The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-14
New Legislation is Urged by
Secretary Nagel
IMPORTANT CASES
Are Still Under investigation, and the
Government Needs Reliable Informa-
ton Definite System Of Pub
hcity Is Recommended.

Washington. y. q, Dec. l4--Legisla-
tion to create department Of the gov
eminent which would do for the whole
country what the bureau Of corporations
has been doing in specific instances, and
compel complete publicity in the manage
ment Of interstate corporations, IS one
Of the leading recommendations con
tanned in the annual report Of the seere-
tary Of commerce and labor. Newer
and tighter laws to stamp out the white
slave trade which the secretary says
IS an organized and extensive business,
il the other. The secretary recommends
the further development Of the bureau Of
corporations. At the end OF this fiscal
year, the department still has on hand
Investigations Of the lumber and steel
industries. the international Harvester
company, concentration Of waterpower
ownership, transportation BY water IN
the United States II was still continu-
ing its Investigations Of the tobacco IN
dustry. the operation Of cotton exchanges
ana state systems of corporate taxa
ton
On tlr snbieet Of government control
of tie financial and industrial forces,
Secretary Naee says some terse things
ani makes ONE important recommends
sioi1s The prime need 81 two things i
emphasized. First, reliable information
lpon which the government may take
legislative and administrative action.
and. second reliable information In =
concise and available form TO serve for
the basis Of public opinion. The first
step 10 he iaksH he says. is an advance
toward complete system for obtaining
and making public this information The
bureau 81 corporations has demonstrated
TIE value Of this beyond doubt, IN the
iimitad vav which its force and money
available would allow
But Secretary Nagsl believes the time
las come fos far wider and more com
plete application of those principles.
This. the secretary recommends can be
accomplished only hy 4 definite federal
system ii statutory publicity BY which
AIN Important corporations engaged in
interstate commerce will be obliged ID
report at stated intervals to federal
agency. gWa d tie bureau 81 corpora
tions. tlle essential facts regarding their
organization managa and condition.
This, tic secretary believes, VIII accom-
piish f0r the whole country what the
bureau 81 corporations has been doing
in specific eases.
Tits work nl9st be carried on hy the
federal government, the secretary be-
iieyes. lecaHse Il IS the olHy agency
which has uridielion commensurate
with ttie matter It has 70 consider and
which can prescribe uniform conditions
fer the entire country
ANY attempt to solve The question
through state action has been and nee
essarily viii be fniiler says the report
No considerable number eli states can
eyer agree an establishing on maintain
ing any one system No state alone can
make its system effective III financial
and commercial conditions. the country
has become nationalisea Its leeal regu-
iation should also b national An ont
lire of the system the secretary recon-
mends, would compel regular reports
from al Interstate commerce corpora
tions. and their publication III form which
would safeguard business secrets.