The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-08-25
COMMISSION
HAS A. GREAT
TRIP, ANYWAY
Gibson Gardiner Can't Figure
Hw Trade Body Is
Helping Any One
JUST TAKING NOTES
And. incidentally, Hearing
Manufacturers Ask Priv
ilege OF Violating Law
nx OIL aon GARDNER

WAgHiNGTON. Aug. -. - The
federal trade commission has been
IN existence six months without
having entered n single order fol
the correction OF any unfair busl
ness practice.
which indicates one Of two
things
Either business f. much more
ylrtuous than Il used 20 be. or the
federal trade commission - doinP
something different from what wai
expected by it's promoters.
The trade commissions purpose
according 10 law. is 10 inquire into
price determinations. monopolihtlt
combinations. tying contracts, inter
locking directories. spying. or ans
form OF economic bludgeonry by
one firm or individual against an
other
When such practices are dis
covered the commission has the
power under the Law 10 order them
discontinued. aud II the order ls not
obeyed at once. 10 institute a suit
In the circuit court 10 compel
obedience.
To Enforce Antitrust Law
The commission Is theoretically
m instrument TO make effective al
the provisions OF the antitrust law
and it's amendment. the Clayton bill
which amendment. by the way
has added valuable set OF teeth
TO the old Sherman act.
The mails have brought the trace
commission hundreds Of complaints
but so far the commission has done
nothing with them but 10 file and
sort them.
The headquarters OF the commits
sion here in Washington have beer
left 10 "a small clerical force. while
the commission itself Is junketinf
over the country. accepting the hos
pitality OF many Chambers OF Com
merce In many cities
Beginning many weeks ago. the
commission started on a Eee-Amsr
ica.flrKt tour. including the follow
ing cities: Chicago. Detroit. Gin
einnati. indianapolis. Minneapolis
Spokane. North Yakima. Seattle
Tacoma. San Francisco. San Diego
and Los Angeles.
Ask impossible Things
At various places the commission
has conducted what Il termed
hearings"
Al these certain invited business
men representing large interests
present arguments and pleas fol
permission to do certain things.
Generally these things are whai
In the past have been regarded al
bordering closely on violations Of
the Sherman law.
They want. for instance. TO com
hine and maintain prices on the
plea that such combination will as
sist them In securing foreign trade
Up 10 date the commission has
been merely listening and a din
ing body.
Il has not acted on the pleas oi
these prominent business men
neither refusing nor permitting
them 10 do what they want to do.
Under the Law II Is doubtful II the
commission has any power TO grant
immunity from the Sherman act.
Can't Get Away From II
Tying contracts. cut-throat price
slashing. monopolistic conspiracies
and interlocking dlrectorates stil
will invite prosecution II they are
pracuced.
The only Indication ms TO policies
10 be followed by the trade com
mission are found in certain press
notices issued from time 10 time
These convey the idea that the com
mission is anxious not TO poster
business. but 10 be helpful In a
large. constructive way.
Nothing is said In these bulletins
about the complaints issued. mol
about the purposes to be served by
the hearings and journeyings and
eatings around the country.
Presumably. however. II is q
move In the direction OF helping
prosperity 10 return, and In this
purpose 1t will be commended by
many people. and particularly by
large firms which seek immunity
from prosecution under the Sher
man law