Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
FOR PRICE CONTROL
BY MANUFACTURERS
Auto Builder Advocates Retail
Price Fixing as Protec-
ton to Buyer.

An established retail price fixed and
published by responsible manufacturer
is for the consumers protection" says
Henry B. JOY, president Of the Packard
Motor Car Company.
The control OF the retail price by the
manufacturer, when the fixed and pub
hsned retail price is actually, honestly
and inviolahly maintained by the manu-
facturer and by his representatives. the
retail dealers, is the only honest square
way to insure fair dealing between the
manufacturer and his patrons Such a.
method and such only is square, honest
business.
When. however, such a retail price is
only 'ostensibly established by a man
ufacturer. but Is fixed high for the pur-
to negotiate with or trade with, it is
crooked business. The manufacturer who
does 1t Is crooked and the retailer or
dealer also IS crooked The trusting or
unsktlled buyer Is .f1eeced.'
The Department of Justice is by
pending litigation under the Sherman act
seeking to prevent the control Of the re-
sale price to the consumer after the sale
OF the product to the dealer by the manu-
facturer has been contaminated. This is
wrong in principle and wrong in fact. It
tends to force and actually will compel
unfair competition resulting in one
price 10 one consumer and another price
to another.
Treat All Alike.
I'VE have demanded that the railroads
should establish. publish and maintain
equal freight rates to all. Why are we
so fussy about railroad rates? Yet we
institute legal proceedings to prevent
a manufacturer Of breakfast foods
product alike. The government would
be In better business il 1t sought to COM
pei equal treatment to all.
II the Department of Justice sought to
compel a manufacturer to maintain
established list prices by Interpreting the
sherman act to mean that cut prices be-
low the manufacturers fixed and pub
Iisneo prices was conspiracy in restraint
OF trade. which 1t actually is, great good
would be accomplished in promoting
honesty in business
I'VE jailed and fined railroad officials
Tor cutting prices on freight. Why is not
the same principle applicable to products
OF manufacturers in relation to the con-
sumers of their goods?
We have right to demand equal and
rair treatment to all. Competition will
still exist in Its broadcast and best sense
and in the most beneficial form to all
concerned.
IF manufacturer establishes and pub
fishes consumers price he should be
compelled to maintain it. and If a sale at
less than list price can be proven to have
been made by his dealers or agents, then
all sales for period of say thirty days
prior to the cut price sale should be
adjusted to that basis.
I'm such a condition it is plain that
published prices would be maintained
The confding purchaser would not be
cheated as is now largely the practice
Purchases could be made with one-tenth
the expenditure of time, talent and energy
in shopping and negotiating, and all
consumers would be treated alike and
each get a square deal.
TT is obvious also that established
published prices would be fixed at their
proper and legitimate point. A publish
ed price would mean the real actual value
of the article at which it must sell on its
merits In competition with other like
products.
Competition would be transformed
from sharp and INSCRIPTIONS business
methods to the basis Of quality, merit
y3anS