The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-12

" ObACA PAN4ASLS ILoN4I 4OOO diA0 4dOA
and especially to iron and steel, is be-
'heved necessary by the Federal Trade
Commission IN the light of experience
gained in investigating economic con-
dittons since the United States catered
the war. Recommendation that a
Temporary administrative body be es-
tablished sto determine reasonable
prices for prime: necessities and also
to regulate the distribution@of raw
materials and finished products was
made, in the commissions annual re-
port. submitted today to Congress.
Other recommendations suggest that
the commissions powers. of obtaining
informAt5on he broadened to author
lie requirement Of reports from indi-
viduals engaged in commerce, as well
as corporations; that information
gathered by teporary semi-offlcial or
CARNATIONS such as the Council of
Nat4ola1 Defense, including all CORE
spondence. be ordered preserved; that
trade association files should be made
public. records, that investigation of
foreign trade condidtions be made to
hermit proper measures with regard
to American Industrial organization
now and when peace is concluded;
that the Webb bill to eliminate asso-
Citations for export trade from the OPP
GRAFTON OF the Sherman law be passed,
and that the salary limitation of
5000 a year be removed from the
commissions expert employees,
Declaration Of war has not lessened
either the number or importance of
the complaints made to the commits
sion Of unfair competition, but on the
contrary the number of complaints
has Increased, During the fiscal year
ending June 80, a. total of 102 COM
pla1nts were disposed Of without for
NAL proceedings, leaving 191 4, COM
plaiffts stfli under investigation. APP
plleatfons for remedial procedure by
the commission showed a decrease
from the fiscal year ending June 80,
1915. In nine cases during the last
year, the commission issued formal
complaints, and in. four the matter
was disposed Of by the issuance Of
orders to cease and desist.
Beside its regular functions, the
commission has been engaged in eco
Iiptnic Investigations. the most impof-
tRnt of which concerned the news
print paper, gasoline and coal indus
tries. At the request of the Pres
tdent, the commission has undertaken
extensive inquiries into industries
furnishing war supplies to the gov
eminent and information thus OBJ
tanned Is being used as a basis for
government contracts.
Regarding the necessity for govern
ment price-fixing, the report says;
THE experience Of this government
IN the question OF fixing prices is one
that has been carefully followed by
the commission, which has furnished
extensive data for this purpose to the
Fuel Administration and to the War
Industries Board. The commission
has also under consideration the ex-
p6rience Of other countries In this
matter. and particularly England and
!. her colonies, France, and other allies.
It Is convinced that price fixing by
authority of law Will have to be ex-
tended to other. products than food
and fuel, and that such authority is
preferably exercised by a temporary
administrative body. In particular
1t is the opinion that such prtce-dx-
ing power should be established and
exercised with respect to the iron and
steel industry, for which a bill has
already been introduced in the SEN
ate. Equally important, in its opin-
so,,E hvitb +ha s43virs. ~ rea sonaf,Ia
nr,cas Is the regulation of the dis
+rth,,tion NJ raw materials and inter
mediate products Is the industry af-
fecfer ans1s Of the distribution of the
mai products to the consumer. In
this connection also should be consid-
a,lad fha question whather bona. fi6e
ccor4roc+a 60 Zosdaa nlrrfor - the naesag %
- Z -n;ryca- law aboaild be al
lowed Is Be- enforced "a This commits
aion IL 4 Of the opinion that the exact
merits ~ thas aff,oronosition might differ
..oroa-r,,o4 i, difre-sv+ industries with
$50 :. 80 - ~ - and s+aeI irdustrv
1n,s~,s,. "a ~ aS.,;as-as +S.+ The ee+ast
,,h,;,s! = 8vsnta ,ses World he STAINED
nv not allowine1- such contracts to he
fuldlIed. at least over long periods of
tiroa...gin the case. of coal. 1t fs the
s,r,,,,ton' the Commission that the
continued .f,Ilnlln1ent sof lone-terro
bona aaa. contracts Of salesInade- prior
- tha' ,snactnent~ of. sthe law 5tould
-,,iitata - i,st the nost .successful
onsre +,o,,s o. nrdces aging bv the gov
$1,000 - " y =
T1sa na.d ~ ,co,,rrsbens,va inves-
+,s-ation ~ trade associations accord
3nr 10 the report. has been developed
ROM fBSs conan issiofl,s other INQUIRIES
TociI% 81 eSemata trade information
has ShseI,ssGT,nd "a he one Of the chic
obstascles IN many industries to the
opera4jjoISis sss65 81 SIN natural competitive
forceS and ,sY,e trade associations