Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-02
10 PROJECT STATES
Attorneys General Ask Congress
 to Fix Power of Courts.
TO DEFINE JURISDICTION.
Jackson of New York Says Many Remedies to Curb Corporations Are Worse Than the Evil ltself-Freedom From Federal Injunction Asked.

St. Louis, Oct 2.-Action that may have far reaching effect in antitrust and corporation litigation and which may bear fruit in almost every state was taken by the convention of attor- neys general in its final session here. A committee was appointed to draft scheme of antitrust legislation to be sent to all attorneys general, and as climax the attorneys general adopted a resolution which is expected to aid in removing a thorn in the flesh of the state officers, the Interference by fed eral courts with the operation of state laws. -...
 Permanent organization was also eff fected under the name of National Association of Attorneys General of the United States" and a united front will be presented in legal actions brought by different states against the same corporation to congress. It reads:
 To Fix Jurisdiction.
 "Whereas, the efficient administra- tion as well as the preservation of our dual system of government requires that each sovereignty be permitted to exercise its function as defined by the federal constitution, unhampered by the other; therefore, be it resolved by the convention of attorneys general of the several states here assembled that we earnestly recommend to the favor able consideration of the president and the congress of the United States the enactment of law providing that no circuit court of the United States or any judge exercising powers of such circuit courts shall have jurisdiction in any case brought to restrain any officer of state or any administrative board of a state from instituting in state court any suit or other appropriate pro- ceeding to enforce any order made by such administrative board. but allow ing any person or corporation assert ing in any such action in a state court any right arising under the constitu ton or any law of the United States to have the decision of the highest court of such state reviewed by the court of the United States, as now provided by law.
 we also recommend that suits in federal circuits by persons interested m corporations to restrain such cOrpo- rations from obeying the laws of states in which they are doing business be 
 Officers Chosen.
 On recommendation of the committee on organization these officers were chosen: President, H. S. Hadley of Missouri: vice president. Dana Malone. Massachusetts, and secretary and treasurer, William H. Dickson, Colo .ado. Attorney General Dickson of 1 Colorado asked that the next conven- ion be held in Denver. but it was finally decided to leave this matter to | he executive committee.
 Attorneys General Young. Dana Ma l! one of Massachusetts, A. NJ. Garber i # Alabama, W. T. Thompson of Ne 1! lraska and H. S. Hadley of Missouri ! were appointed as members of con- nittee to arrange the memorial.
 Papers were read by Attorney Gen. .ral Wade H. Ellis of Ohio and Attor- | ley General Dana Malone of Massa- 'husetts. In the absence of Attorney | General William S. Jackson of New | York his paper on the subject State | Regulation of Public Utilities was cad by Attorney General W. II. Dick on of Colorado. The paper read in ,art:
 At this particular time no economic 1 ubjects are of such vital concern to he people as the regulation and con- rol of what are known as trusts and If what are commonly called public utilities, and the question of state reg llation of public utilities is of peculiar interest at a time when the limitations md functions of state and federal seem to be almost as .aguely comprehendad and as widely as in the beginning of 'ur constitutional history.
 Cures Worse Than Diseases.
 Yet in the evolution of public senti- nent in relation to civic affairs the 'roblem of the fundamental right of to regulate and control its ublic utilities fortunately has passed 'eyOnd the stage of mere academic dis ussion. It is an encouraging evidence f an aroused public conscience and that in nearly all states forts are being made to insure effec- i've and intelligent regulation of pub- ic utilities. without regard to legal uibbles or absurd precedents.
 Many of the remedies proposed seem worse than the evils which they seek 0 overcome. and this will be true in egree of any remedy that violates he principle Of home rule Whatever nay be the ultimate solution of the 'ublic service corporation problem. whether 1t shall be private ownership with public regulation and control or within their respective limits federal. tate and municipal ownership of all utilities which fin their nature are es- ential monopolies, the obligation de- olives upon the attorneys general of II states to enforce the laws now ex- sting for the curtailment of corporate ggrandizement and the protection of ublic rights"