Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-12-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(prom our Regular correspondent,

WASHINGTON LETTER.
(prom our Regular Correspondent,
Washington, D. c., Dec. 4.-The
President is evincing the greatest in
terest in the plan of federal licenses for
corporations engaging in interstate
business which has been suggested to
Congress by Commissioner of Corpora
lions Garfield and it ID announced that
a bill Incorporating the Commission
er's recommendation will be framed
by an officer of the Department of
Justice and submitted to Congress at
no distant date. In substance, it is |
by Mr.. Garfield, who Is a son
of the late President Garfield, that were |
c corporations designed to do an inter !
state business required firstto procure
a federal charter, there would arise
difficulty when the States attempted to
tax their property as 1t would be
claimed that such institutions possess
ed national and not State existence.
To obviate this difficulty he proposes
that such corporations shall remain the
creatures of the States, but shall be
compelled to secure federal license
before engaging in Interstate business,
agreeing, of course, to abide by certain
regulations decreed by Congress among
them being prohibition Of watered
stock.
Although Mr.. Garfield'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 q banquet
given by the Civic Federation in Chi
cago somewhere between 1896 and 1900.
In fact. the Democratic platform OF
1900 contains clause strongly sugges-
tive of the proposed plan. That some
form of legislative control of corpora
tions is desirable is admitted by the
leading thinkers in Congress and out
of it, but that Mr.. Garfield has hit up.
on plan which would prove expedient.
or even constitutional, is seriously
questioned by some who have given
this subject the most careful study.
Praiseworthy as appear to be the
Presidents objects in seeking to Ell
large the powers of the Interstate Com
merce Commission and, now, in recon-
mending federal licenses for interstate
corporations, he is in danger of excit.
ing serious opposition in Congress by
his method of asking executive officers
to draft such legislation as be may re.
commend. Congress is extremely jeal.
GUS of its prerogat1ve as the legislative
power and already members of Con
gress are beginning to suggest that the
|, President should content himself with
suggesting desirable legislation and
leave them to frame the bills for CAR
ryiDg his suggestions into effect. Vi
course the Presidents motive IN his
desire to accomplish results without
, delay. He is always anxious to see
something doing" but be is liable tt
find that too strenuous efforts to ex
] pedient legislation will result in anita
, gonizing members of Congress ant
thus creating trying and unavoidably
delay. In support of their position
, members of Congress submit that while
. it is easy to propose legislation and
| even to draft the bills, Senators and
! Representative are, after all, respon'
sible for the results and it requires
J careful consideration and thought tt
enact important legislation which
when tested before the Supreme Cour,
| will not reflect on the intelligence Of
r the men who enacted it.
r Ex.Secretary Root 3 declaration that
the United States must exercise police
! duty over the nations of South Amer
lea has occasi0ned considerable inter
, est in Washington as it is believed te
, be frank expression of the views Of
, the President although expressed by {
, private citizen, no longer in the cabi
net. There are just now two situa
lions in South America which are call
ing loudly for American interference
and both of which are likely to feel tht
weight of the ''big stick in the neal
: future. One is IN Venezuela where
. what appear to be high handed out
RACES have been perpetrated on Ameri
) can citizens, and the other is in Sante
Domingo where this country is likely
TO assume control at an early date. The
, United States has already taken pos
, session of two Domingo ports and will
, take two and perhape four more soon.
The receipts of four will be devoted tc
paying American creditors and of the
: two others to defraying European In.
} debtedness. European creditors are
urging this country to take this action
and present indications are that their
prayer will be granted.
Christmas Holiday EXCURSIONS.
u Norfolk and Western Railway re-
Guced rate round trip tickets will be
sold December 23rd. oath. 25th. 26th.