Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-29
FORA Mem DEPARTMENT
Proposed 10 Add One Of TraRspoP-
lalIon 10 The Cabinet.
What ITS DUTIES WOULD Be
Bill Covering the Subject Which Has
Hcen introduced In Congress is
'sweepins-Providea for six Score.
tarics to Correct Alleged Evils.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-According
to members of Congress usually we'll
Informed. 1t Is not too much to ex-
pect that II department. OF transport
tation will be created during the pres
ent session. On the opening day OF
the session. Representative William
Sulzer. of New York. introduced an
elaborate bill providing for the cre-
alton of this additional department
defining Its various branches and pre-
seriblng the duties of the secretary OF
transportation and six assistant sec.
retarics.
Transportation problems are now
80 many and 30 varied that the inter-
state commerce commission Is abso-
lutely swnmped With work and has
been for years Even since the mem
bershlp OF the commission was en-
larged year ago. 1t has continued To
be swamped. or course, the commits,
sion Is largely concerned with the
matter of rates. but Rudltionnl leSisla-
tlon every little while Is adding to its
work. Still there are many phases OF
the transportation l'isiness that can
not he reached by the commission.
Hence the drafting of thc bill, the
need for the department which II
seeks to create. rsfTtt 81 3rN
Mr.. Sulzer Is n Democrat, but his
bill Is being seriously discussed at
both ends OF the capitol building by
members on both Sides. A sentiment
Is being developed favoraulel to the
creation of such department. The
first assistant secretary OF the de-
partment.f Under the Sulzer bill. would
hive charge os4ail matters relating to
steam and electric railways.
Tho telegraphers OF the country are
taking comfort from the duties pre-
scribed for the second assistant sec
retnry. who shall have charge Of all
matters In the department relating
to telegraph lines" AS stated in these
dispatches heretofore, the CONNIE rial
telegrnphers are expecting some Of.
fctiye legislation during the winter.
While this provision of the Snlger Jill
does not make specific mention OF
commercial telegraph lines, its author
believes that 1t would reach them. Ii
ineceasary, 1t Is understood the provts-
ion will be amended so ms to leave n
room for doubt on that point. 1HH
Tho third assistant SECRETARY aI
transportation wonlh have charge nj
all matters pertaining to tits telc-
Phone lines OF tho country, while The
fourth assistant would he called urrn
IT, look after matters relating Ia Wa
terways and transportation thereon.
Matters relating to pipe lines would
be passed upon by the fifth assistant,
and the sixth assistant would lnok ~
ter express transportation.
Control of Corporations.
Every corporation governed Ivy The
hill--if 1t should tacone law in Its
present shape would be required 10
submit an annual report in w-tting,
giving prescribed details rs to Its ,,,I-
tthorized capital. assets, liabilities,
earnings. operation. etc. These re-
ports, would show all OF the essential
facts concerning any and every corpo-
ration coming within the Jurisdiction
OF. the proposed new department.. In
this respect the Sulzer bin Is pretty
drastic from the viewpoint of the cor.
poration representative. though lis
provisions are wholly In accord with
popular sentiment in ragatd to the
control of corporations
In addition to the annual REPORTS
the secretary OF the iproposei depart
ment is authorized in the Bill to call
for suoh additional reports rs hs may
deemed necessary In order to clear u,
any evasion or ambiguity that ap-
pears in the statements submitted by
corporations. In case corporations re-
| fuse to submit the prescribed rcnorts
they may lie punished by finn NJ nci
( less than $4,000 nor more Cha, s20,-
900 for each offense. Every welk Of
failure to submit such reports aftei
written demand forIthersame shall
thave been sent recaloltrant corpora
tions would constitute a sep,r.tn of
Tense. This would mako even biz
corporation sit up and tax. noted,
especially If the judge who tried ,hE
case felt Inclined to 20 the FIJI length
of the law.
The'same fine is prescribed in case,
where the reports submitted by como
rations are proved to he false In an,
/ essential respect. Provision Also 4
made for the appointment OF experl
examiners who shall mako examina
lions OF corporations goyarnnd by tht
proposed law at such itiries as the
auditor for the department shall. di.
{ rect. These examinations would mo-
fbe made at regular intervals. I'm,
whenever the auditor saw AZ ant
Without notice to the corporations is
| yolYed a.i,e,,@s ,El.l * -,
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