Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-08-13
STRAIGHT JAcKrr ron BUSINESS

While the country has been watch
Ing for war news. the senate OF the
United states has passed a trade
commission bill in which the follow
Ing provisions are Incorporated
ITO investigate any corporation or
association doing an Interstate trade
business whenever and az often as u
pleaHcs.
'To require any corporation 70
furnish information Il calls for at
any time without limitation.
ITO prescribe forms Of annual re-
tofts from such corporations, and to
compel the making OF annual report.
and special reports without limit ana
ut any time.
ITO make public the information it
obtains.
''ro prepare DEGREES In suits
brought by the attorney General
"To Investigate and determine
whether DEGREES procured by the al
forney general are being carried out
or are being violated and what. II
any. other or additional decree ~
advisable.
eIf il finds that any one has vio-
lated the antitrust law, 90 report its
findings and the evidence to the at
torney general. with us recommended
lions
Have access to all books and pa
pors Of such business.
''To investigate trade conditions IN
other countries.
no prevent unfair methods Of
competition.
s'ro hold hearings affecting any
concern whenever " pleases to deter
mine whether is methods are unfair
or not.
III II finds they are unfair, TO H.
SUE an order restraining and pro-
hibiting the use of the same.
III the order Is not complied with,
10 hrlng an action to enforce com
piiance.
''ro issue subpoenas, compel the
attendance and testimony OF viii
nesses, and production Of evidence,
and 60 administer nnthe,'
The federal trade commission bill
has not YET become law, because
there are differences between the
views Of The house and the senate ns
ia the phrasing Of the measure, but
this creation VIII have essentially the
powers enumerated above.
This is The first Of the admlnlstra.
ton measures 20 put business in al
straight Jacket and hamper II In It's
normal growth. II seems strange that
our alleged statesmen could not al
low business. in the present crisis. to
have some sort Of freedom Of action
instead Of winding about II all the
red tape that can be devised by fed
eral legislation.
With larger measure Of indlyid-
ual liberty than was possessed by the
people Of any other nation on earth,
during little more than century
and a quarter We grew and prosper
ed as no nation before ever grew and
pfospered in the history Of the
world The prosperity was confined
To- no class or profession or calling. !
While Il made many mllionarcs, II
also gave labor employment at the
highest wages fer the shortest hours
that labor ever has known under the
Blended heavens.
However the old way was not I
good enough for the men Of tender
conscience They wanted 10 curtain 4
the profits Of employers without il
amy way adding 70 the prosperity Of /
the employees or without reducing the I
cost 70 the consumer The object +
they say, Is 10 protect the little bust
ness man against the rapacity OF "hig
business l3y doing SO they Increase
waste. make living more costly and
the business man, the manufacturer
and the farmer are left unprotected
from competitors abroad