The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-03
FEDERAL AGENCY
TO CONTROL TRUSTS
Is the Next Step in Governments Atti-
tude According To the Belief of
Secretary Nagel of Commerce
and Labor Department.

Washington, D. G., Jan. 3.-"The mere
breaking up of large combinations into
number of separate parts by no means
meets the whole trust question says
Secretary Nagel of the department OF
commerce and labor in his annual re-
port transmitted to President Taft.
Secretary Nagel declares that the
Sherman law has been proved to be an
effective statute beyond all doubt and
that degree of combination of capital
| j. quite necessary, but he adds that
the supreme court decisions in the Stand
ard oil and tobacco cases have demon
strated that tire next step in the con-
troll of great industrial corporations win
be the creation of a permanent federal
agency.
How such control shall be exercised,
whether by commission. federal incor
poration or other means, which have been
advocated recently by Judge Ebert III.
Gary, George w. Perkins and other fl
nanciers before the Senate committee
which has been conducting hearings to
determine what changes would be desir-
able in the antitrust laws, Secretary
Nagel does not definitely say. He fa-
vors, however, development of the
powers and scope of the bureau of cor
porations.
"A certain degree of combination of
capital is admittedly essential TO the
carrying on of our great business en-
terprses." says Secretary Nagel. ITO
control properly such necessary combina-
tions we must have some administra-
tive federal office or commission which
shall make this work its business.
1--WE must have permanent aelthor-
itv which shall. bv steady and contin-
uous supervision and publicity, safeguard
the public interests and at the same
time allow full scope for necessary and
proper business efficiency and develop
nent
"The decisions Of the supreme court
in the Standard Oil and American To-
bacco company eases have brought for
chilly to the public attention fact re-
peatedly presented in the reports Of this
departmental imperative need for the
positive administrative regulation of
great industrial corporations.
"The recent decisions and reorganiza-
tions which followed have made it clear
that another imperative step remains to
b. taken and that this is the establish
ment, by appropriate legislation, of a
broad system of supervision and public
ity for all those industrial and CONNER
cial organizations engaged in interstate
and international business.
'Whether this shall be done by means
of federal incorporation or by a federal
office or commission exercising powers
and supervision may be secondary
question. The first consideration ap-
pears to he the establishment OF per-
manent administrative publicity, regula
tion and supervision The time is Pc
culiarly ripe for such action Public
opinion and the views of many corpora
tion managers are as one"
Secretary Nagel recommends that the
bureau of corporations be developed TO
take up the form of supervision he sug-
gests. 1t would be but a logical expan- |
sion of the bureaus operations and pol |
icy. which he says, have relied solely |
on publicity for the last eight years |
and have demonstrated beyond question
what system of permanent supervision |
can do.
Mr. Nagels report in full, deals with |
the years work in the many bureaus |
and divisions over which he presides.
In connection with the immigration
service the secretary recommends that |
any amendments TO the immigration
laws tend to relieve immigrants of un-
due hardship without letting down the I
bars against undesirables. Larger dis /
cretion should be lodged with officials, |
he thinks, to admit unfortunate mem
bers of incoming families where it is
shown that society would be protected /
against burden and danger. He recon-
mends also that examinations of immi-
grants be made before they embark for
this country and that the time for de.
porting confessed criminals be extend
ed
Secretary Nagel refers in passing to
recent criticism of the immigration serv-
ice He says the bureau has endeavored
to obey the general mandate of the law
and relieve the individual of hardship
wherever the statute allows it.
"Tn the meantime, Lincoln's advice
finds renewed application" says the sec
retary quoting the words. IF both fac
tions, or neither, shall abuse you, you
will probably be about right Beware
Of being assailed by one and praised by
the other
One of the greatest operations of the
year in Secretary Nagel's department
was the completion of the thirteenth
census.
A very important investigation on the
,ost of living is now being carried on by
the bureau of labor. "The report prom
ses to provide basis for intelligent
discussion of this must mooted ques-
tion," says the secretary.