The Washington times., 1919-03-21
PLAN REVISION OF
ANTITRUST CODE

The big push" toward rsadjust-
ment in the industrial world is on
full blast.
Government and business are bend
| ing every effort to relieve uncer-
tainty and start prosperity on ITS
way. The newly formed indus rial
board Of the Commerce Department
having completed lever prices on
steel, contemplates the early consid-
GRAFTON OF prices on lumber, brick,
cement, copper. and many other ma
terials that the whole market on ma
terials may be stabilized and building
Of all kinds started up without fac
ing price uncertainties.
Revise Antitrust Laws.
For so-calIed big business" there
is a movement afoot, supported, NOR
ally at least, by some OF the most
influential members OF President
Wilson's Cabinet, to revise the anti
trust laws and relieve the confusion
growing out Of war combinations.
The revision and redrafting of the
Federal antitrust code will very prob
ably be requested early in the session
of the next Congress,
business men for the past several
months have insisted that some dec
laration Of policy by Congress Is nee
essary so that they VIII know wheth-
er they can so on with. the methods
that have sprung mp during the war,
or whether they will have to operate
under the restrictions OF the Sherman
and Clayton acts.
While the Department OF Justice
has said nothing officially in support
of this plea, it has started practically
no new antitrust prosecutions since
the beginning Of the war and has
even held up the further prosecutions
Of pending cases.
New Laws Needed.
Privately. officials of the depart
ment are of the opinion that new
laws are a necessity, and drafting OF |
these should be started Immediately. |
Some Of the incongruities OF the |
trust situation as it stands today are: /
The Government itself is encourag- !
ing price agreements and combina-
tions expressly forbidden by the Sher-
man act. The work of the Industrial
Board of the Department OF Com
merce, which is now trying to sta
bilize the price Of steel and other
commodities, is pointed TO as an ex-
ample OF this.
Half a dozen antitrust suits, includ-
ing one against the so-called Steel
trust, and the famous anthracite coal
cases. are before the Supreme Court.
and have repeatedly gone over on
the Governments motion since the
war started.
Lest In Rush.
The section of the Clayton act for
bidding interlocking directorates and
Other combinations among railroads
Is nominally in force, but. it applies
only to the small roads which are
not under Government supervision
4 resolution to further suspend the
operation Of this section Of the act
was lost in the rush OF adjournment
Of the Sixty-fifth Congress.
Officials feel that with big business
0nce more sure of its ground, much
Of the unemployment problem and
many other kindred troubles will be {
modified automatically. There will !
De, however, direct and persistent eff
'orts to reduce the cost OF living, that
now being admitted generally as fun {
necessary. The newly {
treated Industrial Board, therefore,
after il has stabilized the market on !
materials, will Immediately '
AXE up consideration Of prices on
extiIes, manufactured products Of all
Kinds and food.
Unemployment Problem.
The unemployment problem still
stands out as the most serious con-
ronting the country. Latest figures 7
how unemployment continuing to in d
rease, but to help ease this the Rail- n
DAD Administration and Treasury a
are cooperating to pro- n
,ide sufficient funds to keep up rail- I
Dad improvements, etc, and provide L
abOr for thousands of men. c
Also the Agriculture Department Is Z
with the Department Of c
he Interior toward interesting re- il
urning soldiers in land reclamation
or farming. Agricultural instru-
lents arae being shipped in large
Quantities to army camps abroad ac- N
by lecturers and demOn- Y
traitors in farm work who will talk cl
o the soldiers about the advantages y,
y the movement. IG
To further aid the general business n
ituation, It is believed certain some eli
ght will be thrown on the situation hi
5 regards permanent Government
peration of the railroads and mer-
liant marine. There is a difference
( opinion among Presidents advisors W
n these questions, some of the II
trongest OF them favoring return OF H
9th to private enterprise, ito give "
he small fry a chance" in the era al
f prosperity seen ahead. There viii
e official voices raised on the subject
BON, to test out public sentiment.
p
Owners of War savings STAMINA as