Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-22
congress IGNORED
5. IN TRADE PARLEYS
Members Are Not Invited to
Conferences Between Hoover
and Industrial Chiefs.

Representatives of industry and
finance are meeting with the President.
but members of Congress are conspicu-
GUS by their absence from the White
House conferences.
II is nat. of course, a subject for i'm
u@diate legislation, but judging from
the views expressed by some of the
bankers and business men and COM
Ynentators, views incidentally resented
by Congress itself, it is the procrasti-
nation of the legislative body which has
come in for criticism as a factor in the
loss of confidence in the business out
look
The Senate is denouncing some of
those who hold the view that the delay
on the tariff bill has complicated the
industrial situation by injecting uncer-
tainty into the businesses dependent on
import trade. If the business situation
is serious enough to summon leaders of
the Nations industry, that fact has not
yet been conveyed to Congress by an
invitation to share in the conferences.
It Is known that the President, on pre-
senting to the leaders a proposal for
fax reduction. found the leaders ready
and willing to cooperate, irrespective
Of their own party programs.
Seek Relief From Probes.
: What business would like to have and
NI1dJ ~ 1911 ACddJ "a unh Ava PASAASAJ
Is a relief from congressional inquisi-
ton. 1t probably will never attain this,
but, on the other hand, Congress has
by its inquiries and Investigations made
shy and hesitant some of the very bust
nesses and industries called to Wash
ington to cooperate with the Govern
n1ent.
Take the public utility industry Mr..
Hoover is asking its leaders to come
- d. GAr la nf
that expansion programs cannot be de-
cided until the controversy over Federal
or State control is settled. Mr.. Hoover
is powerless to give the answer. as 1t is
entirely a congressional question. If
agreements are made at the instance
of the executive branch Of the Gov
eminent, agreements that look toward
the stimulation of business, will this
at the same time make some OF those
businesses immune from attack under
the Clayton law or the Sherman law?
Want Security Assured.
:. Concerted action within industry has
always been regarded by the legal au-
thorities as something on which cau-
tion has to be exercised. The Radio
Corporation of America claims that, re-
spending to a call of patriotism, 1t ar
ranged for a pool of patents so that 1t
might forward the cause of radio. Now
the company is being attacked as
.'trust" and the fact that it pleads gov
Ornamental initiative or cooperation as
its original purpose is being ridiculed
by its opponents.
Just how far can the Executive give
business an assurance of clear field
for concerted action without running
into the possibility of congressional in
yestigations later on If the efforts to
get together do not result as favorably
as the White House hopes? This is one
of the questions that lie in the back
ground Of what is happening here.
It may be that If President Hoover
finds a common ground for industry to
work on In cooperation with the Gov
eminent he will find an opportunity to
bring leaders of Congress into the pic
sure. But, juding from the comments
thus far in the debate. there is far from
an era of good feeling nowadays be-
tween business elements and the lead
rs Of congressional investigations--a
,ituation that might to some extent be
ured by having some of the leaders of
congress invited to the cabinet room of
the White House to get at first hand
what the business of the country and
the President say to each other about
the business problems of the Nation.
D. L.
> CCopyriEht 1920