The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
=
SEES LOVELY GRAFT
IN ANTITRUST BILL
Trade Commission Measure
\ sharply Criticised by
New York Lawyer.
PROFITS FOR INQUISITORS
William Hamlin Childs. for
Coal Tar Men, Appears
Against the Bill.
PROFITS FOR INQUISITORS

WASHINGTON. Feb 1o---James +. Ben
nett, lawyer of New York. told the House
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce to-day chat the pending bill
providing FOR tho creation of an inter
state trades commission--the premier
measure of the Administrations antitrust
Legislative programme--was faulty In
many particulars.
This BILL" said Mr.. Bennett. promises
to open IN the loveliest kind of graft In
its terms 1t surpasses even the Muscovite
idea OF inquisitorial power. The bill in
its present form would give the vital
secrets of the small corporation to its
big competitor and. vice versa, it would
show up the weaker points OF both large
and small concerns one to the other. The
evil effect OF course upon the minor con-
Germs would be most detrimental
with thousand special agents OF the
Department of Commerce or of this trade
commission, II it be not an adjunct of that
Department but a separate body like the
Interstate Commerce Commission, roaming
about the country prying into the hun
dreds Of thousands of corp orations oppor-
tunities for graft. II not their natural
consequence-graft itself-would be wide
spread"
Fears the Itching Palm.
! This characterization of the trade COM
mission bill by Mr. Bennett furnished the
committee with a line Of reasoning similar
to that presented last week by Seth
Low. president OF the National Civic Fed
GRAFTON, only Mr.. Low was somewhat more
mild in his criticisms. Mr.. Bennett Went
on to say that under the terms OF the
measure as framed special agents OF the
! commission would have no qualifications
beyond the political pull to get them their
, jobs. He said:
NO civil service examination will be
required OF these men. They could be
sent into the office Of any corporation to
make report. Their report would be bind
, ing upon such a corporation. II some one
slipped one OF these agents $50 or 500
' or $500 he might be willing to change the
report. There you have the inquisitoriai
power with all its possibilities for mis-
appropriation and misa p!!cat'on."
, The committee listened to William Ham
J lin ChIlds OF New York. representing the
! coal tar products manufacturers OF the
United States. Mr.. Ch!lds criticised tn.
trade commission bill in minor particulars
and along similar lines to those which
! Mr. Rennett had followed He did. how
! ever. tell the committee that a properly
| framed trade commission bill would go a
/ long way toward correcting existing mis-
| understanding as to the rights and powers
of Interstate corporations IN the Indus
trial field.
| Busineas Men Invited.
| Earlier In the day Mr.. Childs had APP
peared before the Committee on judiciary
| In his capacity as president OF the Ameri-
can Coal Tar Products Company. Mr.
Chlds expressed the view that II the bus.-
ness men of the country understood the
| various antitrust measures now pending
they would come to Washington In large
numbers to protest against this legisla-
ton as impract!cable.
| Chairman Clayton explained that indi-
vIdual invitations had not been sent out
because Il would be necessary to invite
practically every business man in the
| United States or there would be injured
feelings and disappointment for such In
diyiduals as might be overlooked. He
| added however. that the committee wouc
| welcome volunteers from every bushes.
in the country.
| There is now too much uncertainty as
to the business practices that have not
! been passed upon by the courts" said
Mr., Childs. IL am often called on to ask
nv attorney whether a certain business
move Is legal or Illegal, but no attorney
! could protect me from prosecution II he
were wrong. The Department of Justice Is
not empowered to express an opinion In
advance upon questions submitted to It by
business men.
with a proper trade cimm!ss!on. some
| what modified from that projected in the
bill now under consideration before the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, these deficiencies could be
renedied | want 1t fiXed 80 business car
progress without corporations being com
PEELED to hire so many attorneys. Th!t
commission should be empowered to rule
upon proposed business acts"
Herbert Knox Smith and william
Draper Lewis will appear. before both
committees considering the antitrust bill.
tomorrow.