The sun., 1905-12-07
LICENSE FOR CORPORATIONS.
SECRETARY METCALF ASKS con-
GRESS TO ADOPT HIS PLAN.

Concludes That the Department Has No
Right to Supervise Insurance Com.
panies-MOre Work for the Census
Bureau-Cubln Trade Grows Rapidly.
WASHINGTON, Dec. e.--The annual report
OF Secretary Metcalf of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor reoommen ds that
Congress adopt the plan OF Federal IL
cense for corporations engaged in inter-
state commerce. The great railway sys-
TENS and the creator industrial corpora
tions, the report says, extending their
operations through many States, some
throughout the entire United States, are
but nominally supervised or controlled
by the States from which their charters
were obtained. Some Of these corpora
tioRs have shown not only disregard for
State laws but have become potent factors
in directing the political policies of the
State.
The report says that the question Of
Federal supervision over insurance com
panies has been carefully considered.
The recent Investigations under State
authority Of certain insurance companies
show the need Of careful supervision, but
it is clear that the Commissioner Of Corpo-
rations under the present act, and in view
OF the decisions Of the Supreme Court,
has no jurisdiction. Whether the Federal
Government can supervise and regulate
insurance companies can be determined
only after further legislation and judicial
decision.
The Bureau Of Corporations having
finished with the beef industry is looking
into oil, steel, sugar, tobocco, coal and
lumber, the inquiry extending from the
raw material to the finished product.
The Census Bureau has about completed
the work laid out for it, and Congress is
urged to grant authority to take up the
following subjects
A Ave year report on the electrical services,
street railways. public power stations. tele-
phones and legraphs, &C. in lieu OF the ten
year reports now authorized.
A report on savings banks cooperative
savings institutions, home building associa-
tions and similar hduciary organizations for
the promotion Of individual thrift.
A report on life, fire and marine insurance.
report on the fisheries industry in COOP
Grafton with the Bureau Of Fisheries.
A compilation of the results of the several
State censuses Of population taken Ia 1905.
A report covering the judicial statistics OF
the several States covering the indlctable
offences recorded in the court dockets and the
disposal OF these cases.
The foreign commerce of the United
States in the fiscal year OF 1905 exceeded.
according to the returns of the Bureau of
Statistics, that of any preceding year
The growth in imports occurs chiefly in
materials for use in manufacturing and
the growth in exports occurs chiefly in
manufactures. Tropical and subtropica
products form constantly increasing pro-
portion of our growing imports,
The commerce with Cuba in 1905, the
first full fiscal year under the. reciprocity
treaty, shows a considerable increase
over 1904 OF which one half was under
the reciprocity treaty, and a marked in
crease over 1903. the last full year prior
to that treaty. The total exports to Cuba
from the United States in 1905 were S3s,-
$50 COL against s27377 4e5 in 1904 and $2l.-
76l 63s in 1903, an increase of 1873 per cent.
over 1909, the last full year prior to the
operations of the reciprocity treaty.
An argument in favor of ship subsidies |
is found in the statistics furnished by the |
Bureau Of Navigation, Although the total
documented shipping OF the United States |
on June 30, 1905, consisted of 246sl vessels |
of all descriptions, aggreGating 6,456,543
gross tons. the largest tonnage in our his
tory, the total increase during the year,
1875 oOs gross tons, is less than the annual
tonnage built, 800, ,9le gross tons, is only
about 75 per cent. OF the average annual
construction since 1900
The attention Of Congress is especially |
invited TO the small percentage OF exports
and imports carried in American bottoms,
as also to the proportionately small share
OF the passenger traffic on the Atlantic
carried in American ocean steamers. Only
six out Of 2l5 transatlantic passenger
steamers carry the colors of the United
States. On the Pacific Coast, due to our
expansion in the East the disproportion
is not 80 great Twentyfour out Of forty
nine passenger steamers to the Orient
were American, and the majority Of these
are better in most respects than their for
eign competitors,
The number of aliens who applied for
admission during the year. ,026, 499-is |
in excess by 237, ,5o7 of the number reported |
for 1882 the arrivals during which year
were in excess Of those during any year
prior to 1903, and 2ls, ,e2o in excess Of the
arrivals in 1904. The quota from Russia |
increased by 80. 756, from Italy, 2s,lS3, |
and from the United Kingdom, 40, 544.
Admission was refused to 11,4s0.
OF the exempt classes of Chinese 800 out |
of 0si applying for the first time were
admitted The admission of others who |
had been here before brought the total
to 2.6o5. Recommendations are made to |
lessen the severity of the exclusion laws.