The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-12

abnormal fluctuations in prices, as wei
as tend to curb association activities o.
Objectionable character
Economic investigations during tn,
year have been made into the news print
paper, book print paper, petroleum, beet
sugar, flag, lumber, anthracite coal anc
bituminous coal industries Results OF
the inquiries were made public as com
pleted, but the commission takes occa
sion in the report to point out that the
passage of time has confirmed the cor.
rectness of its deductions from the coal
investigation that the delay in the move.
ment of cars is what is limiting the out
put of the mines.
in the absence of sufficient reforma-
tion in the use of rolling stock the coal
situation in this country will continue
to increase in its menace to the public
welfare" the report adds.
Opportunity also is taken to rectify a
misapprehension which the commission
found to exist regarding a paragraph in
its coal report, which said:
Whatever measure of success has
marked the efforts of the commission
with relation to anthracite coal has been
largely because the car supply has been
adequate by reason of the close corpor
ate relation between rail transportation
and anthracite production. Quite the
contrary condition exists with relation
to bituminous and rail transportation
and with relation to water transporta-
ton as to both kinds of coal"
This statement, the report says, has
been misconstrued to mean that a close
corporate relation between coal mining
companies and transportation agencies is
desirable The report continues:
'On the contrary. the commission was
seeking simply to show that if sufficient
is present, transportation faeil
tiles in existence can be made adequately
to care for stimulated production. The
speedy movement of coal by interested
companies was pointed
out to emphasize by contrast the misuse
Of rolling stock by other transportation
The evils of community of
interest between coal producing and coal
companies are fully recog
nized by the commission. Directly as to
this is shown by abnormal
freight rates which have been secured by
interested transportation companies for
the movement of such coal. Instead of
being in the public interest, this com
of corporate interest, therefore
makes for unduly high prices of coal to
the public and has in it the making of
further monopoly
In order to obtain corporation reports
N a more servicable form, the commits
zion has been advising industries regard
ng uniform methods of cost accounting,
,ut because of the lack of funds, this
work now has been turned over to the
department of commerce. Reports from
concerns, classified by in
lustries, were requested on voluntary
,asis. but the returns were disappoint |
ng The commission points out the de |
irability of general survey of corpora |
ions and adds that information thus
obtained could be used in enforcement !
# laws against intercompany stock hold
ng and interlocking direetorates. While |
he commission in some instances has |
to prevent suspected projects
f this kind, it is said that many viola
ions of law will escape detection unless
ONE systematic investigation is made
Investigations of war materials at the
Erection of the president have been con
erned chiefly with the preparation and
of meats, grain foods and
AIMED vegetables and fish, the operation
t produce exchanges, coal and coke, iron
re, iron and steel products, petroleum
roducts, lumber for ship building, ce
lent, fire brick, copper, lead, zinc, nielSe!
nd other metals or alloys.