The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-29
PRESIDENT IS FIRM
ON FEDERAL LICENSE
Taft Said TO Be Urging Bill
For National lncorpora-
ton of Companies
By 7. c. WELLIvER.

Despite the determined opposition of
the recognized leaders I'm Congress
President Taft is proceeding with the
preparation not only of a message to
Congress advocating Federal incorpora-
ton Of concerns doing interstate com
merce business. but also Of bill to
carry his program into effect
Attorney General Wickersham has the
bill drafted. and a few OF the counsel
Tors who have been taking with the
President about II have been .jven cop
les Of It. in close confidence, for their
study. The President further has been
in consultation with Senator Nelson.
who as a representative of the judiciary
Committee, wrote the famous report of
that committee about a year and a half
ago, declaring against any modification
of the Sherman antitrust law.
The President has sought to convince
Senator Nelson OF the desirability Of
the proposed legislation. and has found
the Senator obdurate as to some i'm
portant points. The Minnesotan, who
acquired a reputation as an expert In
the matter Of interstate commerce law
by reason of his report rejecting the
Civic Federation program of the Roose-
Welt Administration for changing the
antitrust act, is insistent that there
shall he no legislation which will pull
any Of the teeth out Of the ST. erman
! act; and he is fearful that the proposed
measure, as now drafted, would have
that effect The Senator has a plan o.
his own which he decidedly prefers.
Federal License For Trusts
President Taft today had a confer
ence also with Represent~tiv tive Martin
/ of South Dakota. who is one OF the
J pioneers in the movement for Federal
/ license OF trusts and Interstate com
! merce corporations. Mr. Martin left
/ the White House well pleased with the
' evidence that the question is TO be
1 opened up with the Administration
earnestly in favor of legislation.
/ The administration bill, as now draft
/ cd provides for voluntary incorporated
4 under the federal law. Any concern
I IN interstate business viii be permitted
thus to incorporate IL Il desires Mr.
Martin considers that this would be q
useful step in advance. Corporations
. thus Incorporating would be required
I under the federal law, to provide 9
. large amount OF inside information
about their affairs, from which the ad-
ministrative authorities would be abb,
Z to determine whether they were operat
ing without violation OF the antitrust
or other statutes
Z But Mr.. Martin urged upon the prest
dent the necessity OF two points Thicl
he considered especially important. Or,
/ was that no corporation should be per
I mltted in any degree to mollify or aTneI
I iorate the rigOr Of the applicatioun o
the Sherma law TO itself simply b.
reason Of thus Incorporating OF thi
he considered there was grave danger il
any measure Of this kind. and ne oh
iected 70 some provisions in the WicI,
ersham draft for this reason, pointiu;
them out 10 the president
Favor Strict Enforcement.
q am decidedly in favor" said Mr.
Martin. 'of maintaining the anti-tr,s
law as II stands, and OF enforcing II
making it a definite Administratfv,
policy TO enforce ii. and making every
body know that il is going to be en-
, forced against everybody. It will no
do to pass any Federal incorporation
Legislation which would have the efec
. II giving any class Of corporation tn
! slightest measure OF immunity from ut
( most rigor Of the Sherman acts appli
cation 10 them; and there is danger q
/ that in any law Of this kind"
MT. Martin told the president tina
there ought 10 be added to the vOIuD
taTy Federal incorporation provision.
= requirement that after a certain tim
I concerns which did not avail themselve
voluntarily OF this privilege, should b
subjected to a Federal licensing re
Quirement.