The Washington times., 1910-01-15
Reticerce Regarding Propos-
ed Federal Incorporation
Law Arouses Objections.
OPPORTUNITY ASKED
TO STUDY MEASURE
administration Said to Be Holding
Back Until Supply Bills
Are Passed.

about the Federal incorporation
measure that the Administration ex-
poets to be passed by Congress at this
session?
That question Is being asked by
members OF both houses of Congress
The Administration bill was sent TO
the Committee on judiciary of the
Senate two or three days ago. but
has not been introduced in Congress
as yet Some Senators have desired
that Il should be given out 10 the
public, through publication I'm the
press, and they have been unable
10 get any satisfaction The details
OF the measure are known 10 mem
bers Of the Judiciary Committee, and
Il has been seen by a few favored
ones 70 whom the view has been per
mitted. but in general II IS stiu
mystery.
=And ! am informed" said a Sena-
tor who has been anxious for an op-
poFtunity TO study the measure,
that the Federal Incorporation and
interstate commerce bills are TO be
sent 70 Cong1 ess as the Administra-
lion measures for this session. with
the understanding that they are TO
be passed IN the form IN which they
have been drawn Amendments and
The Development Of objections 10 their
present form, Il IS declared, viii be
regarded as gnfriendly to the present
Administration, and as marking the
willingness OF the offender 10 incur
the displeasure OF the White House
Would Be Shown.
The Senator added that he was IN
favor OF the principle OF Federal IN
corporation but was not willing 70
be bound to any particular working
Out OF that principle. be wanted 10
see, study, and be sure he understood
the bill he was TO support, and de-
clared that with him stood a con-
siderable number Of other Senators. /
who would not permit the plan of
passing the bill with little discussion !
Word reaches the proEressives Of the
Senate that the program Is to have the
supply bills pushed forward as early
as possible and passed in due time,
while the two cardinal proposals Of the
session, the interstate commerce and
Federal Incorporation measures. will be
held back until about April / Then
they VIII be brought forward, at a time
when Congress VIII be anxious for Sd-
IOuTuneuC as early as possible, when I
members Of the House. and many OF 4
the Senate. VII be anxious 10 get home /
for their district fights In these cir I
cumstances. II is declared, the o-Eauiza- I
tons In the two houses expect 10 get I
the measures passed with the least /
measure OF discussion
Il don't think said another Senator. |
that this plan viii succeed I know Z
that there are good many members Z
and talk all summer. rather than have /
that program succeed. or course n 4
these measures are so explained THAI i
they command the confidence OF Con-
z-ress and the country they are eofnsz I
70 pass, there certainly viii be no fight 4
on them N such q situation But L 4
looks now Ike a long fight and q vast /
output OF conversation
One Of Criticisms.
One Of the criticisms made Of the Fed
eTaI incorporation bill. relates TO the 4
fact that certain members who have
been looking into 1t find that 1t contains
no provision for forfeiture OF charter
under It. in case Of violations Of the
Sherman Law, or Of the Federal iHcOr-
poratiOn law themselves They point
out that this measure looks to giving
a corporate existence to certain comb
nations which are in danger OF being
dissolved under the Sherman law II I
they are given a charter 70 90 interstate
commence. which contains no provision
for forfeiture, they fear that Il may
be held 10 be beyond the power Of Con-
ETsss to dissolve them IN that form
Thereupon would arise the question OF
whether any effective regulation could
be enforced against them. The demand
for a forfeiture clause IS going TO be
made very strongly The Attorney Gen
eraI and the President are quoted az
having expressed the opinion that this
could not be done COnSututiOndlly.
other constitutional students insist that
can be done. and that the doing OF Il
is very necessary.
Verdict Awaited
The report that the Administration
win insist on these two bills being
passed Just as they are introduced. and
= prepared 70 make them the test OF
party fealty, has been responsible for
increased eagerness TO know just what
their critics VII say about the bills.
and especially for the verdict OF the
country upon them
They are being examined with critical
eyes and both have been found objec-
uonabIe in Important respects There is
much difference OF opinion about the
merits Of the interstate commerce
measure in particular The criticism IS
frequently heard, that il is just what
the railroads have wanted, and not :
what the public wants This IS just as !
positively denied by the sponsors for the ,
On the other hand. some OF the peo-
pie who believe the measure can be so {
amended as 20 pass. complain that the 6
a amendments ought 70 have been written Z
into the original draft, as Cummins and 7
other proECessiVeS asked in the confer Z
ence IN which the bill was drafted / q
They say that If the bin had been made
10 meet GummllS objection and had been 1
turned over 70 him 10 introduce, II would 1
nave made long progress IN public con- I
! qence- Having been taken away from
him, ana his suggestions having been I
largely rejected In its drafting. the pro
EreSsIVes are inclined to view II with
and they renorr that tbe
country IS doing the same thing.