The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-22
WASHINGTON NEWS
fBy Charles Brooks Smith.

| WASHINGTON, D. c., March ca
Appointment OF trade committee TO
promote cooperation between bust.
ness interests and the new Federal
trade commission has been announced
by the director of the Chamber Of
Commerce OF the United States. The
personnel OF the committee Is made
up of men from all parts Of the states.
Including representatives from Chi,
cago. Toledo, New York. Atlanta, Ca,
and other cities. West Virginia has
been honored by the placing on this,
new committee Of DIR. |. c. White, OF
Morgantown. mining expert of tho
West Virginia University.
Realizing the tremendous task that
is before them the members Of the
national committee have expressed
willingness to do everything in their
power to assist the newly appointed
trade commission, and as soon as the
latter is fully organized the members
of the Federal trade commission will
have a conference with the trade com.
mittee to see how the business men
OF the country can best serve. 1t Is
understood that the Federal trade
commission will make no attempt to
advise corporations In advance us to
the legality under the trade commits.
| sion act, Of any transactions they con.
template. Not only does the act not
place such duty upon them. but
| 1t Is considered as absolutely impos-
sible that the committee should con-
slider forms OF contracts or selling
agreements which any or all Of hun.
dreds OF companies throughout the
states might submit TO them.
Tho committee is required by law
to aid tho department OF Justice In
disentangling the affairs Of a corpora.
ton where a violation has been dis.
closed by investigation. All OF its
responsibility in that regard. how.
ever, Is limited to advice after the
fact and the commissioners have de.
,termined among themselves, 1t Is said,
that 1t would be impossible to inter.
pref In advance at the request OF
corporation in q specific instance the
regulations for the government OF
interstate concerns, which 1t will pro.
mulgate. Ono Of the first things that
will come up before the board Is test
case OF the ruling OF the treasury de.
partment, which requires business
men in making income tax returns
to. account for gains on all transac.
.tions, but does not allow them to de.
duct their losses. 1t has been pointed
out that as the regulation stands, II
man sells two pieces OF property at
the same time, one showing profit
of 81 900 and the other loss of $1,000,
he must report the profit as income,
but is not allowed to deduct the loss.
The Phi Beta Kappa association,
which held Its meeting at the Uniyers-
Davis. Of West Virginia, solicitor gen.
eraf OF the United States, as vice
president. of the society. The asso-
citation has a large membership in
Washington, numbering 1858, and in.
cludes alumni members OF chapters
In about 80 universities and colleges.
The "stone OF junction." the dedica.
ton Of which, the fastest gift to the
Frahciscans. Monastery In this city,
will form principal part OF the Good
Friday services, has arrived in Wash.
ington. The stone Is a copy, the only
one extant, OF the cone covering the
rock on which, according to tradition,
the body of Christmas laid for an.
mounting before being consigned to the
tomb.
The stone Is OF polished Palestine
red marble: about ten feet long, four
feet wide and one foot In length,
and bears some slight ornamentation.
1t is faithful copy inIevery detail
OF the original object and Is highly
priced by the officials of the mon
astery.
Conditions Of travel incident to the
European war caused the fear that
the stone, which was prepared In
Jerusalem, might be SO delayed in
transit that II would reach Washing.
ton too late for the ceremonies OF
Holy Week, but all this has been set
at rets by the arrival OF. the stone.
The original stone OF JUNCTION Is one
Of the objects Of sveneration in the
Church Of the Holy sepulchre in Je.
rusalem.
Congressman Nicely has been mott.
fed by the pension department OF the
granting Of an increase In pension to \
Sanford 3. Fleming, OF sRiyesviIle, w,
Va. He has also fled o petition with
the postoftice depart ment for rural
route from Mcundsvflle to extend 1--WE