Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-03
President Is Told Body Has
Abused Its Powers, Injured
Business Interests and Lost
Confidence of Public


WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-Usurpation
of power, ineficiency and unjust abuse
of business interests are among grave
charges against the federal trade COM
mission which have been laid before
President Wilson by the chamber of
commerce Of the United States.
In a letter sent to the president sew
eraI days ago and made public last
night by the chamber. the directors OF
the organization approve and submit
report denouncing the trade commits
sion is an irresponsible body that has
lost the confidence of the public, and
asking the president to remedy this
condition by filling two existing vacan-
cies in the membership with able men
whose interests will be single to the
commissions work" This report was
prepared by the chambers federal trade
committee, of which Rush c. Butler,
a Chicago lawyer, is chairman 1t pre-
sents the following seven specific
charges with detailed criticisms in sup
port:
The commission has undertaken the
exercise of functions beyond it's own
jurisdiction to the detriment Of its prop
er usefulness.
The commission has begun the study
of important situations, brt because OF
vacillating interests or for other reasons
not apparent, has left its work incom-
plete.
1.-THE commissions procedure, origi-
Ines
changed without public notice or notice
to congress.
The commission has abused its pow
ers of publicity.
Prominent features of the commits
sion's recent food investigation were
subversive of common justice.
In presenting infoTmation to con-
gress and the public the commission has
been needless of the accuracy and frank
ness which it's position and the circum-
stance requires.
THE commission has departed from
the fundamental purposes for which 1t
was established"
Mistakes in Principles
The report sets forth that it does not
undertake to criticise in detail specific
acts of the commission, but rather to
point out mistakes in principles of con-
duct The president is assured that the
chamber and it's committee, which has
followed the work of the commission
since its organization three years ago,
does not represent special business in
terests.
After quoting from the presidents adj
dress to congress in 1915 on the propos-
al to create the federal trade commits
sion, and the general sentiment of APP
prevail created by the commissions es-
I he renOrt saws.
1T gave promise of becoming a con-
structive body, expert in analysis and
in information, able to suggest sound
national policies for preventing abuses
and for encouraging proper develop
ment in the great field of American bust
ness enterprise.
THE expectations that were thus sup
ported are now being disappointed.
|. Instead of being a body with per-
manancy in it's personnel, the commits
sion in fact has in its membership, after
but three years, none of the first ap-
pointees."
Referring to the fact that two COM
missioners and a prominent member Of
its staff have been simultaneously candt-
dates for political preferment," the re
port continues:
Conditions such as these inevitably
lead to impressions that the commission
is no longer a responsible body ap
preaching its duties with serious pur-
pose to promote the public interests
alone; that il seeks ACKNOWLEDGMENT for
itself and it's members; and that 1t lacks
the impartiality essential to any pubic
agency which is to speak with authority
and to promote the common cause of the
nation, rather than to create discord
confusion and DISCRIMINATION"
Figures Inaccurate
In support of the charge that the com
mission has taken on improper functions
to the detriment of its intended duties,
the report cites the commissions news
print report and it's efforts to supervise
distribution of coal before creation OF
the fuel administration In both these
activities, the report asserts, the com
mission was highly inaccurate in figures
of costs. and dealt recklessly alike with
national interests and personal rights"
At.the same time it is charged, the body
failed in its constructive task of point
ing out how trade associations might be
improved and instead denounced these
institutions.
Investigations of the lumber industry,
of resale price practices, and of bitumi-
nous coal production we're started but
never completed, the report says, and
these are cited as outstanding examples
of permitting public interest to suffer,
and at the same time wasting public
money.
In dealing with the subject of unfair
methods of competition, says the re-
/ mort. the commission originally gave
| business concerns opportunity to RENE
DIV their practices before making public