The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-30
Declares That Great Cor
porations Are Essen
tialto Development.
DISTURBANCES"
COME TOO OFTEN
He Would Have Judges Ap.
pointed for Life and Presi-
dents Elected for Eight
Years Without Privilege
of Second Terrn-Case
of Too Much Politics.

Washington, November 2s.-EIbert
H. Gary, executive head of the United
states Steel Corporation, made a plea
lor big business to-day before the
senate committee on Interstate Com
merce, which is searching for n solu-
ton of the present trust problem in
the United States. n
Big corporations are essential to
the development of the country and
the maintenance Of business pros
perity. he said. To prevent their mis-
using the enormous power that comes
with wealth and control of industrial
agencies, he thought the government
should take control OF them. thruurb
corporation or trade commission
with absolute power to regulate their
affairs. Add to this clear law as
TO what can and what cannot be done.
the strong light of publicity on ali
Eie affairs of corporations, and the
elimination of presidential and other
political issues from the business
world. and the unrest that has
spread over the United States Will
largely disappear, said Mr.. Gary.
business Already Disturbed.
The coming election is already dis
turbins business. he added He said
members of the courts ought to be
appointed for life; that the President
ought to be elected for eight years
without the privilege of e-electIon, SO
that he would rbe in position and
frame of mind" where he would not be
tempted to look In any direction or
toward any interests" in seeking re-
election.
Mr.. Gary dwelt at length upon the
political situation. He said he had no
particular President In mind; but that
he believed fewer elections and less
reason for seeking public or private
support for political purposes would
AID greatly in keeping business at a
level.
Judge Gary recommended the Fed
eral license Of corporations, their con-
ttrols.bYe n,ttradess commits tono.sthe pub
z licityr OF all their affairs, and. the
sanction of certain acts which the
commission might consider not to be
restraint of trade" Ht
He declared unrestricted competi-
ton meant the ruin of the small In
dividual or concern, and the gradual
strengthening Of the natural monopoly
OF the larger. AS opposed to this he
urged that the government recognize
the need of partial agreements be-
tween corporations and individuals. so
that an actual competition might be
still maintained that would be fair and
Tree to all interests.
rs there any particular, thing now
Z ~ TIC toiiCi uiuI Ia"
that you think ought to be permitted 2"
asked Senator Cummins.
Can't Define .Itcstraint.'
Mr.. Gary thought not; but he said
the business difficulty lay in deciding
beforehand what amounted to re-
straint of trade" The famous Gary
dinners" where Steel men gathered to
discuss their affairs, were not to hx
prices, but to disclose their business
condition to each other, he said.
Every gentleman there, II he was
a gentleman. could go away with a
full knowledge of his competitors, af-
fairs, and could shape his business SO
as not to ruin his competitor" said
MI. Gary.
He added that no had not dared to
hold these conferences lately; that
there was no means of Knowing exact
~ what constituted a violation OF the
Sherman law.
Congress should test tho right Of
the Supreme Court to interpret and
virtually make the laws" said Pro-
fessor John II. Gray. of the Univer-
sity of Minnesota. who followed Mr..
Gary before the Senate committee. I'VE
have apparently come to point where
the national legislature is about to
be abolished. The courts are inter-
preting the law, and the one who in
terprets the law is actually the one
who m ISee IL - s'f