The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-03
ANTITRUST LAW IS EFFECTIVE SAYS SECRETARY NAGEL Dissolution of Corporations Does Not End Matters,
 However
ADVOCATES BUREAU
 OF CORPORATIONS
"Recent Decisions and Reorganiza- tions Make It Clear That Anoth- CT Imperative Step Remains
 to Be Taken

Washington, January 2.-"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 oi commerce and labor, In his annual report transmitted today to President Taft.
 Secretary Nagel declares that the Sher- man law has been proved to be an effec- tive statute beyond all doubt and that a degree of combination of capital is quite necessary, but lie adds that the supreme court decisions in the Standard oil and Tobacco cases have demonstrated thar the next step in the control of great industrial corporations will be the crea- ton of 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 II. Gary, George ". 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 Ma gel does not definitely say
 Fay0rs Corporation Bureau
 He favors, however, a development of the powers and scope of the bureau of corporations.
 "A certain degree of combination of cap stal is admittedly essential to the carry ing on of our great business enterprises says Secretary Nagel. "To control prop erly such necessary combinations we must have some administrative federal of flee or commission which shall make this work it's business.
 We must have a permanent authority which shall by steady and continuous supervision and publicity safeguard the public interests and at the same time al- low full scope for necessary and proper business efficiency and development.
 The decisions of the supreme court in the Standard oil and American Tobac- co company cases have brought forcibly 10 tho public attention a fact repeatedly presented in the reports of this depart ment--the Imperative need for the positive administrative regulation of great indus- trial corporations
 "The recent decisions and reorganiza- tons which followed have made it clear that another imperative step remains tc be taken and that this is the establish 1nent, by appropriate legislation, Of Q broad system of supervision and publicity for all those industrial and commercial organizations engaged in interstate and International business
 Method Secondary
 .'Whether this shall be done by means of federal incorporation or by fed eral office or commission exercising powers of regulation and supervision may be secondary question. The first consideration appears to be the estab- 1ishment of permanent administrative publicity, regulation and supervision. The time is peculiarly ripe for such action. Public opinion and the views of many corporation managers are as one"
 Secretary Nagel recommends that the bureau of corporations be developed to take up the form of supervision he suggests. It would be but d logical expansion of the bureaus operations solely on publicity for the last eight years and have demonstrated beyond question what a system of permanent supervision can do.
 MT 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 1ecOUlfneiluS lndt any amendments to the immigration laws tend to relieve immigrants of un due hardship without letting down the 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 recom- mehds also that examinations of im- migrants be made before they embark for this country and that the time for deporting confessed criminals be ex- Tended.
 Secretary Nagel refers in passing to recent criticism of the immigration service H esays the bureau has en- deavored to obey the general mandate of the law and relieve the individual eG hardship wherever the statute al- lows 1t.
 "In the meantime Lincolns advice finds renewed application" sayS the secretary, quoting the words, If both