Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-07-30
RESALE PRICES
RESEARCH TEXT
Special Government Agent ir
Chicago on Countrywide
Study of Resale Prices.

(From the Modern Grocer, Chicago
July IS, member of the Grocery and
allied Trade Press of America).
| That the resale price maintenance
question is being given very care
ful study by the administration al
Washington, was evidenced last weel
by the arrival in Chicago of C. E.
La Vigne, special agent of the Com
merce, Washington, to make a study
OF the subject from the viewpoint OF
Chicago retailers, wholesalers and
manufacturers.
1t will be recalled that when the
Stevens bill was first brought into
public eye some months ago Secre-
tary Redfield announced that his
/ department would make a thorough
! investigation of price maintenance. AS
a result Of that statement Mr. La
Vigne is making a tour of the coun-
| try visiting the small merchant in
the obscure country town ais well
as the head men at the head Of the
leading manufacturing enterprises of
! the largest cities.
Studies Problem from Every Angle.
| Mr.. La Vigne is making a thorough
study of distribution from every an
| gle and is interviewing manufacture
ers, jobbers, retailers, department
store proprietors, mail order houses
and producers and distributors in
every channel of mercantile activity.
He is covering many states in order
that the expression of opinions sup
ported by facts, regarding the advis-
ability or inadvisability of protecting
resale prices shall be as comprehen-
sive and conclusive as it is possible
| to get them.
1t is understood that the fullest con
sideration is being given to the
problem of price maintenance as it
Affects the smaller merchandise we'll
aus the manufacturers and jobbers, not
only with regard to his relations
with the consumer, but also in view
of the competition coming from out
side of the town in which he is stu
ated. In many sections of the coun-
try the small merchant has already
been afforded an opportunity to be
heard either by direct interview with
the special agent or by an addition
al QUESTIONABLE if the merchant WAS
sufficiently interested and desired it.
Westerfeid Lauds Cause.
Among the Chicago retailers visit
ed by Mr.. LaVigne was Sol. West
erfeld, the well known champion OF
the retail grocer's cause who few
| weeks ago, together with other prom
inent association men, appeared be-
fore the judiciary committee at Wash
ington on the subject of price main
| tenance.
In an interview with the Modern
| Grocer Mr.. Westerfeld said:
During the past week it has been
my pleasure to meet Mr.. LaVigne, OF
the Bureau of Corporations, who is
in the city for the purpose of study
| ing methods of distribution and to
ascertain how those methods might
be affected by a resale price main-J
| tenance law.
81 found in Mr.. LaVigne a very
| affable gentleman who at once won
my confidence.
Quite contra to my experience
with government, state and city Of
flee holders, the investigation, MIR. La
| Vigne is conducting is absolutely fair
and apart from any political and
party prejudice Mr.. LaVigne has the
ability to go to the very bottom of
conditions and rather than treat
the question from any single angle,
is looking upon it from every possi-
bic viewpoint He is apparently very
desirous of investigating trade con-
ditions as they affect manufacturer,
wholesaler, retailer and consumer "a
like.
,"When dealing with trade abuses,
he is very careful TO find the rea-
son why they exist and seems very
desirous of ascertaining ways in
which conditions may be improved
upon.
1T appears that Mr.. LaVigne is
not pursuing his work as a critic, but
rather in the capacity of one look
ing for the facts in the case and for
the purpose of finding remedies for
existing evils. l therefore took great
pleasure in giving him all the infor-
nation at my command. A list Of
thirty-nine questions. adequate an
swers to which will require a little
closer study, shall receive my earn
est attention
'"The business interests of the
United States are to be congratu--
lated upon having assigned to this
| work a man Of the character and abil
lity of Mr.. LaVigne and 1 hope that
business big and small will avail
itself of the opportunity and give
him absolute and correct information
as to trade conditions.
'In the past business has stood in
awe Of governmental investigation
and study. This action has left the
impression with the public that it
cannot afford to let the light in and
that business operations were con-
4 Quoted in a quasi-criminal manner.
Those really familiar with these
matters know that business general
" is conducted on as high a plane
as any of the professions.
''The farmer realized long ago that
the government could be a great aid