The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-29
FEDERAL
TRADE CONFUSION
Pres. Butler of Columbia University
Declares the Commission Has Mis-
construed Its Proper Functions.

Philadelphia, Jan. 90. An attack on
the federal trade commission was made
before the Philadelphia Chamber of
Commerce last night by Nicholas Muir
ray Butler. president of Columbia uni
versity and an aspirant for the Repub-
licsn nomination for president.
Discussing the necessity of clearing
away uncertainties in public policy
that hamper business, m said:
1--WE have at the present time fed
eral trade commission appointed pur-
suant TO the provisions of a statute
which might easily be so administered
as to do great good. The federal trade
commission has, however, utterly mis-
construed its proper functions and has
preferred TO perseeute business rather
than to protect and develop it. The
cheaply won applause which is sure to
follow the violent denunciation of
somebody or something for an alleged
wrong has been preferred to the much
more solid and lasting approval Of an
intelligent people that would follow
upon constructive acts which should in
dictate how the business of the country
might be better and more wisely de-
veloped.
1T is little short of pathetic, after
some OF the best brains in the nation
have organized and set on foot a great
industrial undertaking which engages
the cooperation of thousands of men
and women, reduces the cost of produc-
ton of some staple article and begins
to extend American trade into new
lands, to find them summarily brought
to book as criminals by the attorney
Of the United States or by the
United States district attorney in some |
judicial district.
"The course of wisdom and of prog |
ress would be for the commission to |
hear the plans of those who propose to |
develop an undertaking Of this sort; to
point out in advance what would be |
considered unfair business practices |
and what would not; to indicate the |
line where monopoly would be held to |
begin, and which therefore must not be |
,rossed; and then to send the new I'M
lertaking on its way with the full /
knowledge and cooperation OF the fed
rial trade commission, with which,
thereafter. the undertaking should
stand in the closest possible relations
: Such policy by the commission, DIR.
Butler said, would simply repeat in the
icld of industry the precise policy
which the government has followed
With extraordinary success in the case
# national banks.
Besides doubt as 20 what might be
lone without prosecution under the
sherman or Clayton act, he added, bust
less was confronted with uncertainty
Is to labor. To remove this he sug
,ested the establishment at Washing
on of commission on industrial re-
ations to represent the public alone
which should make findings and recon-
oors of this commission, he said,
hould be open to wage workers, em-
,loyers or to any body of individual
itizens or to the attorney general of
he United States.
Arguing that public opinion would be
efficient to enforce the commissions
he said, the United
itates supreme court could not enforce
Is DEGREES against state, but never
heless such decisions had been obeyed,
nd that the fales of international law
kept in time of war had wide applica- ,
ion.
He expressed a warning note against
he building up of huge political ma
hines in order TO maintain and increase ,
he points of contact between govern !
tent and business
"The unchecked development Of such
tendency he said, would in time !
alter the American form Of
overnment and revolutionize American !
usiness. 1t is perfectly easy by fol-
wing such a course as outlined to !
-ansfer a democracy into an autocracy !;
officeholders and inspectors. Nom
lally this autocracy would represent ]
nd carry out the wish of the people,
nj actually il would be a tyranny Of h
a Office holding class" 5