The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-03
BUSINESSMEN DO WANT
NO-PRICE CUTTING LAW

tion permitting producers Of "identi-
ned merchandise" to fix the price at
which such goods shall be resold.
1t was explained tonight by Elliot
II. Goodwin, secretary Of the cham
Der, that there are ten members of
the committee. Its chairman Is Paul
7. Cherington. assistant professor OF
marketing in the Harvard graduate
school OF business administration. A
majority recommendation favoring
legislation permitting price mainte-
nance was signed by seven members.
Two Of them. however. modified their
assent by filing supplementary re-
port. With the majority report came
the comment that q national cham
Der committee had rendered report
year ago last February favorable to
the principles Of price maintenance.
and the majority members saw no
reason In any way to modify the con-
illusions arrived at and given to the
chamber at that time. On the con-
trary, after additional exhaustive in
yestigation, 1t repeated the language
of the committees previous resolu-
lions as its present report and conclu-
sions. viz:
Your committee is convinced that
legislation permitting the mainte-
nance of resale prices under proper
| restrictions on identified merchan-
disc, for voluntary purchase, made
and sold under competitive condi-
tions, would be to the best interest
OF the producer. the distributor and
Of the purchasing public, or consume
cr."
The supplementary report in ques-
ton recommended that Injurious
price cutting be included in the scope
of the Jurisdiction Of the federal trade
commission over unfair methods Of
competition.
Minority Opposes Price Maintenance.
Three members OF the committee
Frank H. Armstrong, of Chicago.
president of Reid. Murdoch and Com
| pany. wholesale grocers; Frederick
H. Rike, president OF the Rike-Kum-
Ter department store, and lately the
president Of the Greater Dayton As
ISOLATION; and Percy S. Straus. prcsi-
dent of R. w. Macy and Company, and
president Of the New York Retail Dry
Goods Association-presen mi
nority report unable to approve Of
the principle Of price maintenance as
being in the public interest"
Those signing the majority report
were George NJ. Courts. of Galveston.
Tex. lately president of the United
Typothetate and Franklin Clubs Of
America, and the National Associa-
ton Of Retail Druggists; Henry B.
Joy, Of Detroit, president of the Pack
ard Motor Company; Paul II. Ny
strom, Of New York. a trade research
expert, forerly assistant professor in
the Universities of Wisconsin and
Minnesota; Frank w. Whitcher, of
Boston, president of Frank w.
Whitcher Company, and formerly
president Of the New England Leath-
er and Shoe Finders Association; Ed.
ward s. Rogers, OF Chicago, lawyer
and copyright and trade mark au-
thority; ana Professor Cherington.
Majority Argue for Price Maintenance
Conclusions Of the majority are
that the advantages OF price mainte-
nance are partly economic and partly
social.
I. Aproperly regulated system Of
price maintenance on identified mer-
chandise made and sold under COM
petitiye conditions puts the emphasis
in competition upon quality and sery-
Ice, while at the same time, It pro-
vides for the public adequate protec-
ton against extortion.
Q. Price maintenance under these
r T