The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-06-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial to Sank Centre Herald)

Washington, June I0-Even with
intense heat practically paralyzing
work in Government Departments,
political observers are now turning
their attention to what will happen
during the winter months when Con-
gress convenes. Ordinarily when the
Supreme Court of the United States
hands down a decision relative to
Jaws the matter ends there. How
ever, there has been tendency of
late to have Congress change the sit
uation by enacting legislation which
will circumvent the difficulties laid
down in the opinions of the highest
tribunal.
1t appears that some of the anti
business groups in the Senate and
House will launch attacks upon trade
associations as result of the deci-
sion handed down this week by the
Supreme Court defining the extent of
trade association activities.
The prediction is made that a bill
will be introduced to strengthen the
sherman and Clayton acts which are
aiamed at combinations in business.
The decision in the case OF the Maple
Flooring Manufacturers Association
this week very definitely lays down
general principles regarding associa-
tional activities. There has been con-
siderable doubt as to what a group
of business men could do and many
associations have suspended activities
pending the Qualification of the issue.
The points outlined by the Supreme
Court indicate to associations how to
operate and keep within the law. The
court practically wrote code of con-
duct for business in the gathering and
disseminating of information.
Another feature relating to court
decisions which will undoubtedly
come up before the Congress is the
income tax publicity matter. The
highest tribunal held that newspapers
had right to publish the information
as it obviously was the intent of Con-
gross to give them this privilege The
thousands of taxpayers have other
ideas on the subject and resent the
broadcasting of their private business
even though authorized by Congress
The pressure from the home districts
is so great that legislators will be
forced to amend the existing revenue
act.
Although the question of war debts
and defense of Pacific possession
such as Hawaii, will give our inter.
nationalist chance to raise econom.
ic and military questions on an inter
national scale, there is one domestic
issue which is growing in Importance
and which will probably overshadoV
all others. This relates to the gigan
| tic power merger in IA States.
Official Washington notes tn,
handwriting on the wall in the state
ment issued by William Green, Pres
ident of the American Federation o.
Labor, in which he advocated &c;
public policy to retain ownership fol
the people and to establish a system
of control of all hydro-electric ant
water power undertakings wher
conditions and terms of operation
and development shall be determ
| ined."
Very quietly the large financial in
terests are working out plans to thi
end. The subject is not new as tn
Government has given the matter con
siderable attention, and in 1921
Congress authorized a survey of tn
power resources of the eastern par
of this country This study brough
| out the recommendation that the gen