The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-20
PRESIDENTS TRUST
POLICY CONDEMNED
Chamber of Commerce Holly At
tacks Wilson'S Proposed
Legislation.
TYRANNY. CRIES A MEMBER
Congress Misled by Theorists,
Says Mctz-Further Hear
ing Urged.

'n6 Aet"'
President Wilson's proposals regarding
antitrust legislation and particularly that
esction OF his message favoring the crea-
tiof Of r. Federal Trade Commission came
IN for the severest kind Of criticism yes
terday at the special meeting OF the
Chamber Of Commerce called TO consider
the bills now before Congress-.
For the first time since the Wilson Adj
ministration went into power New York
business men did not mince words regard
ing the Presidents policies.
L. L. Rogers of the Stock Exchange arm
Of Rogers Gould characterized as
tyranny the attitude Of the Administers
ton In attempting to place severer fmi-
tations than the sherman law puts upon
corporations and big business.
He said: ION the goth OF January the
President delivered a speech In which he
said antagonism between business and
Government WAS over That sounded good
and affected the business community vi
tally. on the 23d of January the trust
bills which have been under discussion
were introduced. Hardly had the sound
Of the Presidents voice died away before
those bills which We now condemn we're
introduced as Administration bills
II don't think II Is for US to introduce
Q lot Of barley water into our resolution.
I think II Is up to us to make "a stand
and pronounce to the country our con-
dennnation Of the Administration bill as
We now understand them. They are very
serious. l don't know of anything like IL
in history. ancient or modern. when a Gov
n tnnlx N
business as this one Is taking now. Are
we not the Chamber Of Commerce OF the
Empire State? Are We not mere to make
a protest that will b. protest?
II don't want to criticise the resolution
already offered. but / don't think that It
goes far enough. / don't think that 1t Is
strong enough. I don't think that It has
ginger enough
Bustncss's Hands Cut on.
when Cesar cut off the right hands OF
the Gauls so that they should not work
any more we had an example OF what
tyrant could do. We are pretty close to
It now. We will be neutrality-suspicious.
right hand will be cut Off those bills
20 through. Have We got to go TO Wash
,ngton to know whether We can earn a
living? Have we got TO so to Washington
to know II We can 90 business? That Is
what We are coming to. This is the
boasted land of liberty and opportunity.
but what has become OF our liberty?"
The discussion was started by the offer
ing OF resolution by James o. Cannon.
chairman Of the executive committee, COM
nending the Sherman law as sufficient
and expressing the view that a Federal
trade commission, II created. ought TO be
strictly limited in its powers Of inquiry
to those corporations which in the opinion
OF the Department OF Justice are Offend
ing against the law"
1t continued:
RESOLVED, That in the opinion OF the
Chamber of Commerce unlimited powers
of inquisition would prove intoerable to
citizens of real democracy and might
easily degenerate into instruments of op-
precision and corruption
Metz Condemns Bills.
Howard Smith OF Hathaway. Smith.
Folds a. Co. proposed further considera-
ton OF the bills by the executive COM
mttee in view of the fact that II was
reported that certain changes were to be
made in them. The members OF the cham
Der. however. were against consideration
and were for action, especially when told
by Herman 4. Metz. Congressman from
this State, that the hearings on the bills
closed to-day. Mr.. Metz condemned the
bills no less severely than the members
of the chamber.
He said. The whole thing appears to
me--and | have watched 1t pretty closely
In Washington--tnat the proposed inter-
state trade commission would be a nui-
sance, and nothing else. II you could
go to them with a request for advice
before making your arrangements or
closing business deal, and could ask
them whether It was right or not and
be immune II you are right, then there
would be some sense To 1t. But they
do not guarantee that, and you are just
AZ liable to go before the Attorney
General and 60 to prison rs not.
What is the use of this commission?
One of the provisions Is that Il concern
that is Incorporated for $1,000. 900 shall
publish It's records. mat provision now
Is going to be amended TO include a
$4,000 900 concern. The whole thing is
against big business. and 1t Is about
time for YOU people of New York to go
to Congress and Say that you are against
such legislation. IL you do not do that
YOU will never get anything in your
favor. The only people OF any standing
In Washington to-day are the farmer
and the workingman. Others have no
chance on the floor OF Congress.
Too Many Theorists.
-They want information and they mean
10 do tho right thing, but We have too
many Brandeses and too many theorists
and not enough business men You could
not get a suggestion in there with an
axe from any man who knows anything
about real business"
Al this point amendments were made
to the resolution stating that the Cham
Der OF Commerce was opposed to the
appointment of an interstate trade com
mission, but that II one were appointed
II should be along tho lines of ahe
Canadian combines investigation act"