Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-30
Essential t. Developmer. Of Gown
try and Maintenance OF
Prosperity.
SUGGESTS CERTAIN REMEDIES
Government Should Take UontroI
Turn on 9trorg Light Of
PuMi'ity-E't E't:mince.s
politlLg.

Washington, Nov. 2 -Elb-rt = .in.,
excessive head Of tho C. ) s.,el ,.r..
po:atlon, made = pielo TO- big + s,ne.s
to-day before the seratc committee or
interstate commerce ahich is seurchirp
for . solution OF the present trust prob
lem IN the Culteo States
Big corporations are essential to the
development of the country and the
maintenance of business prosperity ne
said. To prevent their mIsusine the
enormous power that comes with wealtf,
and control of industra AGENCIES he
thought the government should take con
trol Of them through a corporation or
trade commission with absolute power to
regulate their affairs. Add to this % clear
law as 10 what can and what cannot
be done the strong light Of publicity or
all .he affairs of corporations. and the
elimination of presidential and o.he,
Poliical issues from the business world
and the unrest" that has spread over
the United States will largely disappear.
said Mr.. Gary.
The coming election is ALREADY disturb
ing business, he added. He said members
Ire that the president ought I'd be elect
ed for eiGh; years without the privilege
of reelection; So that he would he IN a
position ana frame Of mind" where ha
would not hc tempted to look in any
direction or toward any interests" in
seeking reelection.
NO PARTICULAR PRESIDENT
Mr.. Gary said he mad no particular
president in mind: but that he believed
fewer elections and less reason for seek
ing public or private support for political
purposes would aid greatly in keeping
business at a level At the present time.
he said, there was a Frea. curtailment of
business activity because of the approach
| ing election.
Judge Gary recommended the federal
license of corporations. their control by
= trade commission, the publicity of all
their affairs, and the sanction of certain
acts which the commission might con-
| slider not to be restraint Of trade" he
promised to appear again before the com
mittee next week
"lIow would the commission know
whether an agreement among steel men
10 fix the price of rails at SIS was re
straint Of trade" asked Senator Cum
Minis,
1t would soon become competent to
know that, replied Judge Gary
He declared unrestricted competition
meant the ruin of the small Individual or
concern. and the gradual strengthening
or the natural monopoly of the larger. As
opposed to this he urged that the gov
eminent recognize the need Of partial
agreements between corporations and in
dividuals so that an actual competition
! might still fe maintained that would be
| fair and free to all interests
FAMOUS DINNERS STOPPED.
is there any particular thing now
clearly forbidden by the sherman law
that you think ought to be permitted D.
asked Senator Cummins
Mr Cary thought not; but he sal
! the business difficulty lay in decidiag
beforehand what amounted to re
straint of trade" Tie famous "Garv
dinner whore steel men gathered to
discuss their affairs were not TO hN
prices, hut to disclose their business
condition to each other he said.
Every gentleman there, if he was
a gentleman. could go away with Il
fun knowledge of his competitors a.
fairs, and could shape his business SO
as not to ruin his competitor,' sail
Mr.. Gary.
He added that he had not dare1
even to hold these conferences lately
that there was no means of known-
exactly what constituted d violation
of the sherman law, and that some
governmental commission ought to
have the power to pass on agreements
or mergers that would rebound to tha
public good. and at the same lime
benefit the Industrial interests con
corned
WOULD CURB SUPREME COURT
Congress should test the right OF
the supreme Court 70 interpret and
virtually make the laws" said Prof.
John II. Gray Of the University of
Minnesota, who followed Mr.. Gary be-
fore the Senate committee. we have
apparently come TO a point where the
national Legislature is about TO be
! abolished The courts arc interpret
ing the law. and the one who inter
prets the law is actually the one who
makes It,"
establishment Of a commission to in -
terpret the laws. thus forcing upon
the supreme Court test Of that body's
powers. He said that combination
amongst industries must come about
as a natural development and that the
government should control these com
hinations through an administrative,
commission