Evening star., 1932-01-27
ANTITRUST LAW
FIGHT IS STARTED
Senate Bills Would LiberaIize
Provisions of Existinc
Legislation.
BY DEAN DINWOODY.

The first steps have been taken in
Congress to liberalize the Federal anti
trust laws, the rigorous provisions O.
which are claimed in many quarters 10
impede, particularly at this time, ma
ural business development and the stab
tlization of industry
TWO long-agitated proposals for sub
Stantial revision of the antitrust laws
have just been placed before the Sen
ate. In one it is proposed that cut
throat competition be displaced b.
corporation between members of an in
duStry In the other it is contemplated
that the so-ralled natural resource
Industries be relieved from the burdens
imposed by the antitrust laws.
Walsh Bill.
The plan to eliminate "cut-throat"
competition, which often results in
overproductiOn with its attendant evils
has been formulated by Senator Walsh
Democrat, of Massachusetts. His bill
proposes that the Federal Government
give its advance approval to contracts
Tor the curtatlment Of production and
Tor other acts to avoid ruinous COM
petition. Such contracts would then be
exempt from the operation of the anti
trust laws
tNA val SUSPENSION VI LIle nO0ODOlV
laws pending a congressional study as
to the need for their revision is Dro-
posed in a resolution offered by Sen
ator SteiWer Republican, of oregon.
This suspension would be applicable to
agreements between competitors in the
natural resource industries for the pur-
pose OF regulating production, conserv-
ing natural resources and maintaining
continuity and stability of emplovment
within such industries, unless such
agreements are contrary to the public
Interest" Natural resource industries
are defined to include the production
Of minerals, forest products and agri-
cultural products.
The investigation into the advisabilitv
OF amending the antitrust laws to con-
form with preSent-day methods of con-
Quoting business would be undertaken,
under the StelWer resolution, by a joint
congressional committee composed of
fve Senators and five Representatives.
This proposal accordS with the recon-
mendation of President Hoover, reiter-
ated in his first message to the present
Congress, as to the necessity of con-
greSSional inquiry into the economic
action of the antitrust laws"
Referred to Committee.
Both measures have been referred to
the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Action on them is expected following
disposal of the pending emergency Iegis-
Iation and appropriations bills. The
sponsors of the proposals anticipate
strong support for them from members
OF both parties. 1t is considered most
probable, however, that the proposed
investigation will be completed before
any substantial change is made in the
statutes.
Neither measure would leave the
latch down to throw wide the door
to prtce-fXing and monopoly In both
1t is contemplated that supervision by
the Federal Trade Commission would be
substituted for the antitrust laws. The
Walsh bill proposes that the trade prac-
tice conferences of the commission,
long conducted without specific au-
thorization, be expressly legalized and
that the commissions membership be
increased from five to nine members to
handle its proposed enlarged functions.
The principal portions of the Walsh
measure have been recommended by
commercial organizations, as
well as by the American Bar ASSocia-
tlon. Leaders in the lumber. oil. COP
per and coal industries have advocated
the enactment into permanent law of
provisions similar to those of the Stei-
Wer measure.
(Copyright 1922