The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-12-13
ASKS CONGRESS
TO FIX PRICES
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IN
ANNUAL REPORT.
SAYS PUBLIC IS Being ROBBED
Makes Host Of Recommendation and
Wants Petroleum Trust Unscram-
bied-Discovers Long List
of Unfair Practices.

Washington, Dec. 12.-Price fixing
must be extended to many other pro-
ducts than fuel and food, the Federal
Trade Commission declared in it's an
nual report submitted to Congress
today Far greater powers over
business are necessary if the govern
ment is to set for the protection of
its citizens from profiteering and I'M
fair trade practices, the commission
asserted. 1t recommended also:--
Big Work To Do.
An investigation of "trade associa-
tions" suspected of promoting price
boosting campaigns among members;
a further attempt to unscramble the
petroleum industry; passage by Con-
gress of the Webb export bill.
"The commission is particularly of
the opinion" the report read, that
price-fixing by authority of law should
be exercised with respect to the iron
and steel industry, for which bill
has been introduced in the senate.
Equally important is the regulation
of the distribution of raw materials
and intermediate products in the in
dustry affected and of the distribu-
ton of the final products to the con-
sumner"
The commission declared the pur-
pose of these laws would be defeated
If existing contracts. largely based
on inflated war prices, were allowed
to continue.
Favors Publicity.
Trade associations are declared to
engage in activities tending: Arti-
ficially to control prices and the
channels of distribution" Making
public all the records and files of
these associations is recommended
as remedy.
More effectively to check the mo
nopolized" petroleum industry, the
commission suggested laws to abolish
common stock ownership in corpora
tions which have been members of
combination dissolved under the
Sherman Antitrust Law, and legis-
lation which would make the owners
of stock in naturally" or potential
ly" competing companies responsible
for any acts which the various CON-
panies which they controlled per-
formed to prevent competition.
Don't Like Petroleum.
The petroleum industry at present
is declared to be conducted by a num-
Der of separate corporations owned
by a small body of capitalists, which
do not compete.
A chief difficulty of the coal indus
try, the report said, is the ownership
by railroads of coal mines to which
favoritism is shown in supplying
cars. This, it is declared, accounts
for much "car shortage" elsewhere,
and keeps coal production so per cent
under its capacity production.
Railroads which own anthracite
mines are accused of another offense
obtaining from the l. c. c. "extor-
tionate freight rates" on the coal
they ship. Increased costs hav.
passed on to the consumer.
After Flag Men.
Ou Recommendations from the CONF
mission, the justice department is
running down evidence ON flag man
ufactuEers who raised prices at the
beginning of the war.
Among unfair practices" the COM
mission has discovered the past year
are included: intimidation, refusal to
accept advertising, price cutting, dis
paragement of goods, disparagement
Of business, false advertising, mis-
branding, stimulation of slogans, use
of coupons, use of leaders. cutting
off competitors supplies and credits,
bribery and enticement of employees,
use of bogus independents, enhanc-
ing prices of raw materials, malicious
and yexatious law suits, inducing
breach Of contract, use of same or
similar trade name, conspiracy to in
jure competition, espionage, exclu-
sive dealing contracts and defama-
ton of name and goods.