Imperial Valley press., 1937-05-25
LEGISLATION IN
RESTRAINT OF TRADE


There has been lot said about "re-
straint of trade" by monopolies and
other old-time political bugaboos; now
it is time something was said about leg
islatiOn in restraint of trade. One of the
most hurtful growing pains in this period
of undOubted economic change we are
undergoing is the unreasoned attack
some decidedly left-wing politicians are
making against the bulwarks of economic
wel-being.
These gentry have demonstrated their
inability to run the business of govern
ment without going deeply into the red,
yet they continue their attempts to place
private business as well under their
domination.
We need look no farther than Sacra-
mento for examples. Picking at random,
we get Assembly Bill 1139. restricting
optometry advertising, and Assembly
Bills III and 1173, restricting chiropody
advertising. And no later than Tuesday
night Senate bill 1920 an innocent ap-
pearing bill was swiftly changed in con-
tent matter to restrict the initiative and
enterprise of dentists. The danger lies
not so much in the bare proposal to re-
strict advertising as in the danger that,
through such restriction, the state gov
ernment opens up path along which are
signboards pointing to government regu-
lation of all business.
The bills would, in short, establish a
precedent enabling the government to
say, I'VE, and we alone, will decide what
is and what is not good business prac-
tice We shall tell you when to adver-
tiSe, and perhaps in the future We shall
tell you what prices to charge, what
hours to keep your business open, what
signboards you may put up in your
store. Some day, we might even go all
the way, and take over your business.
Why not? The laws we have made say
that We know more about 1t than you
dor"
The trouble with some lawmakers is
that they carry the basic reason for law to
wrong conclusion Laws are made to
protect society as a whole against the
depredations of wrong-doers. For the
purpose of Qualification, we may say that
laws are made to protect the weak but
law abiding citizen from the strong but
criminal forces or individuals.
The conclusion some lawmakers have
reached is that laws are intended to pro-
tect the weak from the strong, regard
less of equalizing factors. Where both
the weak and the strong are morally
sound, that is not the case. All other
things being equal, the weak naturally
becomes subservient to the strong. No
amount of legislation can prevent it.
Any legislation which attempts to do
so is liable to strangle for time the
very forces which have made govern
ment, and even civilization, possible.
Laws may reguate human behaviour,
but they cannot dictate it. They may
guide business, but they should not stran-
gle it. They may prevent unfair prac-
tees, but they should not outlaw fair
ones.
Italian soldiers tossed into the sea by
Spanish women near Bilbao are going
to catch it from Mussolini for beach
Basquering during hours
Nominee for a prophet to succeed Far
ley: the song writer who created Chain
ed in Ny Rockin Chair" before the sit
down strike became popular.
The Terre Haute, Ind, policeman de-
NOTED to maintain harmony in the de-
partment" probably sang off key in the
station quartet.
Outside the coronation delegates, the
only ones taking Offense at sighting re-
marks about knee pants are the tougher
baseball players.
nIIT NIID XNAv