The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-09
COMMERCIAL
MORALITY IN
BUSINESS IDEA
In America is Promulgated and
Encouraged by the Federal
Trade Commission.
~. A41oe,Ar-E'Ilol. rRrral

WASHINGTON. Dee. 9.---Tho coun-
try's business men have given hearty
cooperation To tile Federal Trade
Commission in IT'S efforts Ia maintain
proper standards Of commercial moral
tty in American business. according to
the annual renort uf the commission
made public today.
Development or the commissions
policy has had forts first purpose, the
report declares, promotion OF the best
business efficiency It's aim has been
to understand and make allowance for
the difficulty Of tho problem. to see
both sides Of eYeryEcasc. to protect men
in the furtherance OF legitimate self
fnterestEhy all reasonable and normal
methods. and a tic Same time to keep
the channels of competition free and
open to all. SO thai 4 man with small
capital may engage III business in
competition with powerful rivals. AS
sured that lie may operate his business
free from harassn1ent and intimidation
and may be given a fair opportunity 70
work out his business problems with
such industry, efficiency and intel1t-
gence as he may possess.
The report lays stress on the work
.of the commission in preventing unfair
competition Since its creation and up.
to the And or the fiscal year the com
mission has considered 24G applIca-.
tiOnS for the issuance or complaints
against corporations and firms accused
OF nnfair practices or those. 107 have.
been disposed or in various ways.
Some concerns were ord ercd to discon-.
5tinue the tactics complained Of, others.
voluntarily agreed to cease unjust
nesslike methods. and in some cases
no law violations were found. The
charges covered many kinds Of law
violations.
The trade commissions work has In
cluded also economic and special in
yestigations. What the commission.
considers It's most important economic
Inquiry was into the subject Of CO.
operation. in export trade This report
was issued during the sumner and
recommended TO Congress that Ameri-
can manufacturers he permitted to
form export combinations IA bill pro-
Siding for that, having the endorse
ment Of the administration. is now
pending in Congress.
Ore Investigation had TO do with
uniform methods. That showed, ac-
cording to the commission; d large per-
centage Of the countrys manufacturers
and merchants had slight knowledge
OF their costs OF production or selling
EEsApSL n AAAfLol - &1AAH
possibilities and conditions IN each Of
the country's industries, the report
says, developed information that will
prove invaluable 10 producers and per
sons contemplating investments.
The commission investigated the
high prices Of gasoline, started inqnir-
les into the print paper situation and
the bituninous and anthracite coal in
.dustries. continued its investigation
.ofsresale price maintenance and aided
in disposing Of the Mexican sisal crop
Activities in connection with en-
rorcement Of the Sherman act Included
an investiga To determine the rela-
tions existing between various com
panies into which the Standard Oil
Company was dissolved and prepare
tion of d decree i'll the Corn Products
Refining Company case referred to it
by the federal courts.
An urgent appeal is made to Con
.gress for q larger appropriation for
carrying on the work Of the commits
sion, which, the report declares. has
grown so heavy the present force Of
employees cannot handle it