Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-04-18
!.
LEGISLATION .
; !; IS ASKED FOR.
Seeks Law to Eliminate.
Unfair Methods of,
Competition in Trade.
Means Must Be Found
to Reduce the Costs
of All Necessities.

OF All Necessities.
-
Washington, April 17.-Leg-
islation to eliminate unneces-
sary brokerage transactions, to
facilitate wide distribution of
information regarding market
conditions and strengthen the
powers of the federal government in
Its price investigations is recommended
BY the federal trade commission "a =
report on the general industrial situa-
non, drawn up at the request Of
President Harding and made public
Sunday night at the White House.
Open price associations" which op-
crate. within the law to keep their re-
spective members advised confidentially
OF one another's price schedules are
accused by the commission of contrib
utlng to the maintenance of unduly hixh
retail prices. 1t is suggested that
means must be found to reduce costs
of necessities. such as fuel and hous-
ing. before other commodities can come
back to normal.
This generally causes price ineouali-
ties and suggested remedies are sum-
med up as follows:
Causes Of n. c. Of L,
Aside from the unfair methods Of
competition with which We are daily
dealing and aside from the important
elements of transportation and credit
we are of the opinion that the follow
are indicative and not necessarily ex-
haustive of the subject:
First. the excessive price Of MANY
basic commodities. prominent among
which is coal, which vitallv affects the
cost of other commodities, to say moth
ing of the effect upon the health and
comfort and upon the cost of living and
buylng power of the people.
Second. the existence Of the typical
corporate monopolies and in distinction.
agreements in violation of the anti
trust laws. illustrated in the latter in
stance by the condition in another basic
commodity. to-wit. lumber, which was
the subject of a recent report BY this
commission to the department Of lust
ice and upon which the department il
now proceeding.
Aids High Prices.
Third. open price associations, IN
many cases not vet challenged By the
law. yet tending to bring about and
maintain unduly high prices.
Fourth. interference with the chen
nels Of trade by distributors trade as
particularly by activities
tending to maintain IN unnecessary
number of inefficient regular dealers,
while shutting out new dealers seeking
ing to sell at lower prices, and es-
pec'aily cooperative purchasing and
organizations Of consum-
ars. -
Fifth. the conditions with respect to
foreign combinations in the interna-
ional market. to which reference has
already been made. a
aside from the remedies which NAV
De afforded by improved Transportation
and credit facilities, we suggest consid-
Of the following:
Il. The passage of bill which win
meet judicial objections to the authority
# this commission to continue it's ef-.
orts to obtain and publish information
'espectlng the ownership. production,
distribution. cost, sales and profits ii
he basic industries more directly at
ecting the necessities of ife-shelter..
'lothing. food and fuel-for the infcr-
nation OF congress and the promotion
# the public welfare. 81
Prosecution Of Trusts. =
so. Vigorous prosecutions under the
laws. including a re-examina-
ion of the renewable decree already
ntered in such cases, with a view to
strengthening them to meet present
onditions, including also closer scrut-
ny of the so-called open price assoc3e-
ions. to ascertain whether under the
'uise of beneficial associations, they
re in fact violating the law. Exami-
lation of associations of distributors,
o determine whether violations Of lav.
xist, particularly restrictions Of CO.
he activities of such associations are
ot of public service
3. Positive encouragement Of CO.
perative associations of agricultural
roducers and of cooperative consum-
RS organizations.
The passage Of measures aimed
{ the elimination OF unnecessary con-
ignments and brokerage operations. In
luding also gambling in futures, ,1nPyr-
miding of reconsignments and obDiob-
ing sales. while not possible IN pres
mt market conditions. was one o1 the
auses of the buyers strike. from which
'e now suffer and may reappear when.
yer markets again become speculative.
World Trade Csafsrsnce.
"5. Calling conference Of officials
Of the trading nations
the world to consider the question
clearing the channels Of interna-
onal trade 30 ~ to eliminate unde-
lrable combinations and to promote
lir competition.
"6 Protection Of the farmer against
,e more closely. organized elements
ith which he has to deal, BY extend
.g federal assistance IN giving more
iequate and timely information con-
srning foreign and domestic market
,nditicns md IN affording moro ample
id suitable local market and storage
lcilities for the serviceable CONSERVE !,
on Of perishalle farm prodsct"