The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-05
DEBATED SECTION
TO REMAIN IN BILL
Regarded ms Certain That Senate
VIII Authorize Investigation of
Unfair Competition"
COMMITTEE GIVES SUPPORT
Language May BE Modified i'm Some
Respects, but Principle Will Stay
in MISUNDERSTANDING to Lcgis-
lation Creating Trade Commission

Washing ton. July tit seems to he
certain that the much discussed NTH
section of the Ncwlands trade commits
sion bill. providing that unfair com
petition" shall be unlawful and that
the commission shall determine what
is unfair competition and order il
stopped. viii remain in the bill y
canvass of the Senate Interstate Com
mcrce Committee, which reported the
bill. shows that only one of the Demo
Gratis voted against this section in the
committee, and that he has changed
his mind and decided TO support the
section, provided il Is made clear that
the courts are 10 have the final dcci-
sion IN all cases OF unfair competitions
The language of the section may he
nouiilcd III some respects, but the
principle contained in the section will
stay IN the measure. y number Of the
Republican Senators also viii support
the section. including senator Cum
Minis. OF Iowa, Il member Of the com ;
mittee, who defended the section in
an address III the senate this week.
senator Bornh's Objections.
senator Borah. OF Idaho. has been
one Of the chief opponents of this see
ton of the hill. He attacked il again
yesterday afternoon. declaring that he
considered ii mistake 10 attempt to
add to government by commission" in
, this country. lie insisted that the
real test of regulation by commission
would be the long-awaited decision of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
! in the freight rate advance cases now
pending before the commission.
The railroads say that they must
have II per cent advance in trcigh,
rates or they cannot do business: the
people of the country say they can
not AFFORD this increase said senator
Roroh. 1t will be a real test OF rcgu-
latton
Within ten years We will face the
question or PUBLIC ownership OF rail,
regulation. II seems that we arc APP
preaching condition that no commits
We are nearer public ownership
now than ever before, and We are
.earer IL because capitalists say they
10 not propose TO invest their money
IN enterprises which some one else
controls. That is one reason. the
s;.ilroads say: they cannot get capital
senator Horah urged that tho Shcr-
man antitrust law compels compe,i-
some forms OF competition Illegal. He
did not defend unfair compc tition. but
Insisted the ultimate result OF tho pro-
against the enforcement OF the Shcr-
man law.
Reply by senator Ncwiands,
Senator Ncwlands, chairman Of the
Interstate Commerce Committee. has
supported the NTH section OF tho bill.
Borah's structures he said in part.
The Senator has presented with
great force the fact that under the
Sherman law we have commanded the
business of the country to compete.
Competition is war. There may be
brutal warfare and there may u. ..iv!-
lized warfare. So. with reference 10
competition. there is brutal competi-
ton and there is civilized and fair
competition
The Senator says ii is difficult to in
. clude Ia amy phrase OF moderate length
a rule that will embrace all unfair
practices. So II is. But shall we
abandon the attempt altogether. then.
to civiliZc competition or shah We
adopt Il phrase, n rule. which VIII con
Stitute Il standard OF action for en-
torcemcnt 10y commission organized
by Congress TO carry out as Its ser
want its constitutional power OF regu-
latinE commerce"
"Uufnir Competition oIuItiform'
1T seems to me that il would be
folly for us To attempt to define each
practice so as TO cover the field. he
cause We have the testimony Of cx-
ptrts in business that unfair coInpcti .
tion Is 50 multiform that If wc con
denim twenty practices to-day twenty
mere Will bc invented Tomorrow So
we must have some general rule"
senator Ncwlands while :,dmittiur
that combinations had gotten rid OF
much brutal competitions" declared
that they had accomplished this end 10y
creating monopoly.
we wish to get rid Of IL. not by
creating a monopoly. but by establish
ing Il fair competition that j. IL az
cord with the moral law said Senator
Newlands. aud wc viii condemn every
practice In business that Is against
good morals