Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-19
|SUGAR PROBE kEEN|P0WER OVER PRICES
Many Questions Put to Mr. Attorney General Declares for
Thomas at Inquiry. Federal Commission.
DENIES MONOPOLY CHARGE TO GOVERN CORPORATIONS
American Makes Only Half Of Sensational Address Before
Total Product in Country Minnesota Bar Association
WHY CAPITAL WAS INCREASED LIKE COMMERCE COMMISSION
Regulate
In Thirty-Three lions as Interstate Railroads
Reaneries Are Now
Attorney General Declares for
a Federal Commission.
TO GOVERN CORPORATIONS
Sensational Address Before the
Minnesota Bar Association.
LIKE COMMERCE COMMISSION
To Regulate Industrial organiza-
lions as Interstate Railroads
Are Now Regulated.

DULUTH. MIMI, July 19.-Attorney
General Wickersham. before the Mime
sofa state Bar Association here today,
TOOK an advanced stand on the further
teoeral regulation of corporations and de-
ciareo tnat government commission to
regulate great industrial organizations,
In the same way that the interstate COM
merce commission regulates railways,
was certainly most desirable. and that 1t
might be absolutely necessary.
MI. understands speech was little
snort OF sensational in many Of it's fea-
lures. He declared that ii was a mat
ter OF serious consideration whether 1t
would be practical to give to the pro-
posed interstate corporation commits
sion the power to fix prices. To do this
In theory would simply require an ex-
tension Of the principle by which the
interstate commerce. commission con-
trolls the rates on railroads.
Not Fixed by Supply and Demand.
The law of supply and demand, Mr..
Wickersham said. no longer controls
prices in the United States. For years,
he declared, the prices in all the great
staple industries have been fixed by an
agreement between the principal pro-
ducers and not by a normal play of free
competition. An interstate commission,
the Attorney General added. would pre-
vent violations Of the antitrust act and
aid business men to maintain a contin-
ued status of harmony with the require
ments OF the law.
Many Of Mr.. Understands declarati ms
were the most radical he has made since
his entrance into official LIE. With the
weight OF an administration officer behind
them, his remarks made a deep impress
sion. There was nothing in the speech,
however. to ind cate how far the Attorney
General reflected the views of President
Taft.
The Attorney General discussed me gen.
era! question of what further regulat ton
OF interstate commerce Is necessary or
desirable. from broad point of view,
and said that he had not attempted to
express conclusion, but merely to state
the elements of great problem which
goes to the root of the prosperity of the
American people.
"Any Port in a Shipwreck."
That some further regulation over
corporations carrying on commerce
among the states may be necessary"
he said. rs, however. coming to be a
matter Of current moment It has been
openly advocated quite recently by rep
combinations of capital, probably as
means OF salvation and to preserve,
under government supervision. great
organizations whose continued exist
ence Is menaced by the recent inter-
probation of the Sherman act, the
dts migration of which would be nee
essarily attended with much loss To
such 1t Is case of any port in q ship
wreck. Better continued cooperative
lie. even under a powerful master,
than disseminated properties and seq
regated activities without constant
governmental supervision.
But there are other reasons for such
regulation. The federal Department of
Justice is not organized or equipped to
maintain constant supervision and con-
troll over business organizations 1t deals
only with cases of violation Of the law
The activities Of an administrative board
or commission would be directed to pre-
venting such violations and in aiding
business men to maintain continued
status OF harmony with the requirements
OF law"
Short speeches of felicitation, introduce
ton Of men made famous by their activ-
ity In the legal field and the notation Of
the presence Of Trust Buster Frank B.
Kellogg preceded the set address of the
Attorney General.