Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-12-29
This paper is entered in the Post Office at RoOd-
ury ~ J.. as second-class matter.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a, Is

terest in the plan OF federal licenses for
corporations eng ging in interstate business
which has been suggested TO Congress hy
Commissioned Of Corporations Garfield and
it is announced that a hill incorporating
the Comu.issnnei's recommendation viii
be framed hy an officer Of the Department
OF Justice and Submitted to Congress at no
distant date In substance, it is proposed
by Mr. Garfield, who is a son Of the late
President Garfield, thas were corporations
designed TO do an interstate business re
quired first to procure federal charter,
there would arise difficulty when the States
attempted to tax their property as. it would
be claimed that such institutions pos
sessed national and not a State ex-
istenc To obviate this difficulty he
proposes that such corporations shall re-
main the creatures of the States but shall
be compelled to secure federal license be-
fore engaging in interstate business, agree
ing, of course, to abide by certain regu-
Iations decreed by Congress: among them
being prohibition of watered stock.
Although Mr.. Garfeld's proposition has
been treated by the press as new invention,
it is by no means original with him having
been first exploited by William J Bryan
at banquet gwen by the Civic Federation
in Chicago somewhere between 1896 and
1900 In fact, the Democratic platform of
1900 contains clause strongly suggestive
OF the proposed plan. That some form of
legislative control of corporations is desir-
able is admitted by the leading thinkers in
Congress and out of it, but that Mr. Gar
field has hit upon plan when would
prove expedient, or even constitutional, is
seriously questioned by some who have
given this subject the most careful study.
The fear of the several States which first
adopted the constitution of the United
States, that too extensive powers might be
vested ia the national government, and
their apprehension of Capitalization of pow
er resulted in filling the federal constitu-
ton with provisions which serve as mighty
obstacles in dealing with the highly or
ganized and extensive corporate business
institutions of the present day For in
stance it is wei recognized that the federal
constitution is limited to the special powers
granted by the States. State constitutions
on the other hand require when construed
only that the construer shall ask. Is this
not prohibited by the Constitution? This
is one of the potent reasons why comprehen
sive federal laws are liable to be pronounced
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
Trustworthy as appear to be the Pres;-
dene's objects in seeking to enlarge the
powers of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and. now, in recommending feder-
al licenses for interstate corporations, he is
IN danger of exciting serious opposition in
Congress by his method Of asking executive
officers to draft such legislation as he may
recommend. Congress IS extremely jealous
of its prerogative as to legislative power
and already members of Congress are begin
ming to suggest that the President should
content himself with suggesting desirable
legislation and leave them to frame the
bills for carrying his suggestions into effect.
OF course the Presidents motive is his de-
He is always anxious to see something
DOING, but he is liable to find that too
strenuous efforts to expedite legislation
will result in antagonizing members of
Congress and thus creating trying and I'M
ayoidable delay. In support of their posi-
tion members of Congress submit that
while 1t is easy to propose legislation and
even to draft the bills. Senators aud Repre-
sentatives are, after all, responsible for the
results and it requires careful consideration
and thought to enact important legislation
which, when tested before Supreme Court
will not reflect on the intelligence of the
men who enacted it.
Ex-Secretary Roots declaration that I'll
United States must exercise police dut
over the nations Of South America has o.
casioned considerable interest," in Washing
ton as it is believed to be frank express
ion of the views Of the President although
expressed by private citizen, no longer
in the cabinet There are just now two
situations in south America which are
calling loudly for American interference
and both of which are likely to feel the
weight Of the big stick'' in the near fut-
ure. One is in Venezuela where what APP
pear to be high handed outrages have been
perpetrated on American citizens, and the
other in santo Domingo where this country
is likely to assume control at an early
date. The United States has already TAX
en- possession Of two Dominican ports and
will take two and perhaps four more soon.
The receipt Of four viii be DEVOTED to pay