The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-13

INDIANA legislators, along with the law
makers Of 20 other states, are wrestling
with law permitting state authority certain
regulatory powers over business. Bitter oppo-
sition has developed to this proposed enact
ment which has been nicknamed the State
NRA Bill"
There IS no reason why any one should be
surprised at this legislation. Although it is
faulty in many respects it IS merely one more
step in long process Of evolution dating back
for nearly 30 years. Ever Stree the definite
passing Of the frontier both political parties
have insisted on some sort of curb on bust
ness.
President Theodore Roosevelt in his con-
gressional messages. repeatedly asked for the
national licensing Of corporations operating in
interstate commerce. President Woodrow Will
son, in his special message to Congress on
Aug. 8. 1919. and in his two succeeding annual
messages. urged a similar measure ito secure
competitive selling and prevent unconscion-
able profits in the method of marketing"
Early in 1923 Senator Royal Copeland
wanted a law ito set up legal machinery for
restricting the overproduction Of soft coal" At
the same session our own Senator Watson
wanted Congress to require the licensing Of
corporations producing and shipping coal in
interstate commerce"
Through the years both state and Federal
governments passed numerous laws intended
to regulate business. Finally, on June Is, 1888,
came the National Industrial Recovery Act,
which was an effort to wrap all previous eff
forts at regulation up in one neat bundle.
After more than year and half it has
become obvious that NRA enforcement could
not be handled by remote control in Wash
ington. So Mr.. Roosevelt urged the states to
pass their own NRA bills to conform with the
national pattern Hence the problem before
Indiana today.
only a few days ago published state
ment appeared in Indianapolis saying that the
national Administration did not want this
local legislation This statement was of course,
a falsehOod It was a particularly contempti-
BILE lie because it was willful attempt to
make opponents of the state NRA believe that
the President agreed with them and to lead
its proponents to think that Mr.. Roosevelt was
ODDOSeQ
washington promptly branded this report as
a cheap and silly deception
The millions of words opposing the princi-
ple of a state NRA may be summed up in the
simple sentence: Let us alone" Those who
are fighting it in principle are the same peo-
pie who cried out that the national NFA was
an invasion of states rights.
a. or &c
concerned, we think it is idle to attempt to
block it. If the present Legislature fails to
act. the next session will. Government has
been placing growing regulations on business
for three decades. 1t will continue to do so.
To ask to be let alone is merely a waste of
time. like yelling into a rain barrel
So much for the theory of state regulation
row for the actual bill itself: 1t has many
crudities. it is merely a rough blocking in of
the problem. Only experienced business men
can make the state NRA bill effective. Instead
of souaring of like bantam ROSTERS. business
and the Legislature should get together and
make this legislation model.
Government can not exist without business.
Business is dependent upon government. Since
business must accept the principle of official
regulation it should cooperate with govern
ment NOW to make certain that the basic
law dealing with this problem is sound.
The people elected Mr.. Roosevelt by an
enormous majority. They Endorsed him sweep
ingIy at the polls last fall. He wants the
states to enact their own NRA laws. If the
states including Indiana, fail to do So they
will undoubtedly be placed under far more
stringent. and certainly less desirable, regula-
ton by the Federal government. Cooperation
and not conflict is what is needed.
CERTAIN legislators are also tinkering with
~ one particular business: Chain stores. A
hill has been introduced which would tax every