The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-26
Commissioner of Corporations
Wants Authority to In
vestigate.
TRUSTS OBJECT TO INQUIRY.
Official Is Acting Under Direct
Supervision of President, and
Represents His Policy.

Wvut- RuilGing. 18Th and T Stre'S
Washington Dec. 2J.-Corporations hava
resented the use of inquisitorial powers by
the agents Of the Commissioner of Corpo-
rations in Investigations into their affairs.
\ probable result will be a test of the
powers OF the Commissioner in the courts.
though this course Is feared by the repre-
seutatives Of the big business interests.
According to Information obtained from
d reliable source. the reason why no tes.
cese mas been made thus far is the prece-
dent set by the Supreme Court in the case
against the coaI-carfying railroads Ok
Pennsylvania. in which It was held that
the roads must produce their contracts.
7 mis- may still prevent taking the matter
into court Aside from the publicity
which such step would bring about. it
is argued that were the Commissioner
sustained, the corporations involved would
b. in L worse position than before.
The announcement that Commissioner
Garfield will go to Kansas City and Chi
cago. subpoena officials of the Beef Trust
and require them TO testify renews the
probability of { test.
The work Of Mr. Garfield has now the
center OF the stage in national. affairs He
is conducting his bureau not under the
department or commerce and Labor, bCc
directly under the President His policy
j. that OF the President Consequently
vide discussion and many conferences
nave followed his report. IN which he de-
ClaTes for system of Federal franchises
10 govern interstate business combina-
lions. Legislation along this line will he
introduced in January. and It will be seri-
Ously brought forward in the next Con-
sress. That is the definite administration
plan.
some OF the biggest captains of industry
in the United States are ON record N
Government reports as favoring Federal
licenses for trusts and corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce. Such men
as John d. Rockefeller, Henry II. Rogers.
John ID. Archbold and John W. Gates tes-
titled before the Industrial Commission
few years ago that they would like TO
see the enactment of a law that would
put trusts under the control Of the Federal
Government along the lines recommended
by Mr.. Garfield.
Mr.. Rockefeller. president OF the Stand
ard Oil Company. then expressed himself
in favor of Federal legislation under
which corporations may be created and
regulated"
In reply to a question as to what 1egis-
lation. IL any. he would suggest regard
ing Industrial combinations. Mr.. Rocke-
feller said:
corporations may be created and regl-
lated. il that be possible.
Second, in lieu thereof, State legislation
as nearly uniform al possible: encouraging
combinations of persons ard capital for
the purpose of carrying on industries. but
permitting State supervision. not OF a
character to hamper industries, but sufti-
cient to prevent frauds upon the public.
Henry II. Rogers. another officer OF the
Standard OIL combination, informed the
commission that this great trust would
be willing to abandon its organization ur-
der the State laws for the sake OF incor-
porating under the United States. He
thinks chat under the present Constitution
such national incorporation laws could be
passed but favors an amendment for that
pUrpOGe