Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-31
Fair Trade Repeal
And Curbs on Unions
Urged by U. 5. Study

By the Associated Press
A Government-sponsored COM
mittee today proposed repeal Of
flair trade" laws designed to pre-
vent cut rate retail sales Of ma
tionally advertised. brand name
products.
If the Administration and Con-
gress should follow through. the
way would be open for discount
houses to spring up everywhere.
Merchants would be able to
charge whatever they wished for
electric mixers, cosmetics, foun-
tain pens and the like-regard-
less of prices manufacturers want
to impose.
The recommendation by the
National Committee to Study the
Antitrust Laws brought praise
from Representative Celler,
Democrat, of New York, and
some question from Senator
Sparkman, Democrat, of Ala
bama.
Patman Critical
Other portions of the report
were criticized by Patman, Demo-
crat, of Texas. Mr.. Celler heads
the House JudiciaI. Committee;
Senator Sparkman and Mr.. Pat
man are chairmen of Senate and
House Small Business Commit
tees.
The study committee also
called for legislative curbs on
labor union activities that may
restrict trade and competition.
The committee report went
along with "a condemnation of
any merger resulting in an ap-
preciable movement in some
market toward monopoly power"
But it said a merger in itself
is not necessarily an evil and
each case will have to be judged
on its own merits.
The committee of go was
named by Attorney General
Brownell in August, 1858, with
the idea that its findings would
be used as the basis for legis-
lative and administrative action
in the antitrust field.
70 recommendations
Made up largely of lawyers
and economists, the committee
came up with some 70 recon-
mendations. A dozen would
involve legislation. The rest
would apply to administration
and enforcement of existing
laws. It's two co-chairmen are
Stanley N. Barnes, Assistant At
torney General in charge of the
Justice Departments Antitrust
Division, and S. Chesterfield OPP
penheim, University of Mich
igan law professor.
In general, the gist of the
recommendations had leaked out
several weeks ago.
Mr.. Barnes and Mr.. Open
helm agreed at q news seminar
that the recommendations would
strengthen antitrust enforce
ment.
A general dissent by Louis B.
Schwartz. University of Pennsyl-
vania law professor. took the
position that:
The majority report would
weaken the antitrust laws u.
and it fails to adopt necessary
measures for strengthening the
law SO as to create a truly COM
petitive economy in this country.
On 80 specific issues. the report |
takes position inimical to COM
petition" DAVE
Five other members supported |
the substance of Mr.. SchWartz's |
objections.
Called Private Lobby"
Mr.. Patman said the commit
tee should be investigated as "a
high-pressure private lobby OPP
Grating under White House sane
lions to get the antitrust
laws repealed"
Mr.. Celler said that with few
exceptions the committees rec
concentrations advocate a sub
stantial weakening of the anti
trust laws" He said, however
that he was "gratified' by the
recommendation for repeal of
fair trade" laws,
AS for the fair trade" repeal
point. Senator Sparkman said it
would be viewed with misgivings
by small retailers who are con-
WINGED that fair trade laws af-
ford them reasonable protection
from predatory pricing prac-
tees"
Among the committees rec
concentrations for legislation
we're these:
/. Raising from $1,000 to $10,-
900 the present maximum fine
for antitrust law violations.
2. Discretionary authority for