Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-10
ADVISES CHANGE IN
COMMERCE LAWS
Gregory Wants Congress to Re-
wise Commodities Clause of
Interstate Act.
ASK RIGHT OF SEARCH
IN U. S. MAIL FRAUDS
Acknowledgement Reviews the
Work of Department-TeIIs
of New Haven Case.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-Attorney-
General Gregory made his first report
to Congress today, as head of the de-
partment of justice. He recommend
ed several amendments to existing
laws and gave a comprehensive re-
view Of the work of the department
for the fiscal year. His principal rec
concentration was for an amendment
10 the commodities clause of the in
terstate commerce act designed to
block the way Of any common carrier
which seeks to transport products in
which 1t has any interest whatsoever
over its lines.
In asking for ouch legislation the
attorney general referred to the diff
Guilty the department has encountered
in attempting to break up what is
known as the hard coal combination
controlling large part of the anthra-
cite fields in eastern Pennsylvania.
lie told Congress that railroads in
that field have met recent Supreme
Court decisions, interpreting the COM
inodities clause, by the organization
of corporations whose stock Is DIS
tributed ratably among stockholders
of the railroad, with its management
dominated by the railroad. To such a
corporation, he says, the railroad in
question sells coal at the mines under
contract which puts the new corpor-
alton largely, If not completely,
within the power of the railroad"
This plan has been challenged by the
government.
Gregory's Recommendations.
''I recommend" wrote Mr.. Gregory
''an amendment which will prohibit a
railroad from transporting in inter-
state commerce articles which il man
ufactured or produced, or which were
manufactured or produced by any
corporation controlled by it or aff1l-
lated with it by having the same
controlling stockholders, irrespective
of whether such railroad or such con-
trolled affiliated corporation has an
interest in the articles at the time of
transportation. 1t is also necessary,
If transportation and production are
TO be completely divorced, that Con-
gress prohibit any railroad owned or
controlled by a producing or trading
corporation and not operated merely
as a plant facility, from transporting
in interstate commerce articles pro-
duced or owned by such corporation.
Other recommendations include an
amendment making it a Federal
crime" to kill an officer of the United
States engaged in serving or exc
cutting process and authority for the
use of search warrants in advertising
fraud cases which rely on the mails
TO attract victims
documentary evidence" says the
report, "only procurable by search.
is almost Indispensable to convict
these swindlers and protect their VIC
xims.'
As the law now stands, Mr. Gregory
points out, no authority exists to re-
cover property used for criminal pur-7
poses. save on specific conditions
under customs, revenue Indian liquor,
fishery, interstate commerce trans
portation and obscene literature
cases.
Give Grand Juries More Power.
Acknowledgement Gregory recon-
mends that the power of Federal
grand juries be enlarged SO that
they can investigate crimes commit
ted in any division of Federal dis
trict He suggests also that an
amendment to existing law is needed
whereby a Federal judge In whose
court an indictment is returned may
consider testimony before the grand
jury and enter an order making the
warrant run to all parts of the Fed
eral territory.
"Under the prevailing practice"
says the report, offenders against
uniform laws while living within the
borders of the United States fire.
auently gain practical immunity
from punishment. The Federal laws
apply to every part of the United
States and the procedure to secure
the punishment of an offense and
the presence of the offender before
the court should be as far-reaching
as the law declaring the offense. 1t
is oftentimes more difficult and ex-
pensive to compel an accused per-
son who lives in a state other than
the one where the offense is COM
mitted to respond to an accusation
than 1t is to secure extradition from
foreign country"
Amendments of minor nature are
suggested also to the food and drugs
act, the insecticide act, the twenty
eight hour-law and the bankruptcy
law. Mr.. Gregory renewed the
recommendations of the former at