New-York tribune., 1919-08-13

therefore, which eliminates part of
TINS waste will. by reducing the pro-
portionate expense Of distribution.
BRING about decrease in the cost of
1oodstufs to the consumer
In dealing with the malpractices
growing out of the sale of food bv
auction to dealers and the operations
of produce exchanges. the report says:
THE growth of such mediums for
price determination" the report con-
tnues, has resulted from evils in
other systems. and from the need Of
simpler methods of trading in commod-
iues that arrive constantly in large
volume. The further development Of
such agencies is necessary for the ul-
innate betterment of marketing meth
DDS
"Wnile much can be said in favor of
Nnis method of conducting business, it
offers possibilities for dishonest prac-
uce The weaknesses are due largely
To the control of the exchanges BY
special classes Of traders whose in
'efeS's tend either to underQuoting or
oNerquoNng OF the market. as the case
may oe. They are primarily under the
control Of the dealers IN the wholesale
trades, the producers with few cxcep-
Nons having nothing to say in the de-
termlnaton Of market prices The
auction companies and exchanges de
termlne the daily prices for the COM
m0dit'es handled. BY combination Of
the larger dealers the commodity may
oe withheld from sale or thrown on
the market IN either way, creating a
fictitious market price.
Evils Are Pointed Out
The principal malprarticcs chsrac-
terlStc of the auction companies are
those of > So e i
nanC!lng charges, and preferential con-
tracts. with rebates to heavy shippers.
resulting IN practical control Of the
mafhetS. Theoretically, auction con-
Germs charge a standard commission
rate for handling produce In prac-
ice, however, they make special con-
tracts with large shippers whereby
loWeF commissions are charged This
rings a greater amount of business to
inc auction companies and ultimately
res ultS in practically complete con
troi OF All OF the arrivals of particular
Kinds OF perlshable produce from oar
ucular growing section.
he manner of sale on the produce
exchanges is by the call system. The
articles are offered for sale and the
pufchaSefS offer various prices unt.i n
prlce agreeable to both is determined. :"
Alter discussing the duplication of
many food laws now on the statute
BOOKS. the commission report con-
cludes by saying:
1T IS the conclusion of the Recon-
Structlon Commission tnat for the sake
OF efhclency in administration of the
1000 laws oil the state. for the sake of
FeAeVlug persons and firms subject to
1hose laws from the uncertainty and
CONFUSION Of the present conditions
ana tor the protection OF the public the
existing laws should be codhed into
one law. Implications eliminated. and
phraseology corrected Also the exist
ng laws should be strengthened by
more definite grant of authority to the
Farms and Markets Council to issue
rules and regulations having the effect
OF law. by granting this council power
to place ell wholesale dealers in farm
products under license and by the va
Nous other amendments and additions
proposed IN following sections of this
report
~ he proper agency to prepare such
:. codltlcation and revision Of The food
Jaws IS the Council of Farms and Mar
kets. with thc aid OF the counsel and
other officials Of this department. 1t
$. therefore. recommended that com
plere recoditication and revision of the
iooe laws Of the state be prepared
under the supervision of the Council of
Farm. and Markets and passed bv the
lc1t i.cgiSlature