The Washington times., 1911-07-11
CORPORATIONPROBE
TO DECIDE FUTURE
LEGISLATION LIKELY
Adequate Federal Control
Is Problem Before
l.. Senators. :?
PRESENT SITUATION
CANNOT CONTINUE
Scores of Combinations Live in
Defiance of Sherman
Statute.

Indications are that the Senate Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce will en-
bark upon a most important inquiry,
into the need for new and compre-
hensive legislation on control of corpo-
rations. This inquiry may be expected
TO begin within a short time after the
close Of the extra session Of Congress.
1t will go ahead in the recess, and
a report to the Senate may be expected
in the regular long session.
Some weeks ago, there was a sugges-
ton of such an inquiry. Now the mat
ter is taking more definite form. Earlier
IN this session. Senator Clapp. chair
man of the committee, got a resolution
passed allowing the committee to hold
sessions and conduct investigations
such as might be necessary. This was
no more than the usual resolution pass
ed to give every big committee which
has important work on hand the right
to conduct investigations. 1t was talk
ed for awhile, soon after the oil and
tobacco decisions of the Supreme Court,
that the committee might conduct in
Quiries into corporation matters on the
strength of this resolution.
May Be Broadened.
Now, it Is said the resolution will
doubtless be broadened In scope before
the close of this session and the COM
mittee will undertake certain lines of
inquiry that promise to be of the ut
most interest and Importance. The
proposed inquiry will go into the eff
feet of the Supreme Court decisions on
the Sherman law. into the workings of
the Sherman law, into the need for
control Of the great Industrial corpora
tions and into the best methods for the
Federal control and regulation of cor
poratons.
1t is proposed to hold hearings in
various important commercial centers.
such as New York. Philadelphia, Chi
cago, and perhaps other places, in addi-
ton to such hearings as may be in
Washington. The great captains of in
dustry, the Morgans, the RockefeIIers.
the Garys, and men of that type. will b..
summoned and asked TO give their
views.
Interest In Subject.
Out OF The investigation it is expected
the committee will develop Information
to be used as the basis for working out
q permanent and comprehensive plan
for the control of the Industrial corpora
tions engaged In interstate commerce
Whether this plan will be a system of
Federal incorporation, Federal licensing,
or something else cannot be foretold.
The Senate is manifesting a more and
more acute interest in this subject of
controlling the great corporations It
is fully realized that the existing situa-
ton, with scores of combinations living
In virtual defiance of the Sherman law,
cannot continue Indefinitely. The prac-
teal impossibility of getting the Sher-
man law thoroughly enforced is ap-
parent; at least the difficulties ia way
OF enforcement amounting almost to
impossibility are well realized. Some in
6ication of the growing interest in this
subject was given the other day in the
statement made by Senator Newlands
in introducing a bill for a commission
for the control of industrial corpora
tions, much like the Interstate Com
nerce Commission
Senator Newlands is one Of the Demo-
Gratis who are anxious for strong Federal
control of the corporations, though the
Democrats in Congress, as whole, are
not keen to get away from the State
rights doctrine to that extent.
Committee Able One.
The Senate is not alone in its interest
in the, matter. Representative Martin
of South Dakota has long been studying
the subject, and. being now a member
of the House Committee on Interstate
Commerce, hopes to press for considera-
ton of it next regular session.
II the Senate committee conducts the
investigation now talked of. it cannot
be doubted 1t will lead to renewed and
widespread public discussion of this
tremendous legislative program. On the
! Interstate Commerce Committee are
some of the ablest men in the Senate,
such as Clapp, Crane, Cummins, Town
send, Brandegee, Newlands, Clark of
have been intimately concerned with the
extension Of the interstate commerce
laws, and are well prepared to study
inhnstrial corporation laWmakinR.