Evening star., 1923-02-06
WOULDEND PROBES
BY TRADE BOARD
Some Firms Oppose Merger
Inquiries Commission
Has Strong Support.
By J. C. R0YLE.

Special Dispa tch to The Star.
| NEW YORK, February Sit became
! apparent today that the tendency 1,
business and industrial circles toward
mergers and consultations, which has
been feature OF the last few months,
mas lost it momentum at leaet tempo.
rarily. This is attributed at least ir
| some quarters to recently renewed
attacks OH the Federal Trade Commis
| sion and campaigns designed to cur
| tail governmental supervision and
control of business.
| Some concerns, it was said by those
| in close touch with the situation, hope
| that the powers Of the comnissiop
might be restricted. II not abrogatel
entirely. Other business ORGANIZATIONS
| through their legal representative
expressed concern as TO the effect Of
| thelr plans, II any change should he
! made.
Board Has Fine Support.
| Men, however, who have been III the
( closest possible touch with the com
MISSION and with legislative matter
tSpl essed the firm belief today tha:
there was no possibility that th4
powers or the commission would b.,
| Iessened. They pointed out that Their.
was little possibility of any conrrcs-
slonal action prior TO the adjournmer,
! OF congress less than a month frorl
l today, and that the makeup Of tb.
next Congress would assure eveu
| nrmer support TO the commission THAI
II enjoys at present
TWO former members of the CON
mission who now have retired from
| tnat body were emphatic in declaring
| that any disorganiZation to business
| resulting from either hope or fear o.
| change SO far as the commission was
| concerned was unwarranted Johu
Garland Pollard former member o.
! the commission, declared attacks OH
| the commission would be without re
| suit, and William B. Colver, forme
chairman of the board, stated that il,
his opinion. no plan to curb the com
missions present powers or TO repeal
the act under which it functions could
| succeed.
Higher Gas Predicted.
The advances in the price of case
hne which have already appeared III
many sections of the country are eN-
| pected to spread still more widely and
| the improvement,i lin the crude oil sit
uatlon Is causing greater activity iu
| the. oil fields. California state off
erals, headed by Mrs. Nellie Brewer
plerce, head OF the division OF
hnances, are considering whether ths
site OF the state insane asylum
Norfolk shall be leased for oil pur-
poses. The property consists of sou
acres in the heart of the Santa Fe
Springs oil district andsit is reported
the state already has been offered
900 an acre and a one-fourth roy
atty for the lease of the land This
property cost the state $40 an acre
Long Beach and other California
cities are deriving huge royalties
/ from the leasing of municipal lands 10
| oil companies and an effort is being
made TO resGnd Los Angeles city
| ordinance which prohibits further
| drilling within the city limits.
Fancy worsteds Popular.
/ The fancy worsted offerings of the
American Woolen Company are un-
derstood to have met with a hearty
! welcome among the buyers, and orders
now pouring in are expected to dis
pose of all the large company de
sires TO sell at present prices, which
| are well above those of a year ago.
! There is evidence that some buyers
| have placed orders for textiles recently
| in far greater volume than their needs
required in expectation that these or
ders would be scaled down or that ad-
| vancing prices would give them a prof
! from resales later.
| Manufacturers on overalls and work
| garments are notifying their customers
| that price advances shortly must follow
| the present upward move in raw mate
rials and advising them to make their
| purchases now.
| Straw hat manufacturers here have
| been heavily booked for spring and
| summer deliveries and stated today
style trends appeared to be changed.