Evening star., 1960-11-10


Wherever he went-and he
has made 200 speeches in Is
months-Mr. Kintner said he
found he had to answer fer
conditions in the City Of WASH
ington.
"'How can you expect US to
clean up our city, they say to
me-" Mr.. Kintner recalled in
an interview, when we know
Washington is far from per-
feet"
Must Be Symbol
Actually. MIR. Kintner believes
that Washington Is no worse
than other metropolises," but he
also has developed a crusading
belief that Washington must
stand as a symbol of commercial
honesty. not only to Americans,
but to the rest of the world as
well.
1.-THE obligation to achieve
and maintain ethical business
methods is uniquely heavy in
Washington" he said recently
to Washington advertising Lead
iers. 81 believe that the COM
mercial morality Of the Nations
Capital is very much a public
concern-not only for residents
Of the District and commuters
from Maryland and Virginia,
but for every citizen in the
country.
washington is more than a
city; it is the political citadel
Of our free competitive system.
Here more than any place, else
ones product had better square
with its advertising, its selling
had better he honest and its
guarantee made good"
Thus he has come to the
conclusion that the FTC and
the business community here
must work doubly hard in
Washington to make sure that
only ethical practices are fol-
lowed.
Has Broad Powers
The FTC is empowered to
take action against firms using
deceptive practices, and this
mandate is especially broad in
Washington, where the FTC
has complete jurisdiction to
act.
In recent months, the FTC
has acted against used-car
companies, home improvement
firms, furniture stores and
electrical appliance dealers it
thought were trying to deceive
the public.
AS tough as he has been on
errant businessmen, he sees
Federal legislation only as a
last resort, when local and
State officials have not been
able to correct an unhealthy
situation.
In some Of his speeches to
local businessmen, Mr.. Kintner
has said businessmen must
band together to clean up their
areas. But if they fail to do so,
then he feels local govern
ments-such as the District
should and must develop regu-
lations to handle these unethi-
cal practices. He was very much
in favor of the Districts new
auto sales regulations which he
feels plug up some of the gaps
in the sale Of motor vehicles
here.
Frauds Bring Laws
fraudulent business men
don't understand" he said,
that if they continue to cheat
the public, they will only force
more legislation against busi-
ness"
II have the conviction that
the country should have a min.
imum of regulation and con-
troll. I dislike too much govern
ment."
He added, however, that
where necessary, laws should
be made and enforced strictly.
Enforcement of laws has no.
tably been strengthened under
his Craftsmanship.
Mr.. Kintner has said the
FTC is limited in the number
of firms it can prosecute, so
he has tried to enlist the help
of the business communities all
over the country - including
Washington.
He has asked these leaders
to set up self lf-policing agencies
within the business community
to force bad eggs" either into
line or out of business.
"Self discipline to which the
overwhelming majority of hon.
est businessmen can subscribe
can make conspicuous outcaSts
of the defiant few who would
thumb their noses at good taste
and propriety, as well as the
law" Mr.. Kintner has said.
I'm other words, while VOL
untary adherence to the law
will never be absolute, the more
who will abide by it, the more
conspicuous-and vulnerable
become those who won't"
OF all the actions the FTC