Evening star., 1936-11-25

Inc ce ntra ~ &&&
Idea Is to require p,v,d 1,~r
all businesses to DA''o Lawrence
take out a Federal license or else
they will not be permitted to send
goods into retail trade or between
States.
To get Federal license and to keep
one from being revoked, business
must agree to collective bargaining,
to establish minimum wages. not to
discriminate among union and nom
union employees, and to follow the
guidance of the Federal Government
on the following fundamental prin-
ciple:
Rates OF pay shall be increased
and hours of work shall be reduced
In accordance with gains in the pro-
ductive efficiency of the industry,
arising from increased mechaniZation,
improvements in chronological meth
ods. or from other causes, to the end
that employees shall have an equitable
participation in the output of in
dustry, and that employment and
mass-purchasing power may keep
pace with industry"
Provides Furnishing Of Data.
The foregoing principle would be
the guide Of employers in arriving
at rates Of pay, hours of work and
other conditions of employment" and
the employers, in following it, shall
exhaust all possibilities of collective
bargaining with representatives of
recognized organizations of employees"
The Federal Trade Commission is
TO be authorized to secure from Ii
censees involved all relevant and de-
tailed data as to production cost,
prices and profits"
The businesses OF the country,
moreover, are to be subject to in
vestigation If "any strike, lockout or
other labor dispute" occurs, and IF
the commission shall find that such
business is at fault" and has caused
the police or constabulary Ito pro-
tect or escort strike breakers, it shall
be the duty of the commission i'm
mediately to revoke the license of
such business"
Sees Amendment Possibility.
All stockholders are to have an
equal right to vote, and no bonuses
can be paid except by vote Of stock
holders. and all directors or officers
must be bona fide owners of stock in
the corporation they manage.
Senator o'Mahoney feels that the
measure should have the support of
business, and that, if a law of the
kind he has drafted is not held
constitutional, an amendment to the
Federal Constitution to accomplish the
same object is an inevitable sequel.
The Wyoming Senator does not
hold any brief for the exact phrase
ology Of his draft and comedies that
changes will be made as the matter
comes under full debate and discus
sion.
1t is interesting to note that Presi-
dent Taft opposed compulsory Fed
eral licensing but did recommend to
Congress voluntary incorporation
bill in 1910. Some of its features are
reproduced in part in the O'Mahoney
bill. President Wilson made a brief
reference to Federal incorporation in
his message to Congress in 1919.
In the old days Federal incorpora-
ton was looked upon as device to
permit a more flexible operation of
the antitrust laws, and, indeed, on
this basis Mr.. Taft urged it.
Wilson Saw Regulation.
Mr.. Wilson, however. thought It
might serve to regulate corporate
profits in certain businesses lust as
in the case of utilities.
1t all depends. therefore, not merely
on what is the intent behind such a
bill. but what Is its possible scope of
application.
Labor wants the bill to get the
N. r. A. revived
Several brain trusters" hereabouts
want is as a means of regulating capi-
talism and particularly to exercise a
control over businesses, large and
small, that have already issued their
securities and hence cannot be
reached by the S. E. c.. especially if
their securities are closely held and
not traded in on stock exchanges.
There are doubts about the con-
stitutionality of these proposals, but
O'Mahoney was quoted this week as
believing the Supreme Court of the
United States follows the election re-
turns.
Permits Certain Freedom.
It is O'Mahoney's belief that his
bill will define by law certain points
to which business must conform, and
that in all other respects business
will be free to operate as it wills
The extent to which the measure,
which it is believed has President
Roosevelt's support in principle, does
give business chance to manage its
own affairs and the extent to which
every business-with the exception
Of newspapers, church and educa-
tional enterprises-are put under the
control Of a government commission
depends on how the bill, If enacted
into law, will be interpreted by the
Federal Trade Commission and later
the courts.
CCopyrisht. 1850