Self-Regulation

A constant complaint of U.S. business against Washington in recent years has been the growing tendency toward regulation of industry. The present Administration has steadily opposed this tendency, however, not only because it is harmful to business itself, and to the public at large, but because it steadily increases the expenses of the Federal Government and thus prevents tax reduction.

Now the Chamber of Commerce has stepped into the breach with a constructive suggestion--that U.S. business regulate itself. At the National Distribution Conference to be held in Washington Dec. 15, a definite plan will be introduced, discussed. The contention of the Chamber apparently is that self-government in business is more desirable that regulation by the State and will make the latter unnecessary.

In a survey made by a committee of the Chamber, a list of leading causes for unethical trade practices has been compiled. They include price fluctuations; trade customs which have outgrown their justification; "fly-by-night" business organizations; changes in style; discrimination among customers; lack of standardization in trade practices and in products; the lack of machinery for adjusting trade disputes.

To manage the difficult and extensive program which this list suggests, the Chamber proposes that a joint Trade Relations Committee be organized, composed equally of producers and distributors, to act as a clearing house for charges of trade abuses, to study existing trade abuses and their supposed preventives, to promote settlement of disputes, and to eliminate business wastes by producers and distributors.