Evening star., 1937-04-09

clared, "would tend to increase uncer-
tainties and doubts in regard to gov.
ernmental policies which affect busi-
ness and industry Nothing so dis
courages private enterprise as insta-
blllty in government.
Investment Hazard.
mo man seeking investment for his
capital Is likely to assume the hazard
he would be compelled to assume If in
depreciation of the constitutional
guarantees were to vary with varia-
tions Of public opinion. His failure to
invest in industrial enterprise would,
of course, result in fewer jobs for
working men, a diminishing Of their
purchasing power, lessening demand
for manufactures and corresponding
business Stagnation.'
Members of the committee today
began preparations for secret debate
on the bill after they had been told Mr..
Roosevelt already has under con-
sideration two drafts of law to revive
the NJ r. A, declared void by unani-
nous opinion two years ago.
1t is expected the committee mem
bers will wind up the hearings in about
a week, and then begin consideration
of its report on the court bill, along
with several proposals to modify the
measure and score Of proposed con-
stitutional amendments that have been
submitted.
The President has insisted on pas
sage of the bill "as is" but many Of
the committee members have an
nounced their determination to fight
amendment.
The text of one Of the two bills to
revive Federal control of wages and
hours in industry was submitted to
the committee yesterday by Siegfried
F. Hartman, New York lawyer. Hart
man said he had drafted the bill in his
capacity as chairman of the Legal
Advisory Board of the Council for In
dustrial Progress, set up by Maj.
George L. Berry. acting as Federal CO.
ordinator for industrial cooperation
under appointment by the President.
His bill and a companion measure.
also prepared by the council. are now
under consideration at the Depart
ment of Justice, Hartman said, and a
report from the Attorney General may
be expected within a few weeks"
Basis for Control.
Hartman said his draft would base
the proposed Federal control on the
power of Congress to regulate inter-
state commerce by providing penalties
for unfair competition between per-
sons engaged in interstate commerce
and their competitors in or out of that
field Of commerce. The measure
would prohibit the following:
l. All forms of deception of the pub
lie by persons engaged in interstate
commerce, regardless of the COM
petitive feature.
2. All forms of competition hereto
fore held to be unfair within the
meaning of existing laws
3. Certain other practices in COM
petition now generally recognized as
contrary to existing standards of fair
ness.
Work for Federal Agency.
A Federal agency would be set up
to regulate price determinations, sales
below cost, sale in interstate commerce
of goods made by child labor or under
sweat shop conditions in competition
with goods not so manufactured
The President would be authorized
by proclamation to prohibit the ship
ment of goods manufactured under the
prescribed conditions into States hav-
ing laws against such products.
The proposed bill would contain the
following congressional declaration OF
its policy:
Interstate and foreign commerce
generally have for many years been
substantially burdened and restrained
and otherwise prejudicially affected
by various acts, practices and methods
committed or adopted by persons en-
gagged in interstate Of foreign COM
merce in the course thereof or in the
course of competition in or with inter-
state or foreign commerce.
ut Is therefore hereby declared to
be the policy Of Congress to enlarge
the field Of legally prohibited unfair
competition in interstate and foreign
commerce, to discourage and prevent
the gaining Of competitive advantages
in such commerce by llnconsciona h1e