The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-21
] VAGUE POINTS
 CAUSE OF DOUBT
 IN PLUS CASE
Trade Commission Adopts Attitude Of Watchful
 Waiting
(Washington Bureau)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-The United States Steel corporation has sur rendered. almost. unequivocally, but the federal trade commission is in an attl- tude of "watchful waiting"
 The federal trade commission did not anticipate that the steel corporation without fight would surrender what it regarded as it's right to indulge in 'Pittsburg plus; :" that is, add to the price of steel delivered from any point an imaginary freight charge equal to the cost of transportation from Plttsourg to destination. Judge E. II. Gary. chairman of the board of the corpora tion, had declared that "Pittsburg in the industrial history of the country. It had been argued by his counsel that "Pittsburg plus was justifiable. and actually that it was necessary to the steel industry's stability.
 The federal trade commission expected a fight; therefore, the reason for its surprise when the corporation volun- tArily agreed to obey the commissions order The surrender is construted by the commission to mean that 'Pittsburg plus' was never justifiable, but was arbitrarily applied, and that the collec- tion of an extra tariff was not neces- sary to the stabilization of the industry.
 Two Vogue Points
 While the surrender seems absolutely complete, there are just two points in the corporations statement which cause some doubt in the minds of some of the commissioners. Both are in the first paragraph. The corporation does not admit that the verdict of the commission was valid, and it's agreement to con AL .4k Sc ny solar as it is practicable to do so.
 The official statement, with the ex- cAption of that first paragraph, the sense of which has been given: follows:
 2. Respondents have abandoned the Pittsburg plus system, as defined in said order, throughout their various organ isations and will not hereafter make use of the same.
 3. Respondents will not quote for sale or sell their rolled steel products upon any other passing point than that where the products are manufactured or from which they are shipped
 Sales F. 0. B.
 4. Sales from manufacturing plants, fabricating plants and warehouses will be made f. 0. b. plant or warehouse, or at delivered prices, as occasion may of fer. In all cases of sales at delivered prices the contract of sale or the invoice will clearly and distinctly indicate how much is charged for the steel products sold f. o. b. the producing or shipping point and how much is charged for the actual transportation of such products, if any, from such producing or shipping points, to destination.
 5. All f. O. b. selling prices, whether at the mills, warehouses or fabricating plants, and all delivered prices, will be non-discriminatory within the meaning of the second section of the Clayton act, but will be subject to the variations permitted by such act
 The signatures attached are United States Steel corporation, J. A. Farrell, president; American Bridge company, Joshua A. Hatfield, vice president; American Sheet and Tin Plate company, F. ". Pargny, president; Carneige Steel company, H. D. Williams, presi- dent; National Tube company, William B. Schiller, president American Steel and Wire company. William J. Palmer, president; Illinois Steel company, E. J. Burlington. president; Minnesota Steel Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pan, George G. Crawford, president
 Birmingham To Gain
 
 ion made by commissioners as to the cause of the surrender of the corpora tion, no doubt is expressed but that the abandonment of Pittsburg plus will greatly rebound to all steel centers, save Pittsburg, and to the sale territory of same. In the south, it is believed here commission officials that Birmingham at least independent of Pittsburg. will go forward in leaps and bounds. Great impetus, it is pointed out, should be given those cities in buying range of Birmingham, those in Georgia, Missis- sippi, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina. To all cities in that terri tory, the cost of steel for construction : purposes will be lowered, it is believed in Washington.
 It is understood, on the other hand. that the steel corporation does not hold that he market will be materially ef- fected by rle alandor ment of Pit. ,Jurs plus, but does hold that the people have won an empty victory, if victory at all.