The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-20
is LITTLE SHORT
OF SENSATIONAL
Acknowledgement Takes Ad
vanced Stand on Further Fed
eral Regulation of Corpora
tions-Declarations M ost
Radical He Has Made
in Public Life.

the spacious banquet hall OF the
to the Minnesota State Bar Association
and the local members of that organi-
cation meeting here listened to an ad-
dress by Attorney General George w
Wickershnm.
Mr.. Wickersham spoke on the sub
ject What Further Regulation of In
terstate Commerce Is Necessary or De-
s!rable?"
Attorney General wickersham to-
night attended A Josh banquet" given
by the Minnesota State Bar Associa-
ton. No set speeches were scheduled!
Attorney-General Wickersham took
an advanced stand on the further Fed
eral regulation OF corporations, and
declared that government commits
sion 10 regulate great industrial or
ganiZauons. in the came way that the
Interstate Commerce Commission regu-
lates railways. was certainly most de-
sirable. and that II might be absolute
~ necessary.
Little short OF Sensational.
Mr.. Wickersham's speech WAS little
short OF sensational IN many OK its
features. He declared that II was a
matter Of serious consideration wheth-
er 1t would be practical to give TO the
proposed Interstate Corporation Com
mission the power to AK prices
To do this IN theory would simply
require an extension of the principle
by which the Interstate Commerce
Commission controls the rates OF rail-
roads.
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 normal play OF
free competition. An interstate COM
mission the Acknowledgement added.
would prevent violations OF the anti
trust act and aid business men to
maintain continued status of har-
nony with the requirements OF the
law.
Radical Declarations.
Many of MT. Understands declara-
lions were the most radical he has
made since his entrance into official
life. With the weight OF an admins
tration officer behind them, his re-
marks made u deep impression. There
was nothing in the speech, however.
to indicate how far the Attorney
General reflected the views of Presi-
dent Taft On several occasions in the
past. however. he has been regarded
as a spokesman for the administration.
The Attorney General discussed the
general question OF what further regu-
lat!on OF Interstate commerce is need
ed or desira BILE from a broad point of
view. and said that he had not at
tempted TO express a conclusion. but
merely to state the elements OF a great
problem which goes the root of
the prosperity OF the American people.
THAT some further regulation over
corporations carrying on commerce
among the states may be necessary"
he said, lis, however coming to be
matter of current comment. 1t has
been openly advocated quite recently
by representatives Of some OF the larg-
est com bina tons OF capital, probably
as a means of salvation, and to pre-
serve under government supervision
great organizations whose continued
existence Is menaced by the recent in
terpretation of the Sherman act, the
disintegration of which would be
necessarily attended with much loss.
To such 1t is a case of amy port in
shipwreck.' Better continued cooper
alive life. even under powerful mas
ter. thar disseminated properties and
segregated activities without constant
governmental supervision.
Reasons for Regulation.
"But there are other reasons for
such regulation. The Federal Depart
ment of Justice is not organized or
equipped to maintain constant super
vision and control over business or
PLANTATIONS. 1t deals only with cases
OF violation of the law.
..Tbe activities OF an administrative
hoard or commission would be directed
m preventing such violation and in
aiding business men to maintain con-
tinued status of harmony with the re-
quirements of law.
Eve have become accustomed to the
regulation of rates of transportation,
but the suggestion that prices of COM
modities be regulated by Congress
seems novel and radical. Yet the prin-
CHILE on which the regulation OF trans
nortation rates is based is simply that
when property is used in a manner to
make II of public consequence and
affect the community at large. 1t be-
comes clothed with q public use and
may be controlled by the public for
the common good.
80 to-day the conduct of the great
commerce on staple articles among
: the States is become d matter of pub
lie consequence. and the courts have
uphsld legislation regulating 1t and
prescribing some OF the conditions un-
der which 1t may be carried on To
require as one OF these conditions that
prices for commodities dealt In in in
terstate commerce must be reasonable
only involves a new application OF the
same principle.
1.-THE law of supply and demand does
not and has not for many years worked
in this country In a natural, unre-
strained and unfettered manner.
DISCRIMINATION of Prices.
'"The fact seems to be that the prices
of standard articles off consumption
sold In the United States for number