicity prevailed, however, and the
bureau was authorized by law.
- A Saving Clause.
The senator's took care to put in a saving
clause, however. A line was inserted pro-
viding that the information gathered by the
bureau should be reported to the President,
and the information so obtained, ''or as
much thereof as the President may direct
shall be made public.
The bureau is taking that admonition of
secrecy literally and is conf1ning its COM
munications to the President. OF course,
the latitude of the President in this respect
is unlimited 1t is rather a unique case and
there is no other institution in the govern
ment like it. Commissions have been au-
thorized to gather information in the past.
to be reported to the President bat usually
he in turn has submitted the data to Con-
gress for publicity.
In this case the President has absolute
discretion to withhold or publish facts con-
cerning the organization and operation OF
the business of any concern doing business
in more than one state. He can lay bare
the inmost workings Of such firms as he
thinks ought to be exposed and hold back
information about others. The senators as
sumed that II the Information was lodged
in the keeping of the President 1t would be
unlikely to get out, unless there was some
good reason in the Presidents mind for
making it public Data that goes to the
White House is not available for casual in
spection and there will be no annual re-
ports.
This attitude of reserve was heartily
commended on all Sides Tine Industrial
corporations we're fearful lest their busi-
ness secrets might be laid open to the in
spection of their rivals, and this was what
the senators took good care to obviate. 1t
was pointed out that the publicity fea-
ture will be conserved If the President and
the Department Of Justice were apprised of
the facts, and that it will not be necessary
for the newspapers or the reading public
to know anything about the facts at all,
unless the President thinks they ought to
know.
What the Trusts Want.
But the trusts and the industrial cor
rorations are anxious to learn at this time
how far is this inquisition to proceed, when
Is it to commence and who is to be put on
the rack? The purpose of the bureau of
corporations seems to be to withhold init
nation in advance of its operations in this
respect so as to spring upon its victims
unawareS.
The solicitude Of the prospective victims
of the inquisition arises from a growing
realization of the power of the new bureau.
Not a great deal of attention was paid to
the bill while it was In preparation, until
the Standard Oil Company happened to
examine the wording of the act and Mr..
Rockefeller sent his famous telegram to
group of senators protesting against its
nassage But If 1t was not already too
late. Mr. Rockefeller's telegram made 1t
too late to head off the plan. No one
would have dared to oppose publicity, and
the best that could be done was TO proyiae
and placing 1t in the keeping of the Presi-
dent trusting to luck in the future to keep
ing it under cover
indusfrial corporations are now begin
ming to realize that the bureau Of corpora
tons is an Immense drag net. backed by
the law, which can scoop them in bodily
and sift them thoroughly. The appropriate
officials have been deluged with demands
for copies Of the act which undoubtedly
have been read by the lawyers Of the big
corporations, and as the possibilities of the
game are appreciated the inquiries now