Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-29
Committee Minority Reports
on Steel Trust Investigation.
FAVORS FEDERAL CHARTER
Advocates Creation of an Interstate
Commission of Industry.
MAJORITY VIEW CRITICISED
Conditions of Labor in Some Mills
Declared Bad-Eight-Hour
Shifts Urged.

IN a. report which disputes the findings
of fact of the democrats of the Stanley
steer investigating committee of the
House OF Representatives, three republic
cans Oh the committee submitted to the
Rouse today their recommended tons as to
remedial legislation for trust evils These
members of the minority are Gardner OF
massachusetts,. Danforth of New York
ana Young of Michigan. Mr.. Young con
ours IN everything signed by the other
Two except that he believes the inter
state commerce commission and the rail-
fodo commissions Of the several states
are already clothed with sufficient power
10 remedy all evils growing out of the
ownership of common carriers by indus
trial corporations.
In way, the minority has scored over
the majority by presenting this report
ahead or the majority. 1t happens that
certain trust views released for publica-
ton by Col Roosevelt few days ago
are similar to the views contained in the
present report. Members of the minority
say this Is but a coincidence, as the
minority report was written and printed
and held confidential before Roosevelt
made his utterances.
Commission of Industry Favored.
The report advocates the creation of an
interstate commission of industry to be
ciothed with extensive powers of regula-
ton and with power to fix reasonable
prices for the output of corporations
The report would require that all corpora
! tons capitalized at $50.OOOOOO or more
operate under charter to be issued by
the United States before engagi in
interstate commerce. Smaller CORPORA
tions might avail themselves of the fed
erai charter at their own option.
All corporations availing themselves of
the United States charter would be re-
capitalized at their actual value. The re-
port commends the work of the bureau of
called Brandeis bin. which would transfer
the burden of proof to defendant corpora
TONS to show that they are in ''rea SON
able restraint Of trade. 1t approves the
measures calculated to prevent interlocl
ing dlrectorates, and of the democratic
members legislative program the repub-
licanS say.
THE principles contained in the bills
drafted by the majority are distinctly
worthy OF commendation, and we give
them our approval. But If the policy of
dissolution favored by the majority is to
be pursued much additional legislation is
required before proper dissolution can be
obtained. This legislation the ma jority
has scarcely outlined"
The republican members make it plain
that the report is not expression of
republican policy or dictated by the re-
publican administration. insisting that the
committee members stand on their own
views.
The report does not spare the steel
trust or its organizers. j. P. Morgan &
Co. are credited with profit of S62,-
500, 900 for underwriting the organization
of the United States Steel Corporation.
Labor conditions in the steel mills are
declared to be bad and suggestion is
made to the corporation to improve them
by working mill hands in eight instead Of
twelve hour shifts.