The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-08-11

monopoly investigating committee
recessed this week to study and
digest a long series of proposals
for strengthening the antitrust
laws and to await reports from
government agencies being pre-
pared under new Presidential en-
dorsement of the investigation.
AS the committee recessed after
a solid month of hearings, Chair
man Emanuel Celler Cd, N. W an
nounced he had conferred with
President Truman on the commit
tees work and that the chief ex-
ecutive had expressed a keen in
terest in it. He said the President
had "asked us to stand firm" and
"under no circumstances to allow
anybody or anything to deter us in
the work"
Mr.. Truman, as a token of his
appreciation for the Importance of
the committees work in investigat-
ing monopolies, Celler said, had
renewed his offer of cooperation
from government agencies. The
Committee chairman indicated that
some of the departments already
were at work under the commit
tees directions and that some of
their reports would soon be made
public.
Celler announced that formal
hearings were adjourned until the
latter part of October when they
would be resumed in the hope of
having legislation ready for the
opening Of Congress in January
But he said the committee might
be called together in a week or two
to consider some of the reports
now being prepared by government
agencies. He did not disclose their
nature, but it was understood one
of these reports, now being pre-
pared by the Federal Trade Com
mission, would deal with concen-
trations of economic power such
as the du Pont empire.
The Committees hearings ended
with a strong plea from Professor
Milton Handler, Of Columbia Uni
versity, a former New Deal official
and author of one of the best
known reports to the TNEC ITEM
porary National Economic Com
mittee), for strengthening the
antitrust laws against corporate
mergers. Handlers testimony was
commended not only by Celler, who
said he wanted it printed as a
government document, but also by
committee Republicans.
what is needed today" Hand
Ter told the committee, sis not
more investigation but more action.
The facts are we'll know. The need
for corrective measures is widely |
The main question to-
day is how can the salutary objec-
tives of antitrust ideas be more
achieved" Answering
his own question, he proposed:
|. Substantial increases in APP
preparations both for the antitrust |
division and the Federal Trade
Commission. at has been demon
Handler said, "that the
laws can be enforced. |
Each appropriation dollar wisely /
spent can be translated into vast
savings to the public"
2. Substantial increases in the
fines imposed under the antitrust
Iaws-at least from $4,000 up to
$4,000.
3. Automatic appointment of
,ourt masters, after a company has
been found guilty of antitrust
to consider and award
damages to those harmed by the
practices, instead of
each person damaged to
enter suit.
4. A report from the committee
lrglng courts TO impose Jail sent
,nces for fragrant violations of the
antitrust laws.
5. Legislation requiring the anti
rust division to present to the
,ourt in every consent decree set
.lement a full statement of the un-
ierlying facts and the reasons
or the consent DEGREES, so the pub
ic could judge its merits.
6. Creation of a House Judiciary
subcommittee to act as perm
lnent watch dog" to study current
developments, and re-
,iew all government actions TO see
they were in accord with
he antitrust laws.
Handler warned that "no sub
;tantial progress" could be made
n curbing "the alarming and ever
Increasing concentration of corpor- |