The Detroit times., 1910-02-16
Incorporation
BILL IS BLUFF
Taft's Measure as Framed Is So Gro,
tesque That Leaders Cannot Be.
lieve II Is Intended Seriously.

WASHINGTON. Feb. l6.-Is the
Federal Incorporation bill a campaign
document, calculated 10 AID the Re
publicans IN the fight for control OF
the next house? Has il been stir
fened up and made drastic merely for
the effect IL will have on the plain
people before they go 10 the polls mex,
November.
These questions are being propouna-
ed In all seriousness by senators and
representatives Who have been looking
over the new measure i'm a dazed sor;
OF way and ponGering on the reasons
for It's Introduction. A large prop0r.
-iinn-nt- The ANSWER 2ixen nElNalelL
are in the Affirmative. SAYS the Wasa-
ington correspondent OF the New York
World
There are few men in congress VINO
candidly favor the measure as drawn.
The charge is frequently made that
Acknowledgement Wickersham Is IN
competent or else has drafted a meas
IRE which be did Lot expect TO re-
come effective. 1t il admitted thai
the bill is full OF teeth. but It's en-
forcement is left almost entirely 20
the commissioner OF corporations, ana
he may determine 10 take mild view
OF IL and permit il 10 remain VIZ
tual dead letter il placed on the statute
hooks.
Under the situation as il exists the
Federal incorporation bin is Joke b,
is acclaimed with derision. The hrst
draft was a nice harmless AFFAIR, with
no forfeiture clause and seemingly
aimed 10 make the future bright and
cheerful for the trusts. IL was hailed
with praise by such legislators as are
reputed 10 have the interests OF zig
concerns at heart II was announced
that the corporations would be delight
ed with the measure, and many OF
them seemed eager 10 take advantage
OF It's voluntary privileges 70 wipe on
the old slate ana start anew under
government supervision.
Then Came the Reaction.
The bill as then framed was satisiac-
tory 10 Senators Aidrich. Crane. kean
and Elkins. TO Representatives Payne
and Dalzell. and 10 all the long LIST
OF those who do not want 10 lnJure
the feelings OF monopoly The lead
ers on each side. including Speaker
Cannon, assured President Taft. that
the bill could be- slipped through con
gress without much delay or trouble.
And then came the reaction. Attor-
ney-GeneraI WickeTsham took several
weeks TO frame up new Dill, and
when II appeared ia the open IL con
tanned a forfeiture clause and many
other Objectionable features. All those
legislators having great corporate IN
terests in their states were al hrst
stunned. and then aroused sufficiently
TO intimate darkly that the new bill
must be given careful consideration.
All the leaders permitted the predic-
ton to become public that nothing
would be done.
There be those in the senate and
house who are willing 10 wager that
President Taft never read line by line
the Incorporation BIZ as finally intro
duced last Monday. They declare that
he would never have given his per.
sonal approval 10 such tumble OF
good and bad
Conditions in the senate have turned
a complete somerseu.t Before tfN m
PRODUCTION OF the bill the big bosses
promised TO see that il went through
The progressives were suffening Their
backbones TO oppose IL. because IL did
not even have forfeiture clause and
was otherwise Objectionable Now the
ten or twelve progre ssiye Republicans
are about the only sctive advocates OF
the proposed enactment.
Deemed Unenforceable.
While the bill mas not been fully ana
lived, many members OF congress
doubt whether the law could be puf
into operation. There is general oppO-
sition to the enormous powers given
the commissions OF corporations.
They are so diverse that il seems I'm
possible that one Ilan could success
fully discharge all the burden OF en
forcing the act II the bill ever reache7
the consideration stage efforts Will be-
made to distribute these powers an
lessen the aHtAe=l+g given one man
Attempts will also be made 10 les
sen the authority given the attorney
general. AS framed be alone can bring
suits for forfeiture or 10 enforce other
features OF the measure. There is
General sentiment that the pubic
should not depend entirely on the al.
torney-general but should be permit
ted 10 20 before any prosecuting OIL
Ger file information and have IL made
the basis OF suit for forfeiture
There will also be more or less oi
6 fight as TO whether suits shall be
brought exclusively IN federal courts,
as provided by the bill. or filed IN state
courts when such action would be-
more advantageous
When Il gets down 20 real wind
tanning. If that stage ever comes. the
question of constitutionaity Will be a
uever-ending topic OF debate Legal
experts are divided on that point al
though inclined 20 agree that II yoiDn-
tary incorporation IS constitutional
compulsory incorporation would be-
equally legitimate A majority OF The
law doctors unite In affirming that the
bill can be juggled around and made
10 fit tha constitution.