Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-02-17
OPPOSE LICENSING
OF CORPORATIONS
Measure Has Active Opposition
Among Statesmen Of
Both Parties.
NOT LIKELY TO GO THROUGH
Little Probability That the Bill VIII
Pass at This sessIon-President
Wants Full Truth in Inves-
tieation Into Cost Of
High Living.

/
High Living.
Washington. - The administration
bill for the federal license of corpora
tions engaged in interstate commerce
| finally is before congress. 1t has been
| introduced into the house by Repre-
sentative r. w. Parker, chairman of
the house committee on judicial af-
fairs, and in the senate by Senator
Clarence d. Clark. chairman of the
corresponding committee in the upper
house.
There is little likelihood that this
measure, in which President Taft's
heart is greatly engaged, will pass con-
gress at this session. While there may
not be great amount of opposition to
the measure, as a general proposition
there is very bitter opposition in the
ranks Of both the Republicans and
Democrats to some of the bill details.
The most of the Democrats do not like
1t, however, as a general proposition
because they believe it invades the
field of state rights.
President Taft, because of his posi-
tive refusal to agree to a plan to with
draw the governments suit to dis
solve a merger of two great western
railroads, has been charged recently as
being the foe to all corporation activ-
tiles. Word has reached the White
House that the belief of some capital
lists is that Mr.. Taft is going ahead
with causeless prosecutions and that
he is bent on securing legislation which
will cripple industry.
To Offset this 1t has been charged
that the president has been advocat-
ing the federal licensing system for
corporations because it will enable the
large concerns to carry on their af.
fairs with q much greater license than
ever was contemplated before, a Ii.
cense of which the country cannot ap.
prove. So it seems that Mr.. Taft is
charged with two Numerically Cd.
posed offenses. He has let his friends
know that he believes that he is stand.
ing on the middle ground and that
when the country learns his position
exactly 1t will approve what he is
doing.
Postponed Action Likely.
Whether the country ultimately will
approve of the presidents course OIL
not of course remains to be seen, but
the consensus of Republican official
opinion is to the effect that the fed
eral license law will not pass congress
until next winter, but that the way will
be paved for it's passage at this SEES
sion.
President Taft in framing his fed
eral license recommendations called
into daily consultation for weeks the
great lawyer members of his cabinet
Secretaries Wickersham, Dickinson
Nagel and Ballinger, and brought the
bill into condition which he thinks
to be proof against any fault finding
on the ground of unconstitutionality
The cabinet official who is considered
perhaps to be the best lawyer in the
| presidents official family, has this t.
say concerning the main proposition OIL
the federal license bills intention
which is "The proper control of cor
porations and prevention of monopo
| lies:"
Il regret very much the process by
which a decision was reached by the
lower court in the Standard Oil case;
not the result, mind you, but that the
decision was predicted upon the fab
rio Of the Standard Oil Company, anC
not on its operations. Relatively
speaking, the fabric is of little impor
lance.
"The real question is not whetheI
a corporation controls other corpora
tons or establishes branches In the va
rious parts of the country-that Is t,
say, is a combination. The point Il
whether or not, in the process OF build
ing up its combination, it has crushe,
legitimate competition.
The Real Question.
What we want to know of on
corporations is whether or not the,
are a monopoly and are exercising me
nopolistie control to the injury of tn
public.
1.-THE great trade combination tC
day is often the result of varying stat
laws and regulations which render /
dificuh for the independent concern
20 40 IN interstate and foreign bus
ness.
THE federal charter will rellev
the corporation from various local ar
aoyances to which 1t should not be sui
seet What the government wants I
know Is how that corporation is ca
Fying on its business. This it cannc
learn until the business is done unde
4 federal charter. We want contrC
for the purpose Of protecting the pull
liz, not necessarily for the purpose {
breaking up the combination.
The administration has intimate
sharply that it is its set intention /
securing federal incorporation law, I
provide in every possible way againi
writing into the statute any pr
sision which can be criticised al
yersely by those who seem to b
lieve that the real intention Is I
deprive the states of the local contri