The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-01-12
The Publlclty nurean.

n leNieW VI inc WOrk OF the led
eral Bureau OF Corporations. which
has just been made public at Wash
ington, shows that many happy re-
suits have been achieved through eff
iicient publicity since its creation.
In 1905 the bureau published a
report describing the great system
of railway determination enjoyed
by the Standard Oil Company. Dur
Ding the investigation, or within six
months thereafter, the railroads con+
cerned cancelled every rate that the
report condemned as Illegal, as we'll
as many criticized as exorbitant.
Further reports published in the fol-
lowing year caused substantial
improvement in the conduct OF the
petroleum business.
In 1908 and 1909 the bureau pub
lished three reports on the cotton
exchanges, The New Orleans Cot
ton Exchange at once entered into
cooperation with the bureau and
voluntarily adopted certain i'm
Bortant Improvements III methods. a
beneficial results We're at once APP
parent when the bureau published
a report on the tobacco combination,
as it promtly abandoned the use Of
the secret subsidiary concerns ex-
posed by this report and formerly
employed against independents. The
same year report on prices of to-
baceo was largely used .ybyr Con-
gress in connection with an increase
in the internal revenue tax on to-
bacco products.
Following a preliminary report on
water powers showing the strong
tendency toward concentrated con-
troll of the great water powers, a
special committee OF the Michigan
legislature asked and feeeivsd COS
operation OF the bureau IN It's mork.
Reports on the taxation OF corpo-
rations in the New England and Mid
die Atlantic states have been largely
used by public officials. A commit
tee of the Rhode Island legislature
in its report quotes with approval
from one of the bureau reports and
recommends legislation in accord
ance Herewith.
Three reports published last year
and the year before setting forth ex-
listing water way conditions with
criticisms and suggestions thereon
have been generally used and have
been of valuable aid as much active
interest has been manifested OF late
years in this important subject.
These are among the chief prac-
teal results of efficient publicity"
within the narrow range which
the bureau has been able to cover.
1t can be extended to all important
corporate business. Oppressive
methods OF competition have been
reduced over wide areas; greater
equality of opportunity is being af-
forded; corporate interests have be-
come accustomed to publicity
which they would have regarded as
revolutionary decade ago. Many of
Them are. in fact. cooperating by
voluntarily furnishing much of the
information obtained ~ the bureau.
The public has been enlightened on
many fundamental points of finance
ana business which otherwise come
to the ordinary citizen only in frag-
mentary and confused form; the
President and Congress have been
given reliable facts bearing on eco
nomic questions of public concern.
Finally, the effectiveness of sim
pie publicity and the resulting pub
lie condemnation OF business abuses
has been, proved.
This seven years experience has
built up working system, effective