Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-26
SECRETS OF BUSINESS
GUARDED BY TREASURY
instructions Governing the Reports
Of Corporations Required Under
the Law.

Corporations need not fear exposure of
their business secrets. according to regu-
lations promulgated yesterday afternoon
by Secretary MacVeagh. These pertain
to the returns made to the Treasury by
corporations under the corporation law.
The Secretary's regulations are as fo,-
lows:
1.-The return of every corporation shall
be open to the inspection OF the proper
officers and employees of the Treasury
department. Where access to any re-
turn is desired by an officer or employee
Of any other department Of the govern
ment an application for perm ssion to in
spect such return, setting out the reasons
therefor, shall be made in writing, signed
by the head OF the executive department
or other government establishment in
which such officer or employe is en-
ployed, and transmitted to the Secretary
Of the Treasury.
Attorney General to Decide.
IF, however. the return is desired to
be used in any legal proceedings. or to
be used in any manner by which any in
formation contained In the return could
be made public, or access to any return
is desired by any official of any state or
territory in the United States. the appli-
cation for permission to inspect such re-
turn shall be referred to the Attorney
General and il recommended by hin,
transmitted to the Secretary of the Treas
ury.
THE Secretary of the Treasury, at his
discretion. upon application to him made
setting form what constitutes a proper
showing of cause. may permit inspection
OF the return of any corporation by any
49,, 10 @lrh IT,.
ton. The person desiring to inspect such
returns shall make application in writing
to the Secretary of the Treasury setting
forth the reasons why We should make
such inspection, and shall attach to his
application q certificate signed by the
president. or other principal officer, OF
such corporation. countersigned by the
secretary, under the corporate seal Of the
company, that he Is a bona fde stock
holder in said company. The privileges
of inspecting the return of any corpora
ton Is personal to the stockholders. and
the permission granted by the Secretary
cannot be delegated to any other person.
Open to Inspection.
1.-The returns of the following corpora
tons shall be open to the inspection OF
any person upon written application to
the Secretary of the Treasury. which
application shall be set forth briefly and
succintly all facts necessary to enable
, the Secretary to act upon the request
"(a) The return Of all companies whose
stock Is listed upon any duly organized
and recognized stock exchange within thu
United States, for the purpose of having
| its shares dealt In by the public generally
"(b) All corporation whose stock is ad
vertised In the press or offered to thu
| public by the corporation itself for sale
| In case Of doubt as to whether any com
| pany falls within the classification above
| the person desiring to see such return.
should make application, supported b,
advertisements. prospectus, or such otheI
/ evidence as he may deem proper to esr
| tablish the fact that the stock of sucf
corporation Is offered for general publ,
| SALE"
The provisions Of the Secretary's ruins
! go into effect Immediately.