Evening journal., 1917-12-12
TRADE COMMISSION
WOULD FIX Prices
Recommends TO Congress
That Iron and Steel
Be Included
"UNFAIR PRACTICES"
ARE REFERRED TO
BY The United Press.

BY Inc United Press.
WASHINGTON. Dec. i2.-Price fixing
must be extended to iron and steel and
many other products. the Federal
Trade Commission declared in its au-
nual report, submitted TO Congress to-
day.
Far greater power over business are
necessary If the Government is to act
for The protection Of its citizens from
protteering and unfair trade prac-
tees, the commission asserted. It
recommended also: An Investigation
OF "t ade commissions suspected Of
promoting price-boost ng campaign
samong members. A further attempt
10 unscramble the pet oleum Industry;
passage by Congress af the Webb ex-
port bill.
The commission il particularly Of
the opinion" the report read, that
price-ilxing by authority Of law should
be exercised with aspect 10 the iron
and steel industry, FOR which a bill has
been introduced in the senate. Equal
" important, is fhe regulation Of the
distribution Of r w materials and lir-
termediate prod, cts IN the industry
affected and OF lhe distribution Of the
tinal products ID the consumer"
The commiss on declared the purpose
OF those lave would be defeated, If
existing contr ,cts. largely based on in
dated war prices, were allowed 20
continue.
Trade associations are declared TO
engage in' ctivities tending srlilcially
10 control prices and the channels OF
distributio1." Making public all the
records I'd nlef OF these associations
Is recon- nended as a remedy.
More 'ffecti' ely IN check the mo
nopolizfd" petroleum industry the
commits sion suggested laws TO abolish
,ommol stock ownership IN corpora
lions Nhicl have been members Of
,omb nation dissolved under the Sher-
man antitrust law. and leglation
which would make the owners OF
sto'k 10 naturally or potentially"
-omr citing companies responsible for
any acts which the various companies
aich they controlled performed 20
prevent competition.
The petroleum industry az present
is declared 60 be conducted by num-
Der Of separate corporations. owned
On
10 not compete
A chief difficulty Of the coal indus
try. the report said. IS tho 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
roal production per cent. under its
capacity production.
Railroads which own anthracite
mines are accused Of another offanse
obtaining from The I. c. C. "extor-
, tlonate freight rates" on the coal they
ship Increased costs are passed on
20 the consumer.
on recommendations from the com
mission, the justice department Is
running down evidence on lag manu-
facturers who raised prices at the be-
ginning Of the war.
Among unfair practices the COM
mission has discovered the past yea
are included. Intimidation, refusal to
accept advertising, price cutting. DIS
paragement Of business, false adver-
Using. misb~anding, stimulation OF
slogans. use Of coupons, use Of leaders,
cutting Of competitors supplies and
credits, bribery and entlcement Of om-
ployes. use OF bogus Independents, en-
HANGING prices o. raw materials, ma
iiclous and vexatious law suits. induc-
ing breach OF contract use Of same or
similar trade name. conspiracy TO in
iure competitors, espionage, exclusive
dealing contracts and defamation of
name and goods.