Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-08
LAWS AID UNREST
S.,|SCHARGE
Prominent Attorney, Attending
Conference, Says Price
Control Is Mistake
LEAVE CONDITIONS ALONE"

# The people of the United States are
too hammered and pestered by boards
and tribunals and committees and ad-
ministrations.
There is too much price regulating
too many rules, too many restrictions
and too much law
There is too much paternalism too
much general interference with the func-
tioning of the business of the country
and superabundance Of fa'lacious ar
gument that is throttling normal prog
ress.
Condensed into few words. this is
statement made by Major Frederick
"A. Brown, delegate from the State Bar
association of Illinois to the American
Bar Association. which is holding its
annual executive session in the Belle
vue. Stratford Hotel today
Session to Continue
A similar opinion was expressed by
Judge George T. Page. of the United
States Circuit Court in Chicago in
which Thomas II. Reynolds. delegate
from Kansas City. Mo-, concurred.
Ihese assertions were made today in
interviews following the executive ses-
sion of the association. The session
will continue throughout the day and
viii be resumed tomorrow. when it will
be adjourned.
The people of this nation want an
opportunity to work out their own sal
vation," said Major Brown. ''The
business of the country is absolutely
regulated to death, Instead of leaving
prices to adjust themselves. which they
eventually would. under the law of
supply and demand. the business people
as well as the buying public is so hedgcd
and hampered by price fixing and other
arbitrary and useless regu' alton that the
wheels of commerce cannot revolve
steadily.
Turned Into Weapon
There is too much paternalism all
the way around. All business should
be let alone. Of course certain laws are
necessary. but too many defeat their
own end, and instead of being source
Of protection for the people they are
turned into weapon and used against
them. 1t takes twice as much time and
capital today to start business as il
did before the advent of this business
throttling paternalism.
Thomas H. Reynolds deplored the
tendency to increase boards and com
mittees. Il know of one instance in
Washington, he said. when the an j.
proval of twenty six boards had to be
secured before certain purchase could
be made of material for the United
States army. There are indeed so many
laws that it is impossible to enforce
all of them. They are passed on senti
ment, and when the sentiment dies the
law is useless and absurd"
Judge Page said: ''If the people are
to retain a semblance of democracy they
must depend less on legislation to dc
IT,"
During the session today the uni
fornlity of practice and procedure in
the courts of the country was discussed
and advocated. Hampton L. Carson
s president. presided.
Among those present are: Eugene
G. Massie, chairman of the committee
, Of Richmond, Va: Prof. Eugene A
4 Gilmore, of the University of Wis.
i consin! Hollis r. Bailey. vic,
: preSiaent of the national conference
Harry Stockbridge, judge of the ,Su
preme Court of Maryland George E
Young, Montpelier, VT, ; John r. Har
din, Newark, n. j.; William H
Stake, former president of the nationa
conference, and w. A. Blount. of Pen
sacoia, Fla.