Evening star., 1928-05-08
RAP GOVERNMENT
TRADE REGULATION
Group Speakers Predict Seri-
Gus Consequences for
US. Business.

Dire consequences OF Government
regulation of business were predicted
by several speakers at the group lunch
cons of the United States Chamber of
Commences convention here today.
Regulation OF railways is threaten
ing their existence as an adequate and
satisfactory means Of transportation"
Samuel o. Dunn. editor Of the Railway
Age Magazine, declared at the lunch
con of the transportation and COM
munication group at the Willard.
Past experience plainly indicates
that within few years railway service
will cease to be adequate and salts
factory unless prevailing tendencies IN
our regulation of railways are changed.
he said. Blame for this condition was
laid on the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Congress and the public.
Recent Regulation.
Discussing regulation within recent
wears Mr.. Dunn criticized the commits
sion because ii had not so adjusted the
rates as to enable the railways to earn
the So. per cent annually on its own
tentative valuation of their properties.
1T is our declared policy OF regula-
ton. as announced by the American
public through Congress" he said,
that, while the net returns OF the rail-
ways shall BIZ restricted as those OF
other industries are not. they shall at
the same time be given opportunity to
earn a fair return; and yet they have
been persistently so regulated that they
have been unable TO earn IT,"
The failure OF the commission TO fix
rates so as to enable the railways to
earn this return was attributed By the
speaker largely to pressure. In great
measure political, from the public and
Congress.
Government ownership and over
regulation are threatening all industries
dealing directly with national resources
said Matthew s. Sloan. who spoke al
the luncheon Of the National Resources
Production Group.
Government Operation.
The bulk OF this legislative attention
has been given to water resources, he
asserted.
To stimulate a more careful use Of
natural resources" he said. sit is not
necessary for the American people to
engage In business activities through
Government agencies. Neither is II
advisable for them TO venture in Gov
eminent ownership for the purpose OF
demonstrating how development should
be conducted and at what price the
product should be marketed The ex-
peflences IN Government operation give
US no occasion for pride.
The philosophy OF announcement of
private initiative has long been one IN
the fundamental principles OF our GOV
eminent. and yet this principle is meet .
ing with determined opposition fron,
men In high places. and 1t is threatened
Dy ine more dangerous effect OF pub.
lie lethargv"
the speaker cited Great Falls as one
OF the sites where utility and bealltv
could be combined for the benefit OF
the public y
Natural resources. he said. suffer from
a national policy OF In God We Trust
and nobody knows how long they win
last. Progress has been made 10 pre-
serve them, however. he said. partieu-
larry wood and oil resources.
''SocisIistic" Activities.
The Government was criticized for
It's "socialistic" activities. especially in
the electric business, by r. r. Pack OF
the Northern States Power 60. of Min.
neapolis. He called upon men In Other
businesses 70 unite 10 combat this al
legged socialism
The United States Government al
ready Is engaged in various lines o,
business which BY no stretch Of the
imagination can De considered lcQtl !
mate governmental functions There il
call here for teamwork There is AN
! opportunity for every business man who
+ believes that Government. whether
State, National or municipal should
refrain from competition with leelti-
mate business enterprise, 10 consider
The trend Of the times. realizing that
/ his business may come next"