The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-12
Federal Trade Commission
Presents Annual Report
to Congress
WOULD ASCERTAIN
REASONABLE PRICES
Investigation of Various
Industries Important
Part of Work
lRv Associated Press }

(By Associated Press.)
washington, Dec. 12.-Extension Of
the governments price fixing power
to other products than food and fuel
and especially to iron and steel. IS
believed necessary by the federal
trade commission in the light or eX-
perience gained in investigating
economic conditions since the Unlted
States entered the war. Recon-
Ynendation that a temporary admin
istratiye body be established to de-
termine reasonable prices for prime
necessities and also to regulate the
distribution of raw materials ana
finished products was made in the
commissions annual report SUD
mitted today. to congress.
Other recommendation suggest
that the commissions powers OF op-
taining information be broadened 70
authorize requirement OF reports
from individuals engaged In COM
merce, as well as corporations; tnat
information gathered by tempoT-
as the council of national defense,
Including all correspondence, be or
dered preserved; that trade associa-
fion files should be made pubic
records; that investigation OF foreign
trade conditions be made to permit
proper measures with regard to
American industrial organization
now and when peace is concluded;
that the Webb bill to eliminate as
sociations for export trade from the
operation Of the Sherman law be
passed, and that the salary limita-
tion of $4,000 year be removed
from the commissions expert en-
ployes.
al either the number or Importance
Of the complaints made to the COM
mission of unfair competition, put on
the contrary the number of COM
p1aints has increased. During the
fiscal year ending June 30. total OF
102 complaints were disposed OF
without formal proceedings. leaving
Igi complaints still under investlga-
ton. Applications for remedlai
procedure by the commission showed
q decrease from the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1915. In nine cases
during the last year, the commission
issued formal complaints. ana In IN
four the matter was disposed OF 7py
The issuance of orders to cease and
Economic Investigations.
Reside its regulative functions, the
aonnn1ission. has been engaged IN
economic Investigations, the most
franortant of which concerned the
news print paper. gasoline and coal
industries. At the request OF the
President, the commission has un~
aertaken extensive inquiries into an
dustries furnishing war supplles 20
the government and Information thus
obtained IS being used as a OASIS Lo1
government contracts.
- f1ra 1nraaeffW for pOW :
ernmental price fixing, the report
iThe experience OF this govern
ment in the question of fixing prices
is one that has been carefully fot-
lowed bv the commission, which has
furnished extensive data for this
purpose to the fuel administration
and TO the war industries board. The
commission has also had under con-
sideration the experience or other
countries In this matter, ana par
tfcularly England and her colonies
France, and other allies. II is con-
vinced that price fixing by authority
OF law will have to be extended to
other products than food and fuel,
and that such authority is preferably
exercised by temporary admins
trative body. In particular it is OF
the opinion that such price, fixing
power should be established and
exercised with respect to the iron
and steel industry, for which bill
has already been introduced in the
senate. Equally important, in its
opinion. with the fixing Of reason
able prices is the regulation Of the
distribution of the raw material and
intermediate products in the indus
try affected and Of the distribution
az the final products to the cone
sumner. In this connection also
should be considered the question
whether bona fide contracts made
prior to the passage of price-nxing
law should be allowed to be enforced.
This commission is Of the opinion
that the exact merits Of the PROPOSE
tfon might differ somewhat in diff
ferent industries. With respect TO
the iron and steel industry, how
ever ii believes that the greatest
public advantage would be attained
by not allowing such contracts to be
fulfilled, at least over long periods
az time In the case of coal. IL is
the opinion OF the commission that
the continued fulfillment Of long,
term bona fide contracts Of sale
made prior to the enactment of the
law would initiate against the most
successful operation Of price fixing
BY the government"
The Coal Problem.
.'In the absence of sufficient refor-
nation in the use OF rolling stock the
coal situation in this country will
continue to increase in its menace
10 the public welfare" the report
adds.
Opportunity also is taken to rectify
q MISREPRESENTATION which the COM
mission found TO exist regarding a
paragraph in its coal report. which
said:
Whatever measure Of success has
marked the efforts Of the commits
sion with relation to anthracite.
has been largely because the car
supply has been adequate by reason
Of the close corporate relation be-
tween rail- transportation and an-
thracite production Quite the con-.
tTary condition exists with relation
to bituminous and rail transportation
and with relation to water transport
tation as 70 both kinds of coal"
This sta Tenant fhn 1snmnFf npVq