The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-30
ny Associated P-esa

Washington, Nov. 29.-Government
control of corporations to protect pub
lie interests and insure stability OF
business; publicity of corporation az
fairs and less presidential politics
were urged today by Ebert H. Gary,
14hairnan of the board of directors of
the United States Steel Corporation,
as remedies for trust evils and busi-
ness unrest.
Mr.. Gary appeared voluntarily be-
fore the senate committee on inter-
Estate commerce which is investigating
the question of additional trust leg1s-
Iation. He declared that publicity
would accomplish most towards curb
ing the big corporations, but that TO
insure business stability and the
greatest development of industry, cor
porations must be permitted to expand
under proper governmental control.
The steel corporation, Mr.. Gary said,
had been at all times anxious to obey
the law and desired only as fair treat
ment as was given to the consumer.
Equal treatment is all we ask, he
said. There has never been time
that I have not said show us where
we are wrong and we will get right =
Mr. Gary said there was too much
presidential politics in the country"
WANTS LONGER TERMS.
sT would like to see the president
elected for eight years without an op-
poRtunity for reelection" he said. In
other words put him in such posi-
ton and frame of mind that he has no
temptation or inclination to look in
any direction or toward interests In
reference to his reelection"
Mr. Gary added that he made mo
reference to any individual in his
presidential suggestion. He said the
country is already feeling the unrest of
the coming election.
CORPORATIONS MUST REMAIN.
Mr.. Gary declared the United States
cannot give up the big corporation or
the big combination of capital. They
are necessary, he said if the United
states is to maintain commercial su-
premacy and industrial equilibrium
and the greatest public good will be
secured by working out a system of
federal control that win prevent the
misuse of power of corporations.
In the last few years." said Mr..
Gary, there has been much damage
of great business affairs that was
wrong. Many of the great business
men, including perhaps myself, have
notions concerning the conduct of
business which should be changed"
He said that corporations had de-
veloped to a point where they must be
curbed to prevent the misuse of their
power.
AS a curb for the trust evil, Mr..
Gary offered the following plan:
Federal license of corporations, re-
quiring full publicity, preventing over
capitalization and preventing discrimi
tion in cases between persons and To-
calities.
1.-The creation of a corporation conn
mission with power to grant, suspend,
and revoke federal licenses subject to
q right of appeal to a court
'The corporation commission to have
power to decide questions submitted
by mana gers of business organizations
who desire to avoid illegality in their
actions, and to regulate prices as far
as necessary to prevent monopoly and
restraint of trade
For example" said Mr.. Gary. ''if
prices should be established by trade
agreement or if raw materials. such
as cotton or tobacco should be pooled.
or if patents should be used to the
public detriment. this commission
should be empowered to establish
maximum prices for the goods thus
controlled"
Mr.. Gary digressed to defend the
steel corporation against charges that
it had made agreements to restrain
trade and increase prices.
Speaking of the business methods of
a decade ago. Mr.. Gary said:
I'VE wouldn't think of doing now
what Mr.. Carnegie and others would
have done twelve years ago and would
have thought it perfectly right to do"