The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1916-04-01
AT THE CAIIITAI.

The following letter is from e. C.
Richardson. former deputy county clerk,
now Stenographer of the Federal Trade
Commission at the national capital:
Washington March 1S-Dear Mr..
iarrigan, SO many people asked me to
let them know what the duties and
functions of the Federal Trade Com
mission were and what its work Is
that | can not begin to write to them
all, but thought l would write to you
and you can put such parts of this
letter In the Examiner as you think
worth while and anybody that wants
to can read 1t.
The Federal Trade Commission is
practically "A new commission, the bill
creating it being passed and approved
on September 2G. 1914. 1t takes the
place of the former Bureau of Cor
pOrations and does away with the Of
fees of Commissioner of Corporations
and Deputy Commissioner of Corpora
tions. 1t Is composed of members,
appointed by the president with the
consent of the senate The salary of
each commissioner is $4,000 a year.
Aside from the commissioners secre-
tarles all of the clerks, etc, are under
the civil service. The principal Of
flee of the commission Is here at Wash
ington, but 1t may meet and exercise
all Of its powers at any place In the
country
The Federal Trade Commission Is
much more important and powerful
than the Bureau of Corporations, which
it superSedes. The Bureau OF Cor
poratlons was formed mainly for in
vestigaton and publicity purposes.
The Federal Trade Commission has
those functions and also other and
very important powers and duties
which go to make it one of the most
important commissions in the govern
ment
The commission is authorized to re-
quire corporations subject to Its juris-
diction to make annual or special re-
ports, or both, In such form as may be
prescribed by the commission, and to
make written answers to specific ques
tions regarding the organization and
management of their business or their
relations to other corporations. part
nershipo or individuals. Furthermore,
the commission is authorized to classify
such corporations, and to make rules
and regulations for the purpose of
carrying out the provisions of the act
creating 1t.
The commission Is given also a gem
eral power of Investigation In respect
to such corporations and their relations
to other corporations individuals, as
sociations and partnerships.
Upon the direction of the president
or either house of congress, the com
mission Is auth orized to investigate
and report concerning any alleged vio-
lations of the antitrust acts by any
corporation.
The commission is also authorized
to Investigate trade conditions In for
eign countries with respect to COM
binations or other conditions Affecting
the foreign trade of the United States.
Certain other functions of the COM
mission combine with investigation the
duty of making particular recommen-
dations'
II In any suit In equity brought by
the government under the antitrust
acts the court Is OF the opinion that
the complainant Is entitled to relief,
II may refer the matter to the COM
mission as n master in chancery to
give hearings to the parties and to
make recommendations for an appro-
pirate form of decree, but the court
may adopt or reject such report In
whole or in part ana enter such decree
as the case in it's judgment may re-
quire.
The commission is empowered upon
the application of the attorney gen
eral to investigate the business of any
corporation alleged to be violating tie
antitrust acts, and to make recon-
mendations for readjustment which
shall bring It in harmony with the law.
an
tered against any corporation in suit
to restrain violations Of the antitrust
CONTINUED on page nve)