The Washington times., 1911-11-01
PROPOSALS FOR AMENDING
THE ANTITRUST CODE.

THE ANTITRUST CODE.
Mr.. Martin Littleton, Democrat,
metropolitan lawyer, and the Repre-
sentative in Congress from the Oyster
Bay district, would have the Sherman
law repealed and a new regulative code
adopted.
Mr.. Charles A. Prouty, Interstate
Commerce Commissioner, longtime
student of these problems, and Repub-
lican, presents just about the same
proposal. Out of his long experience
in dealing with the related economic
questions that come before the Inter
state Commission, Mr.. Prouty outlines
the substance of regulative measures
that he believes would be effective. He
does not believe ultimate restoration
of old-fashioned competition is pos.
sible; but he does believe there would
be enough competition to prevent ex-
tortionate prices, to induce the highest
sfaoiuncy and best quality, and to as.
sure perhaps better wages than under
another system.
The address of Commissioner Prouty
was made before the Congregational
Club in Brooklyn Monday evening. He
begins by venturing that "there is to.
day no greater joke than our treat
ment of the trust problem" After ex-
planning why, he demands to know
what shall be done about it. and he
proposes a series of specifications for
the basis of new regulative code. In
substance they are:
l. The law should be clear and un.
ambiguous. Every man should know
before he launches his enterprise ex.
actly what is within and what without
the law. He would omit all reference
to monopoly from the law, but would
prohibit all contracts or conspiraciea
in restraint of trade.
2. He would impose penalties that
would be effective. W
8. Unfair competitive methods, such
as selling below cost, to destroy com.
petition, as the Standard Oil did. He
declares that if there had been an
effective law on this subject for the
last twenty years it would have done
vastly more good than the anti trust
act has done.
4. He would absolutely dissociate
the transportation agencies from the
shippers. 49,.
5. Monopolies of coal lands, standing
timber, waterpower, and the like, he
would deal with directly, and prevent
6. He would require every corporation
to begin by exposing all facts con
corning its purposes, it's property
values, etc. Without committing him
self as to Federal incorporation OF
Federal license of interstate commerc.
concerns, he indicates clearly that
something of that sort is in his mind.
Accordingly, Mr.. Prouty would estab
lish commission to study the whole
| question, and also to exercise certain
administrative functions. And thu
general purpose of this commission
Mr.. Prouty states in a most effectiv,
fashion. 1t seems to be real contri
button to the "what shall we do about
it2" discussion. 81.
During its Arst ten years." he says
'the Interstate Commission did httl,
except investigate and report. In tn,
last five it has possessed an authority
little short of tremendous, and yet tn,
work done during the first ten was al
necessary as that of the last five.
$50 believe commission of broad
minded men, competent to understan,
and deal with this situation, would il
time make plain the true nature O
the question and the proper remedy
that by a gradual evolution ther,
would come about general under
standing of what ought to be done.'
The value of this proposal is in it
analogy to the experience of the coun
thy in developing the railroad regu
lation laws. Everybody knows tina
experience; everybody is convinced tha
a great work has been accomplished
With reference to the trusts we stan
today just about where we stood fifteel
or twenty years ago with reference t,
railroad control. The nation knows 4
faces big problem, and that some