The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-16

glossy. For sale by Crane drug
store.
executive may wisely take concern
ing these matters.
ut is important that we should
.sknow the truth about the fixing OF
retail prices and as to whether gtv.'
ling the,iprivilege OF so fixing the
prices toi manufacturer tends to.
ward monopoly or does not so tend.
Men who are sincere and we'll I'M
formed do not think alike on this
problem, but whatever their views Y
will be agreed that no thorough
study has ever been made Of the sub
kject in this country. Nations abroad
are said TO favor by law that which
we forbid
Fixing. of Prices Unlawful.
"The law with us is for the time
fixed by the decision Of the supreme
court that the fixing of retail prices
on the part of manufacturers is un-
lawful. II, however, new Legislation
should in the future be required, It
is important that the truth be known
Hest injustice be done, not so mucn
to the manufacturer us to the con-
sumner.
"some men, we'll informed, argue
that the fixing of retail prices under
conditions where competition in
manufacture exists tends to promote
competition. Others say that the re-
fusal to permit the fixing Of retail
prices tends, to monopoly because In
the cut-throat competition certain to
follow obviously the stronger compe-
acknowledgements and mtty eventually
have the business in his own hands,
| for the law forbids the making Of
agreements to maintain prices, and
tunder these circumstances the weak
est must 60 to the wall. Such being
! the views expressed by thoughtful
men on matter in which every con-
| sumer is interested because he must
|, buy such articles, 1t is important
] that the subject should receive
4 thoughtful study, and this the bu-
reau of corporations purposes to give
to it.
Remedy Apparent.
That there are Immediate anu
well known conditions that should
and can be remedied by law is ap'
parent. Some of these remedies are
for instansec, law providing that
! there shall be presumption thai
all restraints of trade are unreason
| able, and placing the burden OF es'
ftablishing the reasonableneSs OF such
'restraint upon the party alleging 1t;
Legislation preventing the watering
| of stocks; that corporations shall moi
| hold stock in other competing com
I panies, and that neither n person moi
a corporation shall at the same tint
own a coRtroling interest in two OF
more COMPLETING corporations, or that
IEthe ofricersSof corporations shall not
be affiliated directly or indirectly by
holding office in other corporations
H Congress will undoubtedly ad'
/ dress itself to some Of these aspects
of the situation with curative pro
visions: Regardless Of such legisla'
ton, however, there still remains
fundamental economic fact to be de-
termined to-wit, whether the trust
or, monopolistic form is socially and
economically efficient In production
as Is alleged; and upon the solution
of this problem must depend the III
innate attitude of government to-
ward combinations and consolidation
in business.
"Of the old investigations those on
lumber, tobacco, water Transports
ton, the harvester industry, and cor
porate taxation remain to be con
cluded by the publication of add,
tional reports. but all will probably
be closed up within the next twelve
months. In addition to these are tpe
new Investigations Of the fertilizer
industry, the relationship of the Ok
lahoma oil fields to the general oil
market, and the cotton pool.
IAN Investigation of trade agree
ments is also in progress, with view
to establishing some facts as to what
agreements, If any, apparently in re-
strainttsor trade, are really in aid Of
competition and should be exempted
from the operation of the Sherman
act. There is also an investigation
pending with reference to the mer--
its and dement's of a condition
| which prohibits uniform price from
being fixed by manufacturers and job
bers, binding upon retailers, as to
/ articles NJ their manufacture"