Emerging Role of Antitrust: As Inflation-Fighter
Now, as heads of their respective antitrust agencies, they are espousing the same economic philosophy: that strict antitrust enforcement can help fight inflation and keep the economy healthy by reviving competition.</br></br>More important, Engman, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and Kauper, assistant attorney general for antitrust and thus chief of the Justice DepartmentÛªs antitrust division, may have the ear of another influential Michigan alumnus:	President</br></br>Ford already appears committed to the views of his fellow Wolverines. In his economic message to the Congress last October, he Û¢ endorsed legislation strengthening the antitrust laws by putting some teeth in the penalty provisions and pledged a ÛÏreturn to the vigorous enforcement of antitrust laws.Û</br></br>Signing the bill into law last month, Ford noted, ÛÏthis Congress recognized that antitrust violations injure both our economy and individual consumers...</br></br>ÛÏI assure you that with this new legislation, this Administration will continue to create a strong antitrust record. In times like these, we cannot afford to do less.Û competitive economy, there was also actionÛÓcourt actionÛÓand that is expected to continue in 1975. Among the industries now under investigation by the antitrust division are steel, automobiles, tobacco, coal, primary metals, chemicals, newsprint and paper products, heavy electrical equipment, beer, and numerous food industries such as eggs, beef, bread, milk, and seafood.