The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-11
FEDERAL TRADE
Commission
FORSTANDARDS
WORK INCLUDES SPECIAL IN
vESTlGATiONS AND INQUIRY
INTO SUBJECT OF CORPORA
TIONS.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE coun-
try's business men have given hearty
co operation to the Federal Trade
Commission in its efforts to maintain
proper standards of commercial NOR
ality in American business, according
to the annual report of the commits
tion made public Saturday.
Development of the commission
policy had had for its first purpose
the report declares, promotion of the
best business efficiency. Its aim has
been ito understand and make allow
ance for the difficulty of the problem,
to see both sides of every case, TO pro
tect men in the furtherance of legitl-
mate self-inteIest by all reasonable
and normal methods, and at the same
time to keep the channels of compe-
tition free and open to all, so that
man with small capital may engage
in business in competition with pow
erful rivals, assured that he may op-
crate his business free from embar-
rassment and intimidation and may
be given fair opportunity to work
out his business problems with such
industry efficiency and intelligence as
he may possess
The report lays stress On the work
of the commission in preventing un-
fair competition. Since its creation
+ and up to the end of the fiscal year
the commission has considered ZIG
applications for the issuance of com
plants against corporations and firms
accused of unfair practices. OF those,
I1O7 have been disposed o. in various
ways. Some concerns were ordere!
to discontinue the tactics complained
of, others voluntarily agreed to cease
unhu sinosslke methods and in somo
cases no law violations were found
The charges covered many kinds o.
law violations.
The trade commissions work has
,included also economic and special
investigations. What the commission
considers its most important economic
inquiry was into the subject of CO.
operation in export trade. This re.
port was issued during the summer
and recomm ended to Congress that
American manufacturers be permit
ted to form export combinations. A
bill providing for that, having the en-
dorsement of the administration, is
now pending in Congress.
one investigation had to do with
uniform accounting methods. That
showed, according to the commission,
large percentage of the country's
manufacturers and merchants had
slight knowledge of their costs of pro
duction or selling expense. An in
'vestigation of trade possibilities and
conditions in each of the country 5
industries, the report says. developed
information that will prove invaluable
to producers and persons contemplat
ing investments.
The commission investigated the
high prices Of gasoline, started inquir-
les into the print paper situation and
the bituminous and anthracite coal
industries. continued its investigation
of resale price maintenance and aided
in disposing of the Mexican sisal crop.
Activities in connection with en-
forcenient of the sherman act incud
ed an investigation to determine the
relations existing between various
companies into which the Standard
Oil Company was dissolved and prep
aration of a decree in the Corn Pro
ducts Refining Company case referred
to it by the Federal courts.
An urgent appeal is made to Con
gress for 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,