The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-01-03
Andia Federal Agency Should
Be Created Declares
MI Nagel.

preAAlns up OF large nhination
into a number OF sepaT parts by
nosmeaps meets the whole trust. ques-
ton" says Secretary Nagal Of me
Department Of Commence and Labor
in his, annual report transmitted TO
President Taft.
Secretary Nagel declares that the
Sherman law has been proved to, be
an effective statute beyond an doubt
and that a degree Of combination of
capital is quite necessary, but he
adds that the supreme court deci-
sions in the Standard Oil and to-
baeco cases Lave demonstrated that
the next step in the control of great
industrial corporations will be the
creation of a permanent federal
agency.
How such control shall be exer-
cised, whether by commission, feder-
al Incorporation or other means,
which have been advocated recently
by Judge Ebert H. Gary, George w.
Perkins and other fnanciers before
the Senate committee which has been
conducting hearing to determine
what changes would be desired in the
antitrust laws, Secretary Nagal does
not definitely say.
He fayorss however, development
of the powers and scope Of the Blu
reau of Corporations.
"a certain degree of combination
of capital is admittedly essential to
the carrying on OF our great business
enterprises" says. Secretary Nagal.
ITO control properly such necessary
combinations we must have some adj
rninistratiYe federal Office or com
mission which shall make this work
its business.
1--WE must have permanent au
thority which shall by steady and
continuous supervision and publicity
safeguard the public interests and at
the same time allow full scope for
necessary and propeEs business eff
ciepey and development XII ~
"The decisions 81 tie apreme court
in the Standard on anu american
Tobacco Compan cases ehave brought
forcibly to the public attention fact
repeatedly presented IL fthe reports
of this department-the imperative
need for the positive administrative
regulation of great industrial cor
porations.
THE recent decisions and Se-organ-
iztaions which followed have made At
clear that another imperative stop
remains to be taken and that this is
the establishment by appropriate leg
islation, of a broad system Of super
vision and publicity for all these In
dustrlal and commercial organiza-
tons engaged IN interstate and in
ternational business. ~
Whether It shall be done by fed
eral incorporation or by a federal
office or commission exercising pow
ers of regulation and supervision may
be a secondary question The first
consideration appears 10 be the es-
of permanent administra-
tive publicity, regulation and super
vision. The time is peculiarly ripe
for such action. Public opinion and
the views of many corporation man
ayers are as one"
Secretary Nagal recommends that
the Bureau of Corporations be devel-
oped to take up the form of supervi-
SIGN he suggests. 1t would be but a
logical expansion of the bureaus OPP
erations and policy, which he says,
have relied solely on publicity for
the last eight years and have demon
strated beyond question what a sys-
TEN of permanent supervision can do.
Mr.. Nagel's 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 immi-
grafton laws tend to relieve immi-
grants of undue hardIhip without let
ting down the bars against undesir-
ables. Larger discretion chould be
lodged with officials, he thinks, to ad-
nit unfortunate members of incom-
ing families where It is shown that
society would be protected against
burden and danger. He recommends
also that examinations Of immigrants
be made before they embark for this