The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-06
Wickersham and Nagel Al
ready Fixing Interstate
Commerce Duties.
COMMISSION TO BE
A JUDICIAL BODY
Scheme 10 Be Submitted to Con
greSS in December-Details
to Be Complete.
BY JAMES HAY, Jr.

President Taft'S reference in his
inaugural address. to his cherished
pian to reduce the powers of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
makes it possible at this time to give
a detailed explanation Of the steps
he will take 10 establish the reform
in the Governments control of cor
porationS.
In order to make the change a
reality, additional legislation by
Congress will be required, but be-
fore mat legislation can be recon-
mended in a concise form by the
new Administration every detail of
The plan will have to be worked out.
Who VIII Do Work.
This will be done almost entirely by
George W. Wickersham. who. yester-
day aftel noon took the oath as Attor-
ney General. and Charles Nagel. who
was today sworn IN IS Secretary Of the
Department of Commerce and Labor.
Both OF them are eminent lawyers, and
with their knowledge OF legal procedure
there is combined unusual executive
ability.
They were chosen for their respective
Cabinet places largely because of their
fame as lawyers.
The plan which Mr.. Taft originated
and which they viii have to develop in
detail on suggestions from the Presi-
dent for submission 90 Congress is as
follows:
TO make the Interstate Commerce
Commission purely and solely a quasi
judicial body. thus depriving it Of its
duties OF investigation OF offenses and
tts administrative work
To clothe the Bureau OF Corporations
Department OF Commerce and Labor
with the duty Of acting as investigator
of all complaints Of offenses against
the Federal law on the part OF any In
terstate corporation All complaints
from private individuals will have tc
be made 70 this bureau
To Create New Bureau.
To create an entirely new bureau II
ths Department OF Justice which shall
render such legal aid TO the Bureau OF
Corporations as may be needed and
requested This new bureau shall have
the work of seeing that failures to obey
the orders OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission shall be prosecuted IN the
Federal courts.
To have the Department Of Agric7Il.
Iure cooperate closely with the Bureau
Of Corporations in the enforcement o1
the pure food law. the meat inspection
law, and similar laws with whose en-
forcement the Department Of Agricul
ture is primarily concerned The de.
partment Will report all offenses agains'
these laws 10 the Bureau OF Corpora
Tons which viii see that proper prose.
cutting steps are taken in the courts
At this time, il can do no harm II
announce that already the Presiden'
has discussed with members of his Cab
met this plan which ne values so highly
because he believes IL will mean that
Its Derfe ctiOn VIII do away with all con
fusion md repetition Of work in tn.
Governments dealing with offending
corporations.
It has been discussed particularly witt
Wickersham and Nagel, in whose de
partments the big changes R1n be
made.
Multitude Of Laws Conflict.
Those familiar with the Government
dealings with corporations know tha
the multiplicity Of laws passed durin;
the Roosevelt Administration, the crea
ton Of numerous inspectors, and tn
TamihcatiOns Of the methods Of actini
Continued on Second Pase.)