South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-16
Federal Trade Commission
Recommends Exter1tion of
Government Price Fixing

news-print paper. boOk-print paper
petroleum, beet sugar. flag, lumber,
anthracite coal and bituminous coal
industries. Results Of the inquiries
were made public as completed, but
the commission takes occasion in the
report 10 point out that the passage
Of time has confirmed the correct
ness of its deductions from the coal
investigation that the delay in the
movement Of cars is what is limiting
the output of the mines.
I'm the absence of sufficient ref
ormation in the use of rolling stock
the coal situation in this country
Will continue to increase in its men
ace to the public welfare" the re-
port adds.
Reviews Subject of Coal.
Opportunity also is taken to rec
tify 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 commits
sion with relation to anthracite coal
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-
trary condition exists with relation
TO bituminous and rail transporta-
ton and with relation to water trans
portatio as to both kinds of coal"
Il
has been misconstrued TO mean that
close corporate relation between
coal mining companies and transpor-
tation agencies is desirable. The
report continues:
ION the contrary. the comm ission
was seeking simply to show that If
sufficient interest is present. trans
portation facilities in existence can
be made adequately 10 care for slim
ulated production. The speedy
movement of coal by interested
transportation companies was point
ed out to emphasize by contrast the
misuse of rolling stock by other
/ transportation companies. The evils
Of a community of interest between
coal producing and coal transporting
companies are fully recognized by
the commission. Directly as to an
thracite, this is shown by abnormal
freight rates which have been Sc
cured by interested transportation
companies for the movement Of
such coal. Instead of being in the
public interest, this community Of
corporate interest, therefore, makes
for unduly high prices Of coal to
the public and has in it the making
of further monopoly"
Needs Corporation Reports.
, In order to obtain corporation re-
ports in a more serviceable form,
the commission has been advising
industries regarding uniform meth
DDS of cost accounting. but because
Of the lack of funds, this work now
has been turned over to the depart
ment Of commerce. Reports from
manufacturing concerns, classified
by industries, were requested on a
, voluntary basis, but the returns were
disappointing. The commission
points out the desirability of a gem
eral survey of corporations and adds
/ Lildl lnlOIludliOI lnuS ODldlntu GOulu
/ De used in enforcement of laws
against intercompany stockholding
and interlocking directorates. While
/ the commission in some instances
has interviewed to prevent suspected
projects Of this kind. it is said that
many violations Of law will escape
detection unless some systematic in
! &c
Investigations of war materials al
the direction of the president have
been concerned chiefly with the
preparation and marketing OF
meats, grain foods and canned veg
etables and fish, the operation OF
produce exchanges, coal and coke
iron ore, iron and steel products, pc
troleum products. lumber for ship,
building, cement, fire brick. copper
Head, zinc. nickel and other metal:
or alloys.