The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-04-03
TRUSTS BEGIN TO
MANIFEST ALARM
Would Like TO Ascertain How
Many of Their Secrets
They Must Expose.
AFRAID OF GARFIELD
fHis Appointment as Head of Corpora.
ton Bureau Supposed to 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 the law are absolutely
at the mercy of h president, Secretary
tCortelyou and the attorney general,
zPhilander 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
e%quipping a bureau with inquisitorial
HoWers so sweeping as those contern-
lIated by the projectors of the plan.
The senators took care to put in q saw
ihgsclause. A line was inserted provid-
ing that the information gathered by
the bureau should be reported to the
president, n the information so OBJ
tanned, "or as much thereof as the pres
49, ALbJ S3ASSlS ol1Ouio NC l4ldAS pun.
lie.
Has Endless Latitude.
h bureau is taking that ~admonition
of secrecy literally and is combining it's
communications to the president. OF
course, the latitude of the president in
this respect is unlimited. It is a unique
S and there is no other institution
IN the government like 1t. In this case
the president can lay bare the Utmost
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 t is to n who
is to be put on the rack.
The purpose Of the 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 it's vic
tins Industrial orpora-
tons are now beginning to realize that
the bureau of corporations is an i'm
mlense dragnet, backed by the law,
which can scoop them in bodily and
sift 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
the 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 giv~ensgpoSwer and au-
thority' to make "diIigent tnvestiga-
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
v1sed by the interstate commerce com
mission. The commissioner is invest
edgwith wide power to prosecute each
diligent investigation. Etc is given the
right to subpoena and compel the at
tendance OF witnesses, to compel testi-
mony and h production of documents
and to administer oaths. He can COM
pei the officials Of industrial corpora
tions to produce contracts, books,
agreements, prices, ETC., and, failing to
DO 50, they can be fined $4,000 and i'm
prisoped for two years.
The department of justice has been
equipped with-added powers to prose-
U cases against the trusts. The sum
Of 100000 has been appropriated for
the employment of counsel, and another
law provides for the speedy trial of he
cases in the courts