Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-20
NAGEL TALKS ON COMMERCE
Secretary Asserts Cooperation Of
Nation and State is Needed.
OLD DOCTRINES ARE OUTGROwN
Former Restrictions Upon Federal
Authority and Federal ApprOpria-
tiOns Have Been swept Away
In All Directions.

hANEAE All1s NOV. lfs-0NdNANN ANbANAt
secretary OF commerce and labor. was the
principal speaker at the sixteenth annual
John Jay dinner given by the Commercial
club here last night Foreign Commerce
was his subject About 700 guests we're
present
other speakers were John NJ. Moss Of
Milwaukee who spoke on Business
Ethics" and Governor John F. shafroth
Of Colorado whose subject was The West" /
Governor J. Y. Sanders OF Louisiana, sent
his regrets
Active and rational cooperation between
the national and state authorities is abso-
lutely essential to a successful solution OF
the common problems with which they
both are confronted. This was the opinion
expressed tonight by Charles Nagel. secre-
tary Of commerce and labor. in an address
delivered at the sixteenth annual banquet
of the Kansas City Commercial club.
He declared himself a believer in both
state and national authority, saying that
he read the constitution to mean that the
integrity Of both was guaranteed"
In the practical affairs of life. however,
he asserted substantially no one adheres
to the old doctrine" Of restricted power Of
the national government
old Restrictions swept Away.
THE old restrictions upon federal author
ity and federal appropriations have been
swept away" he said. Generally in all
directions the old barrier has been broken
down and Il s admitted in practice, II not
| in platform. that national authority is abso-
lutely essential to meet national problems
az they now present themselves. II this
/ is true at home, with respect TO domestic
affairs. It is infinitely more true with re-
spect to foreign affairs"
! Mr.. Nagel dealt in his speech with the
question OF relation between national and
state authority. particularly as it pertained
to commerce. As 20 foreign commerce he
declared that It was absolutely safe to
say that only one authority can be con-
| suited and that is the national power"
As to domestic commerce he said:
80 far we have practically no CONNER
cial corporations that base their authority
upon anything but state authority. The in
convenience of that system, even in our
interstate commerce, has been sufficiently
demonstrated. 1 am persuaded, for one,
that the conflicts, the inconsistencies and
the embarrassments with respect to inter
state commerce alone are enough to call
for the organization of corporations under
federal charters
Il am not oblivious to the fact" he added,
that II the national government does au-
thorize the organization Of commercial
companies to be employed in foreign bust
ness, these same organizations may, and
perhaps must by degrees. engage In domes-
tic commerce as well. on the contrary,
believe this to be an inevitable result OF
the first step. But there lie no cause for
| alarm"
He said Il would only be a repetition OF
the story of the national bank "heraldeo
at one time as the enemy of the state,
but which has become business mems
bank enjoying the confidence of every
village and town." although in theory tbs
fiscal agent of the national government
} Commerce Too Big for States.
Commerce in the United States" ht
said, lis not measured by state boundaries
and cannot be successfully controlled bJ
state authority. Interstate commerce anC
traffic have outgrown the state in every
respect, and the ills from which we hav,
, suffered in the past insofar as they hav'
been met, were relieved by the interposi
, ton OF national authority"
: The secretary declared there is pressing
, necessity for the development OF foreign
! commerce and that I'VE are proceeding al
II were. obnvious to It.
I'VE speak Of the tariff" he continued
, 'as though it concerned only the cost L
the consumer at home; and yet we hav,
entered the international arena; we hav,
, entered 1t politically and we must main
. tain 1t commercially. Notwithstanding al
the campaign controversy the free list hai
1 now been increased. II that be the policy
we must of necessity make corresponding
inroads into foreign territory with our
, products"
This country, he said was not putting
: forth anywhere near the energy being ex
, pended by foreign countries in their ef
2 forts to gain foreign trade The on,
Z bureau in this country's government
= which is charged with the promotion o
: domestic and foreign commerce, he addeC
employs a foreign country in one stat
!, of the United States"
There also is need, he said. for tn
United States 10 have its own merchan
u marine. Furthermore this should b.
n amenable to the same authority which 4
engaged in the promotion Of the genera
m system"
Moss Makes Address.
THE day is not far distant when in
dustrlalism will dedicate not only it's money
n its business genius to society; when 1t vii
= have its honor roll OF men who will gladl
Al concentrate their business talent 20 tn
n promotion Of ethical ideals. and who, 4
g the hour of moral stress and confusion wi
. utter the Illuminating WOIu allu oIBaHlA
l. ethical endeavor within the very CRIME an
10 sweat Of business itself"
This was the declaration OF John Il
st Moss, former president OF the Merchant
a. and Manufacturers association OF MI
fe waukee in responding to the toast BUS
4 ness Ethics"
Social and moral impulses Of men ar
"a being felt more in the business life {
ia today than ever before in the history {
ar American business life, he asserted
10 Fairness IN commercial life, honesty
u dealing with the customer and cor
sistent attempt toward the elevation