Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-07

| ton to be the supreme law Of the land.
and
whereas in recent controversies that
have arisen as to the true meaning of this
Constitution the decisions of the state
courts have not been harmonious, and II
| is of vital importance that the Consti-
tuition should mean the same thing In
every state.
Resolved, That the National Civic
Federation respectfully urges the Con-
gress of the United States to pass the
bills there pending. which allow an ap-
peal to the Supreme Court from the judg-
ment of the highest court of each state
In all cases arising under the Constitution
of the United States, whether the decision
of the state court is in favor of the con-
stitutionality of the act in question or
against it.
Decisions Based on Merits.
The second resolution, in respect to
decision of cases on merit rather than on
technicalities, is as follows:
Whereas the American system Of gov
eminent is based upon the principle that
courts administer justice between man
and man and that disputes between them
can thus be settled justly and peaceably.
Resolved. That in the judgment of the
National Civic Federation there is no
civic duty more imperative than to main
tain a speedy administration of justice
upon the merits.
Resolved, That we, therefore, re-
spectfully urge the Congress of the
United States to pass the bills now pend
ing before that honorable body which
have been prepared by the American Bar
Association and recommended by the
President of the United States and which
provide. for the decision Of causes upon
the merits without regard to technical
objections which do not affect the merits
and enable courts to administer In one
suit either legal or equitable relief as
justice may require.
Reform in Legal Procedure.
Mr.. Wheeler spoke to the theme Re
form in Legal Procedure" He elucidated
the work of the committee of the Ameri-
can Bar Association to prepare an ade
quate scheme of reform. and described
the drafts of bills for national legislation.
Regulation of Corporations.
Walter Z. Smith, chairman of the de-
partment on regulation of industrial cor
porations, presided over the sessions. Ralph
Breckenridge. chairman of the commit
tee on reform in legal procedure. pre-
scented the views of the committee, in
dorsing the measures for national legis-
lation proposed by the American Bar AS
ISOLATION.
A report on the work of the department
on the regulation of industrial corpora
tons was made by Talcott Williams, sec
rotary. He told of the Endorsement given
by public opinion to the Sherman anti
trust law, through a poll undertaken py
the National Civic Federation and result
ing In $4,000 answers, the largest returns
on an economic question.
The overwhelming opinion expressed
for enforcement of the law in it's exact
present state without change was indicat-
ed by this poll. Desire for federal regula-
ton of industrial corporations is being
met by preparation of a bill by a commit
tee of the department, of which Seth
Low, president of the federation, is head.
Mr.. Williams said:
For six years past the regulation of in
dustrial corporations has occupied a con-
stantly increasing share of the attention
of the National Civic Federation. At the
annual meeting in December, 1906, it was
plain that economic subjects were requir-
ing larger consideration, and the depart
ment of economics was organized, with
Nicholas Murray Butler, president or Co
lumbia University, as its head.
This was followed by the conference
on trusts, held in Chicago October 1907.
This was the largest gathering for the
discussion of the subject held in this
country, attended by those connected
with the federal and state govern
ments. the American Federation of La
Dor, farmers associations. great COM
binations and the leading colleges and
universities. A bill drawn by the COM
mittee appointed by this conference
was introduced in both chambers Of
Congress in the spring of 1908, and
was the subject of widespread public
discussion. consideration in the COM
mittees of the Senate and House and
has been the basis of many proposed
measures since.
while no legislation was enacted. the
presentation Of a definite measure on the
regulations of corporations. on which rep
resentatives of all interests had agreed.
gave a specific and direct character to
the discussion of the subject it had never
before had.
Public Demand for Regulation.
I'm the three years from 1908 to 1911, a
series of judicial decisions established
the law, and in the past year. the de-
partment on the regulation of industrial
corporations has addressed itself to two
definite objects. One has been the prep
aration of a QUESTIONABLE which should
definitely show the condition or pubic
opinion on the Sherman law, Its ENFORCE
ment, amendment or repeal. and the next
step which should be taken, with ques-
lions on the causes of the current unrest.
These answers cover all branches or
production, organized labor. great COM
binations small stores and large financial
authorities professors in all fields of the
discussion, engineers and professional
men. and a multitude of consumers.
IAN overwhelming majority oppose any
repeal or amendment of the Sherman law,
desire its enforcement. and the regula-
ton Of industrial corporations by the
federal government.
such a return looked directly to
measure for the regulation of cor
porations engaged in Interstate COM
merce on a scale large enough to de-
mand this STEP
Preparation of Bill.
For four months such measure
has been in preparation by a COM
mittee OF the department, headed by
Mr.. Seth Low. president Of the Ma
tional Civic Federation.
I'm the preparation Of this measure
the entire body of statutes on this
subject has been collated, foreign ex-
perience has been consulted. lawyers,
economists, those in public position
and Journalists have been brought to-
gether, and the measure will be,
whatever shape future legislation may
take, of assured value in formulating
the material forms and definitions for
final legislation on the policy and line
ultimately adopted by Congress"
tee to recommend legislation for regula-
ton Of corporations, discussed the con-
sideration that had been taken into ac-
count preliminary to drafting a bill ex-
pressing the conclusions OF the committee.
Motives Of public interest, which may
products, possibly to be considered in re-
straint of trade in the letter of existing
law, said Mr.. Low, are to be safeguarded
and encouraged in the plan for legislation.