The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-03
TRUSTS BEGIN TO
MANIFEST ALARM
Would Like to Ascertain How
Many Of Their Secrets
They Must Expose.
ARE AFRAID OF GARFIELD
HE Appointment as Head Of Corpora,
ton Bureau Supposed &c Indicate
That Large Powers Will Be
Used to Utmost.

Washington, March 31.-Some Of the
largest trusts in the United States have
been diligently seeking for information
as to how far the new bureau Of cor
porations, which is a part Of the de.
partment of commerce, will go in COM
pelling them to divulge their secrets.
Their representatives admit that all
trusts violating h law L absolutely
at the mercy Of the president, Secretary
Cortelyou and the attorney general,
Philander Knox.
These trusts are showing consider
able uneasiness since the appointment
OF James R. Garfield as head Of the
bureau, especially as Mr.. Garfield, as a
member Of the civil service commits
sion, showed that he could not be con
trolled by any political influence.
There was much uneasiness in CON
gress about the possible operations Of
this proposed new branch Of the execu-
tive arm OF the government. Senators
and representatives were averse to
equlpp1ng a bureau with inquisitorial
powers so sweeping as those contem-
plated by he projectors Of the plan.
Inc senators took care to put in a saw
ing clause. A line was Inserted provid-
Ing that the Information gathered by
he bureau should be reported to the
president, and the information SO OBJ
tanned, "or as muc thereof as the pres
ident may direct" should be made pub
lie.
Has Endless Latitude.
The bureau is taking that admonition
communications to the president. OF
course, the latitude Of the president n
this respect is unlimited. It is a unique
case n there Is no other Institution
in the government like it. In this case
the president can lay bare the inmost
workings of such firms as he thinks
ought to be exposed and hold back in
formation about others.
The trusts are anxious to learn at this
time how far this inquisition is to pro-
ceeed; when It ts to commence and who
is to be put on the rack.
The purpose of h bureau OF corpo-
rations seems to be to withhold intima-
ton in advance of it's operations in this
respect, SO as to spring upon its vic
tins unawares. Industrial corpora
lions are now beginning to realize that
the bureau of corporations is an i'm
mense dragnet, backed by the law,
which can scoop them in bodily and
's1ft them thoroughly. 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
matt" are appreciated the inquir-
les now coming in are as to the scope
Of immediate operations.
The Commissioners Authority.
Under the law the commissioner of
corporations is given power and au-
thortty" to make "diligent investiga-
ton into the organization, 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" Exception is
made OF railroads, as they are super
vised by the interstate COM
mission. The commissioner is invect-
ed with wide power to prosecute each
diligent investigation. He is given the
right to subpoena and compel the at
tendance of witnesses, to compel testi-
mony and the production Of documents
and to administer oaths. He can COM
pei the officials of industrial corpora
tons to produce contracts, books,
agreements, prices, etc., and, failing to
do SO, they can be fined $4,000 and i'm
prtsoned for two a
The department of justice has been
equipped with added powers to prose-
cute cases against the trusts. The sum
of $500,0 900 has been appropriated for
the employment of counsel, and another
law provides for the speedy trial of the
cases in the courts.