The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-02-18

Chicago. Feb. 1S.-Federal control
Of corporations is necessary to the
commercial preservation of the coun-
try declared Charles Nagel, Secretary
of Commerce and Labor, of the United
states, in an address before the In
dustr;al Club here last night
AS to the power of the national
government to authorize the organize
zion of federal corporations, Mr.. Ma
gel said there could be no question.
me existing system of clashing state
laws-"a system ON all sides at war
with itself''-ne regarded as intoler-
able, anu he assured his hearers that
the con- sequence of a federal corpora
ton law such as President TAFT had
proposed could make for nothing bat
me general good.
The purpose of the government to
regulate the corporaticus, in the op-
inion of the Secretary, could not be
considered as an attempt TO encFoaca
upon state authority, but as a deter
nination to employ old authority
for the solution of new problems
change OF attitude regarding the re-
iation of national to state authority,
he believed, had come over the coun-
try with the development of problems
900 big for the state individuality TO
meet.
Among the more important prob
ems" said Secretary Nagel, appears
o be the question whether or not the
National Government may and should
authorize and regulate the organiza-
ion ami conduct of federal corpora
-icns. Only a few years ago the bare
.uggestion of such an idea filed the
public with dismay. The authority
vas denied and the policy was ques-
Toned. Today the irreconcilable con-
iicts to which ordinary business or
5anizationS are subjected in our stat
s have forced a general recognition
hat something must be done to re-
ieve the situation.
'The idea is not limited to any par
-icular locality of our country, or 10
my special class. From all parta.
cast and West, North and South, city
md country come the suggestions
hat soale relief upon these lines must
oe worked out. The proposition mas
low been squarely put before the
The President of the Unit
ID states has made a distinct recon-
uendation in a message calling at
-ention 20 the needs. and submitting
or consideration a form to which leg
slators and constituents may give
heir attention"
In considering the proposition, Sec
-etary Nagel stated that three points
must be determined: first the question
II the governments authority: sec
md. the conditions which make ad-
visable such legislation, and third
ne consequence of such legislation.
1T has seemed to me from the We
" start" said the Secretary on the
question of authority, that no one
,ould subject this question to al
thoughtful consideration without ar
living at the conclusion that the Fed
Aral Congress must undoubtedly have
he authority
From the earliest case in which
he exclusive rights of Congress to
-egulate interstate commerce was
il was made apparent
hat the authority to provide for the
of business corporation
was a necessary incident TO the exer-
Use of that authority, and again and
lgain the Supreme Court has said
nat Congress has this power"
The charge against the states that
hey had neglected their opportuni-
ties in dealing with the corporations,
secretary Nagcl said ne did not be
ieve but he attributed the failure of
the states to cope with the CONNER
cial conditions to inability rather than
10 negligence.
The plain and indisputable fact is"
he SAID, that the commerce of these
with which we are real
" concerned mas outgrown both the
and the authority of any
particular state. In other words, the
individual state is vainly struggling
TO control conditions that extend be-
yond 1t with respect to territory as
well as power and the modern demand
for congressional action is nothing