The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-12-17
Secretary Of Commerce
Wants to Extend the
Clayton Act.
WHAT He ANTICIPATES
Thinks Existing State So
cialism Of Europe Will
Assail Markets.
lRY Assoclated prAllll

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Legisla.
uon to protect the Industrial and COM
mercial markets OF the United States
from q destructive type of struggle
and unfair competition" at the close
OF the European war. is recommended
to Congress by Secretary Redfield In
his annual report. Every stratagem OF
industrial war, he says, will be used
by powerful foreign agencies against
american industries which may men.
ace large markets heretofore control.
led abroad.
To prevent unfair competition"
the SECRETARY suggested that the ma.
chinery OF the Departments Of Justice
and Treasury be used and that Con.
gress supplement existing laws to give
the federal government adequate
means to protect American markets.
In my judgment" said the Secre.
tary, "the matter Is one which may
beImoro wisely treated us an attempt.
ed wrong to be forbidden than as an
economic matter which needs to be re.
strained. i should prefer, therefore, to
deal with it by method other than
tariffs, chasing 1t as an offense similar
to the unfair domestic competition
welnow forbid. 1t seems possible that
by using the existing machinery Of
the Treasury Department and Depart.
ment of Justice we may restrain this
fareign unfair condition on both sides
of{the sea.
recommend, therefore, that such
legislation be enacted as will give to
the foreign representatives OF the
above.named departments such added
powers and increased personnel us
they may need for this purpose. ana
that IL be enacted II possible that mer.
shandise sold in unfair competition
or'under circumstances which tend 10
create monopoly in behalf of the for.
eign producer in American markets
shall be forfeited.
II also recommend that legislation
supplemental to the Clayton Anti.
trust Act be enacted which shall make
ittunlawful to sell or purchase articles
oftforeign origin or manufacture where
the prices to be paid are materially
below the current rates for such ar.
ttcles In the country of production or
from which shipment is made, In case
such prices substantially lessen com.
petition on the part OF the American
producers or tend to create mono:
polysin American markets IN favor OF
the foreign producer, and that 1t be
made unlawful for any person to buy.
sell, or contract for the sale OF arti.
cles OF foreign origin, or to fix prices
for same or to make a rebate upon
such price, conditioned upon the pur.
chaser thereof not using or dealing in
wares produced or sold by the competi-
tors Of the manufacturer or seller,
where the effort 1t to Substantially les.
sen competition in the production in
the United States of such articles, or
tends to create monopoly in the sale
ofssuch articles in American markets
tnSfavor of a foreign producer.
Unfair competition is forbidden by
law in domestic trade, and the Fed.
eral Trade Commission exists to de.
termine the facts and take steps to
abate the evil wherever found. The
door. however, is still open to unfair
Competition from abroad which may
seriously affect American industries
for the worse. 1t Is not normal competi-
ton OF which speak, but abnormal. It
Is a destructive type OF the industrial
struggle, intended to put out of being
the forces opposed to It that the victor