The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-30
Members Of Chamber Of Com
merce See Peril in Hasty
Legislation.
ASK CAUTION IN CONGRESS
Think Mistake in Passing New
Laws Would Deal Blow
TO Country.


con and Congress that ample time bs
given for the consideration and discussion
OF the proposed antitrust legislation b,
ell the people Of the country.
II 10 also urged that provision bs mads
for taking the testimony Of business mer
and organizations throughout the country
who cannot so to Washington. and tina,
action on any legislation formulated b
deferred until a later session Of Congress
''to the end that what sAsil finally be de-
termined upon may b the product Of
mature judgment"
''What business men generally desire,
what industry most needs," the report
says. ''ls the certainty of = period Of rest
for the peaceful readjustrnent OF all enter
prise that is inconsistent with the ac-
cepted principles Of law ana ethics and
for the energetic advancement of all In
dividual endeavors, free Of any sense Of
repression. secure In a sense Of liberty
Of action and guarded from the danger
that the disclosure Of personal preroga-
tall"
0Aernaa Law Change Oppressed.
In resolutions adopted on February 10
the members OF tho chamber expressed
ths opinion that the Sherman act. a.
interpreted by the courts, was proving
more satisfactory and more effective than
new legislation would probably be for
years to come, and announced their oppo-
sition to the creation Of the Federal COM
mission proposed In the pending bill.
II appears to the committee which pre-
pared the report that the bills which have
been put forward for consideration have
widely missed the mark both of the spirit
and the purpose conveyed In the pro-
nouncement" Of President Wilson In his
message to Congress (which had such a
noticeable and immediate effect In cheer
ing the somewhat discouraged minds OF
business men which had produced pre-
vsiling lethargy." Instead of avoiding
measures Of sweeping or novel change"
the proposed bills. in the judgment Of the
committee, would be "embarking upon
sea Of discovery fraught with the
gravest uncertainties and perils"
The seeming implication that all cor
porate form of enterprise Is necessarily
under the suspicion Of being conducted
In contravention of law and public well
fare and should. therefore. be brought
under the closest scrutiny OF Govern.
ment trade commission" the report CON-
tinues. is a new pronouncement OF start.
ling porten.
Until recently the declarations OF party
leaders. Government officials and publ
cisto a. to industrial conditions needing
correction IN the interest Of the public vel.
faro have been confined to business Or
carnations seeming TO have at least the
potentially of operating in restraint Of
trade, enjoying undue privilege or impos-
sng unfair conditions.
HPwon Rssco su,..s NJ U--,s-.ss~.
Now for the frst time the idea Is sus-
gested that all business OF whatsoever
mature conducted under corporate form
shall be brought under the most exhaus-
tive and complete scrutiny OF its most In
timabe and personal affairs by a commits
sion which has practically no other
powers than those of investigation.
1T 10 indeed a serious matter when the
Trainers or legislation being the elected
Representative OF the people in Con-
gross. should seem to Indicate that In
their minds all those conducting Industrial
enterprise are less honest. less fair and
less public spirited than those who are
drawn Into public life to frame and ad
minister the laws.
IF business men Of the country do not
generally resent and protest against such
Implications they will De considered to
have tacitly admitted them.
Let us not forget that statutory law II
"A
..oordinated Win tho chany;n%. a,.,n.,,s
OF economic force or i, sdminis,.rsd '.nr.
trary IN ar in lynor,nca ,haranf Mi, .,,Sa.
Z b, oyertorne Nv acnnon,ic Ia ~ 80 800.
.,ity or else viii tend To restr.,n =, ~, %
d.ktrov industrial ,rocross " wv w
Bar. sbscLy,.v an, c.
survey OF the history OF the remark
able Industrial and business development
OF this country indicates that its achieve
ments have been In the main due to the
initiative. energy, enterprise and bold
COURAGE or an immense number Of indi-
vlduals breathing and operating in the
which alone true genius can work and
.sY,o nh oil. ~ ,z,,,. =. All,
,o limit indi,,ian,, $500 " ."aS , sUunus,
.v,hin The cnrsnaa %, anu 'iItIa'Ne
sn.nt a,r.c,io,' 100 ~ p.,e"tai soveIh
Iim,ss rnu, und.rs,1 t'ar s'e Wei aenheo
tnconsIstsr, uVI,h anu ,,eSoshizea as
sshics sna n. n,',,,. 10, Jaw n'1aern
"Ss sho the pubic "eifare would be to
,,son,. h,, upGu s"e Sp'enu'o sprN VI our
havs h..n ,n'ni.n1 &C. a., o'r aeie'en'n nus
.i,-r tha ma r,,h -. w. ,,.'eeu ~ o,ean
M ~ The raar g. , ss anu 70 force
- ~ s"o iSa' iii lHttTHdtlOnhi con-