The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-10-07

have resulted to the benefit of the pub
lie and evidenced the necessity for
more general government control and
regulation. Rather recently the study
Of economic laws governing the fixing
of retail prices, has been taken up
with the idea of determining the
truth about the fixing of retail prices,
and as to whether giving the privilege
Of so fixing the prices to the manufac-
turer tends towards monopoly or does
not so tend"
Some people can attend bargain
sales" and get real value for their
money, but that has not been the ex-
p%erience of all of us. In New York
City and elsewhere the local authori-
ties have been making a war upon
false and fictitious representations as
to superior quality and reduced prices
offered at sales" The criminal sta.
tutes have been invoked, and fraud
has been punished in many instances.
The supreme court of the United
States has rendered a decision to the
effect that the fixing of retail prices
on the part of manufacturers is I'M
lawful. Nevertheless, it has been
pointed out that nations abroad are
said to favor by law hat which we
bid. Therefore the federal authorities
before arriving at conclusions, have
drafted their best men for an ~investi-
cation to determine what new legisla-
ton should be required that will best
serve the interests of the manufac,
turer, retailer and consumer.
"Some men, we'll informed, argue
that the fixing of retail prices under
conditions where composition in manu-
facture exists tends to promote com
petition. Others say that the refusal
to permit the fixing of retail prices
tends to monopoly because in the cut.
throat competition certain to follow,
obviously the stronger competitor
will survive and may eventually have
the business in his own hands, and
under these circumstances the weak.
est must go to the wall" Following
partment Of commerce has given one
of the best definitions of efficiency in,
government by adding to the above:
"Such being the views expressed by
thoughtful men on a matter in which
every consumer is interested because
he must needs buy such articles, it is
important that the subject should r--
ceive thoughtful study, and this the
bureau of corporations proposes to
give it," The federal trade commits
sion has inherited the task from it's
predecessor.
1t is an absolute proof that condi-
tons in government are becoming
more intelligent and improved when
such problems are taken up seriously.
Still another subject of great inter
est to the American people at all times
pertains to the exclusion of aliens ar
irving at our ports. In 1913 the ex-
illusions were remarkably small in
proportion to the number of immi-
grants as compared with the year 1912.
1t is frankly explained that this failure
to maintain the proportion of exclu-
sions vas due largely to the fact that.
lille immigration increased forty.
three per cent, the funds, employees
and facilities for the inspection of
aliens were not increased in the least
degree. This produced a situation in
which it was necessary for individual
officers to attempt to do so much work
that necessarily some of it was not
we'll DONE"
Thus we have the confession that be-
cause Of penury q rich government
failed to afford the necessary funds,
and the quality of citizenship admitted
from foreign countries became lower
ed. This is inexcusable neglect, since
the reports for 1913 show that 1897, 872
immigrant aliens entered the United
States. Too strict a watch cannot be
kept upon u gates, for the reason