The sun., 1916-12-10
TRADE COMMISSION
TELLS OF REFORMS
Federal Boards Report Shows
a Lessening Of Unfair
Competition.
COMBINATIONS ARE URGED
Manufacturers Said to Have
Slight knowledge Of
Costs.
COMBINATIONS ARE URGED

WARRINGTON. Dec. s.-The country's
men have given hearty coopera-
ton to the Federal Trade Commission In
Its efforts to maintain proper standards
Of commercial morality In American busi-
ness. according to the annual report Of
the commission. made public to-day.
Development Of the commissions
policy has had for its FIRST purpose. the
report declares. promotion Of the best
business efficiency. It's aim has been
ito understand and make allowance for
the difbculty Of the problem. to zee both
sides Of every case. to protect men In
the furtherance Of legitimate seif-inter-
est by all reasonable and normal
methods and at the same time to keep
the channels Of competition free and
open TO all 10 that q man with small
capital nay engage In business In corm.
petition with powerful rivals. assured
that he may operate his business free
from harassment and intimidation and
may be given . fair opportunity to work
out his business problems with such In
dustry. efficiency and intelligence a. he
may possess"
stops Cafair Csapetitisa.
The report lays stress on the work OF
the commission in preventing unfair
competition. Since its creation up
to the end OF the fiscal year the COM
mission has considered zee applications
for the issuance OF complaints against
corporations and Arms accused OF unfair
practices. OF those io7 have been dis
posed Of In various ways Some con-
Germs were ordered to discontinue the
tactics complained Of. others voluntarily
agreed to cease unbuslnesslike methods.
and In some cases no law violations were
found. The charges covered many kinds
Of Law violations.
The trade commission's work has In
cluded also economic and special investi-
cations. what the commission considers
its most important economic inquiry was
into the subject Of cooperation In export
trade. This report was Issued during
the summer and recommended to Con-
gress that American manufacturers be
permitted to form export combinations.
A bill providing for that. having the in.
dorsement OF the Administration. 10 now
pending In Congress.
Cnifern Acceuutiag Methsls.
One investigation had TO do with uni.
form accounting methods. That showed.
according to the commission. . large per.
centage Of the country's manufacturer
and merchants had slight knowledge Of
their costs Of production or selling ex.
pense. An investigation Of trads poesi.
bilities and conditions Ia each Of TN
country's industries. the report says 10
veloped information that will prove In
valuable to producers and persons con
templating investments.
The commission Investigated the high
prices of Gasoiene. started inquiries into
the print paper situation and the btu
minous and anthracite coal industries
continued it's investigation Of resale price
maintenance and aided in disposing OF
the Mexican sisal crop.
Activities In connection with enforce
ment OF the Sherman act included ar
investigation to determine the relation
existing between various companies int
which the Standard OH Company wal
dissolved n preparation Of a decree ir
the Corn Products Refining Compan,
case referred to II by the Federal courts.
An urgent appeal ID made to Congress
for a large appropriation for carrying
on the work Of the commission. which
the report declares. has grown 10 heavy
the present force OF employees canno'
handle II.