New-York tribune., 1920-12-27
Federal Food
Markets Urged
By u. S. Board
Licensing System for All
Dealers in Perishables
Advocated in Connection
With Distributing Centers
Lower Prices Foreseen
Wheat Concentration Said to
Have Deen -..tisr try:
Expert Act Also Praised

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Establish
food products in all large cities anc
the setting up Of a Federal licensing
system applicable to all dealers in such
foods at those markets is proposed by
the Federal Trade Commission in its
annual report to-day to Congress.
The commissions conclusions are
based on an investigation covering
many months, and it declares that Fed
eral action is necessary to obtain
effective regulation and to avoid un-
fair and wasteful practices, with the
consequent effect on prices. In the
present system the commission sees as
8 hindrance to the proper passage OF
perishables from the producer to the
consumer certain intertrade dealings
which it believes should he eliminated
and it suggests that the handling of
these products be surrounded by nu-
merous regulations and restrictions,
such as the recording of available sup
plies, the dating of cold storage
periods and provisions for auction mar
keting.
Cooperation Advocated
Facilities should be made adequate,
the commission says, to enable the
producer to ship freely into the central
markets and with proper protection
of his interests" The marketing sys-
TEN should be so governed that objec-
tionab boarding would be eliminated,
and proper coordination of transporta-
ton facilities should be accomplished
to make deliveries certain when re-
quired.
The commission says that "the
needed reforms can hardly be expected
to be accomplished by the initiative Of
the Dealers" and asserts that state and
municipal authorities lack adequate
power effectively to requisite the ham
ding of the food supplies. Although
cooperation Of state and local authori
ties and railroads might accomplish
the ends sought. the commission be-
lieves this plan does not hold out much
hope for a satisfactory solution of the
problem.
Turning to wheat products, the com
mission says it has found that concen-
tra-ion Of the milling industry has
progressed far enough so that prob
ably ten of the largest milling con-
Germs could supply the demand of the
ccuntry for -four" The commission
mentions incidentally that its figures
from thirty-seven milling corporations
showed that their sales had increased
from siso.000,0o0 to $254, 4,OOO.O 900 be-
tween 'o14 and 1918. while their an
nual profits had grown from S5,50O,0O
TO S2O,O0U,OOo N the same period.
Export Act Praised
Reporting on the operation of the
Eehb-Ponerene act, permitting forma-
tons of associations for export trade,
the commission informs Congress that
tbs act has served as "a decided fac
tor in promoting the progress of
markets. The commission says that
during the year forty three associa-
tons, comprising approximately 1872
concerns, whose Offices and plants are
distributed over forty-three states of
the Union, reported to it as operating
under the export act
The commission says also that the
leN. instead of Increasing ne strength
OF the axe ady CREST american indus
trial establishments, has enabled the
smaller concerns to band to~ether in q
fashion to push fully organized export
trade II keen competitive manner
which they are not able to do at home
To this extent, the commission be.
lieve5 he law has worked to the great
advantage o. the small firms.