The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-12-27
PRODUCTS
NEED TO BE SAFEGUARDED

| able 1000 productS IN al large cues
and the setting up Of federal licens-
ing system applicable to all dealers
in such foods at those markets Is pro-
posed by the Federal Trade Commits
sion in its annual report to Congress.
The commissions conclusions are
based on an investigation covering
many months and it declares that
federal action is necessary to obtain
effective regulation and to avoid I'M
fair and wasteful practices with the
consequent effect on prices. In the
present system the comission sees as
hindrance of the proper passage
Of perishables from the producer to
the consumer certain intertrade deal
ings which it believes should be elm
mated and is suggests that the hand
ling Of these products be surrounded
by numerous regulations and restric-
tons such as the recording of avail
able supplies, the dating Of cold stor-
age periods and provisions for auction
marketing.
Facilities should be made adequate,
the commission says. to enable the
producer to ship freely into the CEN
tlal markets and with proper pro-
lection Of his interests" The market
ing system should be so governed
that Objectionable boarding would be
eliminated and proper coordination
Of transportation facilities should be
accomplished to make deliveries GER
tain when required.
The commission says that "the
NEEDED reforms can hardly be expect
ed to be accomplished by the initia-
tive of the Dealers" and asserts that
state and municipal authorities lack
adequate power to effectively regulate
the handling of the food supplies. AL
though cooperation of state and local
authorities and railroads might &C
} complish the ends sought, the commits
sion believes this plan does not hold
out much hope for satisfactory solu-
ton of the problem.
Turning to wheat products, the
commission says it has found that
concentration of the milling industry
, has progressed far enough so that
"probably ten of the largest milling
concerns could supply the demand of
the country for -four" The commits
! sion mentions incidentally that it's
.. figures from 81 milling corporations
, showed that their sales had increased
from $16O,00O,000 to $354,OOO90O be-
tween 1914 and 1918 while their an
, nual profits had grown from $5,5OO,OOO
to s2O,000,000 in the same period.
Reporting on the operation of the
Webb-Pomerene act permitting for
nations of associations for export
trade, the commission informs Con-
gress that this act has served as "a
] decided factor in promoting the pro.
gress of American manufacturers ir
] foreign markets. The commission
j says that during the year 43 associa
j tions comprising approximately 73E
] concerns whose Offices and plants are
. distributed over 43 states of the
! Union reported to it as operating I'M
3 der the export act.
7I Records of the commission seen
! to demonstrate, the report continues
] "thatt he criticism so often charged
against United States exporters O.
Z failing to cultivate and maintain per
manent trade relations abroad and TOT
) often withdrawing from a particular
foreign market as soon as more at
tractive opportunities present them
selves at home or elsewhere will mo-
apply to associations operating under
the export trade act" =
"In reply to questionnaires sent ou
s by the commission, requesting an ex
preston of opinion as to the actua
working out of the export trade act
the replies received for the mos
part expressed satisfaction over re-
! suits obtained under the law. It wa.
8 reported that the system of collective
advertising and selling makes for the
elimination of much useless expense
and duplication of effort. Several as
sociations reported that their system
. of conducting business abroad is
meeting with the hearty approval Of
7 the foreign customers"
] The commission says also that the
:: law instead of increasing the strength
!: of the already great American indus.
!. trial establishments, has enabled the
: smaller concerns to band together il
!: fashion to push fully organized ex
! port trade in keep competitive man
;: ner which they are not able to do a
;: home. To this extent, the commission
!. believes, the law has worked to the
: great advantage of the small firms.