The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-18
PROTECTION AGAINST
UNFAIR COMPETITION
IL Recommended by Secretary Redfield
as Safeguard for Industrial and
Commercial Markets of the
United States.

ton TO protest the industrial and com
mercial markets of the United State
from destruction type of struggle ant
unfair competition" at the close of tn,
European war, Is recommended to Con
Igress by Secretary Redfield, in his an
nual report. Every stratagem of in
dustrial war, he says, will be used b,
powerful foreign agencies against Amer
lean industries which may menace larg,
markets heretofore controlled abroad.
To prevent unfair competition" tn,
secretary suggested that the machinery
of the departments of justice and treas
ury be lsed and that Congress supple
ment existing laws to give the fedora
government adequate means to protect
American markets.
I'm my judgment" said the secretary
the matter is on which may be more
wisely treated as an attempted wrong to
be forbidden than as an economic mat
ter which needs to be restrained. ]
should prefer, therefore, to deal with
| it by method other than tariffs, class
ing it as an offense SIMILAR to the unfair
domestic competition we now forbid. 1t
seems possible that by using the exist
ing machinery Of the treasury depart
ment and department of justice we may
restrain this foreign unfair competition
ON both sides of the sea.
81 recommend, therefore, that such leg
islation be enacted as will give to the
foreign representatives of the above
named departments such added powers
and increased personnel as they may
need for this purpose, and that it be
enacted, if possible, that monopoly in be-
half of the foreign producer in Ameri-
can markets shall be forfeited.
81 also recommend that legislation
supplemented to the Clayton antitrust
act be enacted which shall make it I'M
lawful to sell or purchase articles of
foreign origin or manufacture where
the prices to be paid are materially be-
low the current rates for such articles
in the country of production or from
which shipment is made, in case such
prices substantially lessen competition
on the part of the American producers
or tend to create monopoly in Amer
lean markets in favor of the foreign
producer, and that 1t be made unlaw-
full for any person to buy, sell, or con-
tract for the sale of articles of foreign
origin, or TO fix a price for same or to
make rebate upon such price, condi-
toned upon the purchaser thereof not
using or dealing in wares produced or
sold by the competitors of the manufac- |
turer or seller. where the effect is to
lessen competition in the |
production in the United States of such |
article, or tends TO create monopoly |
n the sale of such articles in American |
markets in favor of a foreign producer.
"'Unfair competition is forbidden by
he domestic trade, and the foreign
rade commission exists TO determine the
acts and take steps to abate the evil
wherever found The door, however, is
till open to unfair competition from
broad which may seriously affect Amer
can industries for the worse. II is not
FORMAL competition OF which | speak, but
bnormal. II is destructive type of
he industrial struggle, intended to put
ut of being the forces opposed TO
that the victor may exploit the field
I will. The methods used are not thise
: will. The methods used are not those
ohense. They aim not at
"When the war shall close, the public
Dntrol of railways in foreign lands, the
chambers of commerce, the
ublicly fostered organizations which
)ntrol great industries in some coun-
lies, will all exist and will all be used
an effort TO recover lost commerce.
he growth in the United States OF in
lstries which may meSace large mar.
cts heretofore controlled from abroad
i'll not be permitted il public aud semi
iblic forces acting together in foreign
INJURIES can prevent IL. The outreaeh
American industries, nay their very
iistence in our own land in some cases,
i'll be resisted 20 the full and every
ratagem OF industrial war viii be ex-
ted against them. Expecting this, we
ust prepare for IL. II il shall pass be-
md fair competition and exert or seek
exert a monopolistic power over any
nj Of our commerce, we ought 20 pre- =
Mt H." .
Cooperation Of business concerns in =
reign trade Is suggested 10 permit ad- y
ission 81 the smaller tradesmen into
az field Of activity.
The present law plays into the hands =
the larger concerns and shuts out
lall ones from important markets" the
,retary said. Provision should h. made
lereby such concerns may, with due =
feguards against monopoly, cooperate
the foreign field. To refuse this for -
n Of monopols u 90 say that the large :.
lcerns shall alone hold the lucrative u
'eign markets and that the far larger
smaller houses shall b. shut out The -
lole matter should be placed under ."
, supervision of the federal trade COM
ssion and should be subject % full y,
blicity IL il not intended that this -
operation shall extend into the domes- =.
field ~
". Redfeld expressed the hore that
ierican hanks b. permitted 10 coop
te, under supervision sf tie federal
erve board. in establishing foreign -
inches. ~ owning stsfks Of banks -
ratine IN foreign countries r.
The present law he said. Operates
make i possible only Tor large banks
great power 20 under AXE the impor-
4 work 81 financing American com N
re- in foreign felas. Ths Law WORKS y
sole fnFor - The great tanks There
many banks in the United States AT
less than major sire. 80 aisundautlT a
ma There shuuld ~ permitted. un- 4,
proper safeguards. a. 80 tBintlv IN
natter There ruuiS hardy - = ht
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