Evening star., 1925-06-01

The Federal Trade Commission has
been caught between two fires. Its
former friends declare that it has de-
feated its purpose. and its ancient
enemies have renewed their wrath.
Too much publicity for its findings
and not enough are the varying
charges it has TO face.
Demanding that the commission
shall go, the Philade elphia Public
Ledger accuses it of having tried TO
be prosecutor, judge and jury, and
predicts that "in the next Congress
the move TO destroy il will have the
support of its old-time friends, now
its bitterest- opponents OF its his
tory the Public Ledger states: There
is a general admission that the COM
mission has not lived up TO eXpeCUa-
tions. Many of the men who helped
create 1t have become its enemies.
Several attempts have been made to
abolish IL, but 1t has been saved here
tofore by its radical friends, by the
men and movements who have used
it in furthering their won political
and personal aims and ambitions. It
should feel the bite of the headsman'S S
ak"
THE history of the commission,
according 10 the Little Rock Arkan-
sas Democrat, has been that of many
similar boards and commissions, both
State and Federal-it was created for
a desired and just purpose, but has
developed into an imposition. II
should furnish a fine subject for the
politicians TO battle over when Con-
gress goes back into session"
X
Defense of the commission, as q
rule, is accompanied by protest
against the change by which publicity
Of complaints is abolished. by de
clining TO give publicity to it's future
actions, it invites harsh comment, sug-
gesting there is something to hide,
the Louisville Post remarks, to which
the Omaha World Herald adds: ut
was the intent, when the commission
was created, to protect competitors
and the public against dishonest prac-
tice, both by publicity and by legal
action. The rule now is reversed so
as to protect the guilty company
against the harm that would come If
the people were permitted to know
what 1t has been doing" The Balti-
more Sun cites a case where a firm
had been guilty of misbranding, but
promised to 'be good" and was re-
leased without publicity or prosecu-
ton" The Sun adds: LAS well allow
a pickpocket to go free on his promise
to pick no more pockets"
GO and sin no more" is the Knox
vile Sentinel's Interpretation of the
up-to-date decree of the commission,
but 1t calls attention to the fact that
the fear of publicity will be re-
moved
Differing views are held as to the
prospect of abolishing the commission.
80 long as the Federal antitrust law
remains on the statute book" in the
opinion of the Springfield Republican,
there is room for such a body as the
Federal Trade Commission to func-
ton. But it should receive proper
support from Congress to be of the
largest service; its personnel should
be kept at high grade and its policies
should harmonize with the Sherman
act as interpreted by the Supreme
Court" The Seattle Times, agreeing
with this view, states: THE majority
of the American people believe the
commission should merit the con-
fidence of honest business. 1t would
be well to convince honest firms and
individuals that when information is
sought it will be used for the public
good The view that this standard
has been maintained is expressed by
the Rochester Times-Union, which de,
clares: "The best judges and most
serious students of the Trade Com
mission are of the opinion that it has
done useful work, and has had .bene-
fetal effect on business practice and
business morals. The commission
should go on 80
y X
Opposition to the proposal by pro-
gressive Republicans to abolish the
is expressed by the
Springfield. Ohio, Daily News. IF
the tendency toward reaction" sug-
gests the News, goes to the point
of thwarting the purpose of the law,
the evil should be corrected by change
in the administration rather than by |
destruction Of the law "A board