The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-12-27
SUGGESTS BETTER
MARKETING PLANS
Federal Commission Would
Have Federal Licensing
System
CENTRAL MARKETS
FOR PERISHABLES

System Should he Regulated 10 FFeNoh'
HOarding OF FOOds-Immense Profits
In Wheat Products - Milling Indus
try Greatly Concentrated.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 27.-B4ab-
Hshment of central markets for perish
able food products in all large cities
and the setting up of federal heens-
ing system applicable to all dealers IN
such foods at those markets IS proposed
by the federal trade commission in its
annual report today to congress.
The commissions conclusions are
based on an investigation covering many
months and it declares that federal ac-
ton is necessary to obtain effective reg
uIation and to avoid unfair and waste
full practices with the consequent effect
on prices. In the present system the
commission sees as u hindrance to the
proper passage of perishables from the
producer to the consumer certain inter-
trade dealings which it believes should
be eliminated and it suggests that the
handling of these products be surround
ed by numerous regulations and restric-
tiOns such as the recording of available
supplies, the dating of cold storage Pc
RODS and provisions for auction market
ing.
Facilities should be made adequate,
the commission says, to enable the pro-
Queer to ship freely into the central
markets and with proper protection of
his interests" The marketing system
should be so governed that objectionable
boarding would be eliminated and prop
er coordination of transportation facll-
tiles should be accomplished to make
deliveries certain when required.
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 mu-
nicipal authorities lack adequate power
to effectively regulate the handling OF
the food supplies. Although co-opera-
ton of state and local authorities and
railroads might accomplish the ends
sought, the commission believes this
plan does not hold out much hope for q
satisfactory solution of the problem.
Turning to wheat products, the com
mission says it has found that cOncen'
tratiOn of the milling industry has
progressed for enough so that probably
10 of the largest milling concerns could
supply the demand of the country for
-four" The commission mentions Incl
dentally that its figures from 81 mill
ing corporations showed that their sales
had increased from $3.50, 100000 10
S35A. 600. 600 between 1914 and 1918
while their annual profits had grown
from $5,5O0,OOO to $20,0O0,0O0 in the
same period.
In reply to questionnaires sent out
by the commission requesting an ex-
preston of opinion as to the actual
working out of the export-trade act, the
replies received for the most part ex-
pressed satisfaction over results OBJ
tanned under the law. 1t was reported
that the system of collective advertise
ing and selling makes for the elimina-
ton of much useless expense and du-
( plication of effort. Several associations
reported that their system of conducting
business abroad is meeting with the
hearty approval of the foreign custom
! err."
The commission says also that the law
instead of increasing the strength of
the already great American industrial
establishments, has enabled the smaller
concerns to band together in a fashion
! to push fully organized export trade in
a keen competitive manner which they
are not able to do at home. To this ex-
tent, the commission believes, the law
| has worked to the great advantage OF
the small firms.