The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-24
TRADE COMMISSION.

Az ien3tD the ADMINISTRATION nd'
put forth its interstate trade commits
sion bill. Under its provisions the
trade commission will be much les!
powerful body than tho interstate
commerce commission. This was IN
ovitable. The commerce commission
deals with public service corporation:
which are natural monopolies. The
commerce commission, therefore, was
given the right to control rates and il
this way IL controls the prices OF thc
product railways sell. The interstate
trade commission, on the other hand
deals with private corporations which
are not quasi public like the railroad,
and are not monopolistic by nature
but competitive. The administration
finds itself unable to apply the power
Of control by commission as directly
10 private corporations as to public
cOIpDIaliUuss IL WIN npN 'tecp'Pe "
fix the prices at which private corpora
tions shall sell their product.
The chief functions Of the trade
commission will be as follows:
l. To investigate business and
corporation activities for either the
president, the attorney general, oI
either house of congress, 1t will re-
port upon these Investigations and il
is empowered TO recommend readjust'
Inents, so that the corporations investi
gated may make their business con
form to the law.
,. To report to the president unfail
acts not necessarily constituting viola
may recommend legislation designed tc
end such acts.
$. To act substantially as master
in chancery IN aid Of the United
States courts with reference to suits
in equity that involve restraints oil
trade. Here again the work of the
commission will be limited to invcsti
cation.
4 moment S thought viii show that
the trade commission s duties anC
powers differ radically from those OF
the commerce commission. IT viii
render no binding decisions and viii
carry nothing into effect of its Owl
power. It merely reports to the variou:
departments of the government TO aic
them in enforcing the trnst laws ant
TO assist corporations in conforming Il
those laws.
The interstate trade commission
which is empowered to investigate anC
report upon business activities bavin!
capital of $5,000,000 aud more; il
not forbidden to make public trade
and other legitimate secrets that com,
into its possession. 1t is merely pro
vIded that information obtained ma,
ne made public in the discretion of tn
commission, and It's reports TO th
president may he made public at hi
discretion.
To prevent any other persons TX
eept the president and the commission
CTS from giving publicity TO the fact
revealed by the commission $ iuquiry
1t IS provided that = any person wh
shall make nublic any information Oh
tanned by the commission. without ii
authority shall, upon conviction. b.
fined or imprisoned. The chairman o
the house committee on commerce cx
t.la thaf fhiz . -
30 as TO cover newspaper publication
of information gathered by the com
mission. In other words even ii mem
bcrs of the commission, acting corrupt
~ or negiigently, make public trad
secrets which they have discovcre
during their Investigations, they ar
not to be punished. On the othc
hand, any person connected with
newspaper. even though he act in tn
public interest or the best of goo
faith. who shall give publicity to sue
information. shall be fined OF in
prispucd
This seems to he another attempt o
ihc part of those who seek TO shack
the free press i'll this country 10 Il
Nv ipdircction what ihcv fear The
could not do directly. There are man
meu in public life whose uisdccd
have beon exposed inv the press. an
they bear secret grudgc against th
newspapers and seek at cvcry oppo
iupity 10 cripple them in their worl
While free press has its evils. ,thc
n fin al s.I =
cVil- of n fcttercd press.