The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-12-13

WASHINGTON. Dec. l2.--Extcnsion If
tho governments price fixing power TO
other products than food and fuel and
especially 60 iron and steel. IL believed
necessary by the Federal Trade Commits
sion in the light OF experience GAINED
in investigating economic conditions
since the United States entered the war
Recommendation that a temporary nd
ministratiYc body no established I" ''''-
,erm!ue reasonable prices for prim"
necessities and also II r"%ulat" the dis
trihuIon ~ raw materials and hnlSEe7
products was made IN IN" commission $
annual report. submitted today Ia con-
gross.
Other recommendations suggest that
the commissions powers OF nbtaininS
information be broadened 70 authorize
requirements Of reports from individuals
engaged in commerce. as well rs corror-
nj Ions; that information gathered 10y
temporary scmlofhcial organizations
such M the Council Of National l'ct"nsc.
Including all correspondence. b. ordered
preserved; thnt trade association flies
should be made public records: that In
vestigation Of foreign trade conditions
be made TO permit proper measures WIN
regard II American industrial organize.
ton now and when poac" IS concludrd;
that the Webb bill To eliminate asSncia-
lions for export trade from the operation
Of the Sherman law h" passed. and that
the salary Limitations nf $4,000 yenr
be removed from the commissions en-
pert employees.
Declaration Of war has moi lesScned
either the number OF inportanc" OF tho
complaints made 10 the commission or
unfair competition, hut on the contrary
tho number Of complaints has Increased.
During the fiscal year ending Juno a"'
n total of l02 complaints were disposed
OF without formal proceedings. leaving
1871 com plants still under investigation.
Annlicatlons for remedial procedure by
rho commission showed. ~ decrease from
the fiscal year ending June 20. 1916. In
nine cases during the last year. III"
commission issued formal complaints.
and In four the matter was disposed OF
NV III, issuance OF orders to cease and
deStSt.
Eesidc fts rcgulntivc functions. tho
commission has been engaged IN cconh-
&C. Investigations. the most important D.
which concerned thc .news-rrint paper.
gasoline and coal. Industries Al the
request nj thr president. the commas
sion has undertaken extensive inquiries
into industries furnishing war supplies
10 the government and information thus
obtained Is being used aS basis for
government contracts.
Degrading the necessity for govern
mru,nl rricc-Iixing the report SAYS:
"Thc rxocricncr Of this government
in tho question OF fixing prices - one
,bu, has been carefully followed by tho
hnN furnished "
iensivc Jntn for Ibis nu"t1S" to the
rucI administration and To ehc war in
,,ustrins hoard Tn" commission has Also
had under consideration the experience
If other countries IN this matter, and
particularly England and her colonies,
France and other allies. II - convinced
thai price fixing by authority Of law
ryII1 have to he extended - niHrr n"nd-
nets lam food and fuel. md that surh
authority Is preferably exercised by
tomuorary administrative -'"Cy. In par
tlcular Il IS of the opinion that such
nrirc-fiy!ug power should h" established
md exercised with respect - In" ir"h
and steel Industry. for which bill has
already been introduced In IN" senate.
Euunlly important. In its opinion. with
I'M. fixing or reasonable prices Is the
regulation OF the distribution OF the raw
material md intermediate products In
tho industry affected and OF tho dtstrt-
button o. the final products TO tho con-
sumner. In this connection nlso should
be considered tho question whether bona
Ado contracts made prior to -" passage
If Il prlca-fixing law should be- allowed
to be enforced This commission Is o.
tho opinion that the exact merits OF thH
nrnpnsItiun might differ somewhat In
different Industries. With respect to
the iron and steel industry. however. II
belivcs that the greatest public adran-
tngc would be AFFIRMED by not allowing
such contracts TO be Fulfilled. at least
over long periods Of time. In the case
Of conl. It Is the opinion Of the COM
mission that the continued fulFillment
of long-tcrm bona flde contracts or shIo
made prior Ia the enactment or inc law