The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-10-23
BUREAU OF MARKETS DISTRIBUTES
EXCESS WOOL PROFITS TO GROWER

Washington, d. c., Oct. 22.-Distri
button of excess profits made b.
dealers who handled the wool clil
in 1918 under regulations of the Wa
Industries Board is being made by
the United States Department Of
Agriculture to some 100000 WOO
growers. it was announced today
It is estimated by the Bureau OF
Markets, which has charge Of max
ing the refund from the dealers to
the growers that the total amount
of such excess profits was more
than S1,0O0s000, of which approxi-
mately $46O,OOO has been turned to
the bureau for distribution.
Some of the dealers who accumu-
lated excess profits have failed or
refused so far to refund the entire
amount, and the bureau is at work
auditing the books of some, inter.
viewing others, and corresponding
with still others. in order to bring
about final settlements. The dealers
who operated under permits signed
agreements with the War Industries
Board binding themselves to abide
by the regulations of that Board
which specifically limited their prof
its. Some of these dealers have de-
layed their settlements in order to
have certain questions disposed of,
among which was their libaility for
the payment of income tax upon the
amount of such excess profits, with
regard to which the Commissioner
of International Revenue issued a
final decision recently. Other deal
ers made refunds of their excess
profits under protest reserving any
legal rights that they might be able
to establish by litigation. This
menans that if it should finally be |
determined by the courts that the |
dealers We're under no legal obliga-
ton to pay over the excess profits
% the Department. it would then
be under legal obligation to return |
he money paid under protest. Hence
such payments can not safely be dis
.ributed.
The cases in which payments have
leen refused are being prepared as
promptly as possible for transmits
zion to the Department of Justice
With recommendation for the imme-
late institution and vigorous prose
,ution of suits for the recovery of
he excess profits, which will be ids
ributed to the growers entitled to
hem as soon as received.
Under its war powers, the Gov
in order to conserve the
WOOL supply for military and public
:" Is lrly N 1918 asserted a prior
T. th VOL clip of that year.
regulations lor handling the wool
we're issued on May 21 by the Wool
Section of the War Industries Board.
Every dealer who desired to handle
WOOL that year was required to take
nut a permit, and to agree to abide
" the regulations. The growers
we're to receive the value of their
WOOL as determined by the Valua-
ion Committee of the War Depart
nent, based on July 80, 1917, wool
rices, with certain deductions and
llowances.
The dealers were divided into two
eneral asses--distributing center
callers and country dealers. Ger,
ain points were designated as dis
centers and dealers who
eceived wool on consignment at
hese points were called distributing
enter dealers. There were 17S OF
hese dealers. In the case of wool
unsigned to such dealers at dis
centers, it was provided
hat the consignor should receive
he full value of the wool as de-
by the War Departments
7aluation Committees and paid by
he Government to the dealer, less
ny freight charges and interest on
.dvances made. The Government
commission for his services, over
nd above the valuation placed on
he wool by the War Departments
Jaluation Committees. Consequently
n the case of consigned wool han
lied in accordance with the regu-
ations there would be no excess
,rofit made by the dealer.