Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-02
Privilege Restricted to Him to Give
Out Companies Reports,
VOTE WILL BE TAKEN LATER
Only Slight Alteration Made in the
Original Amendment.
PUBLIC's INTEREST CONSIDERED
Affairs in Corporations Lives Are 60
be Open 60 Inspection Only at
the order of Chief
Executive.

WASHINGTON April THAT the cor
poration tax law will be amended TO re-
strict the operation Of its publicity fea-
ture was virtually assured today when
the house slightly amended a provision
previously adopted by the senate for that
purpose,
As passed by the house today the law
bearing on this subject provides that 'all
corporation tax returns shall be open 90
inspection only upon the order Of the
president. under rules and regulations to
he prescribed By the secretary OF the treas
ury and approved by the president
As previously provided by the senate
such corporation tax reports were Ito he
made public when by resolution OF the
senate or house of representatives, or
I by order Of the president when he deems
Il for the public interest"
The senate and house conferees soon will
( get together in an effort TO agree upon
a publicity amendment in which the views
J Of both branches will he harmonized.
| Fails at Direct Vote.
/ Just before the subject was disposed OF
Mr. Fitzgerald OF New York attempted to
| get a direct vote on a motion to recon-
| init the bill under consideration with in
structions for the committee on appropria-
tions to report it with an amendment re-
pealing the Payne-Aldrich tariff law. BY
a strict party vote OF $50 to ll6, in which
| the insurgents were found side by side
with the republicans a point OF order
against Mr. Fitzgerads motion was sus-
/ tanned
The senate amendment to the Legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill,
providing for publicity concerning the af-
fairs of corporations stirred up hornets
nest" when IT came 10 the house for action
today In connection with conferences re-
port.
4 Mr.. Gillett of Massachusetts. Mr.. Mann
of Illinois. Mr. Underwood Of Alabama and
Mr. Bartlett OF Georgia participated in
the discussion. General opposition to that
, provision developed OH the democratic side.
SO the People May Know.
Under the terms of his amendment, Mr..
Gnlett said he thought the president would
rule that records of corporations of use
} and value 10 the public would be made
? public. He said he thought the majority
! of corporation returns ought not to be
made public, as they should not be open
to the inspection Of their rivals.
Mr. Fitzgerald, combating the Gillett
: amendment said he was in favor OF the
fullest publicity of all corporation affairs
= that reports required by the corporation
tax law shall be open to public inspection"
4 and appropriatng $4,000 or more to classify
I such reports etc
This amendment" said Mr.. Clark OF
| Missouri referring TO the Gliett provision.
should be entitled an amendment to get
the republican party out of a hole Under
this provision no one viii have access TO
: these reports OF corporations except the
president and his advisers and that is a
dangerous proposition. Human nature has
n been the same since the time when Adam
s and Eve We're driven from Paradise, and in
a the course Of time somebody might use this
s Information for political purpose"
5 Mr.. Payne said publicity should not be
e accorded in response to mere curiosity OF
d the people and he believed the Gllletl
$ amendment would accomplish all desirable
publicity.
a Hitchcock TaIxs Politics.
o Mr.. Hitchcoc Of Nebraska suggested thai
a the head Of the department in which in
formation in regard to the corporations had
= been gathered had become the head OF the
t republican campaign committee two year.
d ago, and the great great trust buster OF
4 Ohio, Wade Ellis had been taken from the
Il prosecution OF corporations and placed il
s charge Of the campaign in Ohio"
Il Those examples OF activity in politics o
- men who possessed information regarding
corporations, he said, should be remem
bered when It was proposed TO pass IN,
pending legislation.
Mr.. Sherley Of Kentucky parted compan,
with bis associates in declaring that tn
publicity feature OF the corporation Ia,
law could not be defended.
= Mr.. Harrison Of New York reminded th
, house that, although the present occupan
Of the White House was "a benign prcsl
dent" the time might come when he Woul,
,e be "a mallgn president" and then lh
danger OF trusting 10 him alone To max
D. public these corporation matters would b
p seen.