Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1914-04-03
ONE ANTITRUST MEASURE IS
WELL ON ITS WAY TO
PASSAGE.
WILL BE INDEPENDENT BODY
Interstate Trade Commission Given
Power to Investigate Organization
and Business Of Any Corpora
ton Engaged In Commerce.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

measures prepared by the Democrats
in congress with the approval of Presl-
dent Wilson and Attorney General
McReynolds is on its way toward pas
sage. The measure is the one estab-
fishing an interstate trade commits
sion. The Democrats in congress have
found that good many of their Re-
publican brethren approve the bill In
the form in which it has been sub
mitted and there seems to be little
siderable Republican vote will be re-
corded in its favor.
This commission measure was
unanimously agreed upon by its franz
ers who constitute subcommittee or
the house interstate commerce COM
mittee and In the membership of the
framing body were both Democrats
and Republicans.
An Independent Body.
OF the bill Representative Coving-
ton has said:
THE whole theory of the creation
of the commission has been to make
1t an efficient independent body. In
most of the matters of publicity 1t has
entire control of the facts gathered.
Publicity is left to its discretion. and
the bill contains ample authority for
1t to prevent the disclosures of those
necessary trade secrets. valueless to
the public. in promoting lawful COM
petitive business. but which. was dis
closed. simply afford opportunity for
injurious use by competitors. Powers
of investigation, safeguarded by prop
err constitutional limitations against
unlawful searches and seizures. are
taken from a new subordinate depart
ment under the control of the execu-
tive and given to this nonpartisan
body"
Under the interstate trade commits
sion bill all the powers and duties of
the present bureau of corporations
and of the commissioner of corpora
tons are transferred to the commits
sion of three members. all of whom
are to be presidential appointees. SUBJ
ject to confirmation by the senate, and
each of whom will draw a salary Of
$4,000 annually. Only two Of the
commissioners can be of the same po-
litical party.
Every corporation that is engaged
in interstate commerce. except cor
porations subject to the act to regu-
late commerce. and which has capi-
tai of 100000 or more. or having
less capital belongs to a class of cor
porations which the commission may
establish. is to be obliged to furnish
20 the new body annually such In
formation, statement and records OF
organization. bondholders and stock
holders and financial condition. and
also such opinion. statements and
records of its relations to other cor
porations and its business and prac-
tises while engaged in commerce. as
the commission shall require"
Powers Of the Commission.
Here is section 10 OF the bill which
shows specifically the powers of the
commission In matters OF investiga.
ton:
Section 10 The commission shall.
upon the direction of the president.
the attorney general. or either house
of congress investigate the organiza.
ton. management and business OF any
corporation while engaged in COM
merce. to aid in ascertaining whether
violating the acts relating to restraint
of trade. And the commission shall
make report of such Investigation,
which may include recommendations
for readjustment of business in order
that said corporation may thereafter
maintain its organization. manage
ment and conduct of business in &C.
cordance with law. Reports made
after investigation may be made pub
lie in the discretion of the commits.
sion"
The annual reports which corpora.
lions shall turn in containing the re.
Guired information and statistics for
the previous year must be made out
under oath and filed with the commits
sion at its Office in Washington with
in three months after the close of the
year. for which the report is made
In cases of necessity 1t will be within
the power of the commission to grant
additional time.
II a corporation delays in turning
in its report the bill as drawn penal
ICES it at 500 for each day of the
delay. A provision of one of the bills
proposed. but not accepted placed the
fine at $1,000 day for delays in turn.
ing in reports. but congress seems to
have thought that this was excessive
Reading Test Is Sure.
Some weeks ago it was said in these
dispatches that before many months
had elapsed adult aliens seeking ad
mission to the United States would be
tested as to their ability to read This
was written with full knowledge thai
President Wilson would prefer tina,
the literacy test should be excluded
| from the law. Members of congress
who seemingly are in a position te
know Mr.. Wilson's mind on the subject
| now seem to have no doubt tbat III.