Evening star., 1924-03-30
TRADE COMMISSION.
S955,0DO IS URGED.
Representative Ayres Cites
Widespread Demand for
Appropriation.

To meet an iRsistent demand from
business. trade and agricultural as
sociations all over the country an
effort is being made to have restored
to the Federal Trade Commission 1904, :
500, which was cut from the current
appropriation of s955.000 in framing
the independent offices appropriation
bill
Representative William A Ayres
late yesterday in the House, serving
notice that he will press for adoption
OF an amendment restoring the fun
appropriation for the fiscal year be-
ginning July | next.
Emphasizing that the commission
is already eighteen months behind
on Investigations long since ordered,
Representative Ayres argued that at
least the commission should be given
as much as during the current year,
in order that ii may catch up on
some of this back work.
Extra Demands ON Fund.
The President frequently calls on
the Federal Trade Commission to make
investiga tions.' said Representative
Ayres. 1T will have to come out of
the commissions funds That's not
all. The President and the Senate
frequently call on this commission
to furnish experts for various things
to assist senatorial and presidential
investigations
Pointing out that at the present
time the oil investigation Is hamper
ing the commission, Representative
AyreS said:
The commission is trying to get
at the Investigation of the increase
of the price of gasoline in South
Oak ota, upon the order of the Presi-
dent, at the request of the governor
of that state, and also the Senate
oil investigating committee is using
or has been using several of the com
missions best men on this inVestiga-
tion that has been going on for
weeks"
Representative Ayres agreed that
even should the provision be passed
carry appropriations to defray the
expenses, il certainly would do no
good TO pass such resolutions with
appropriations as stated, to make
these investie cations if the commits
sion had no force to conduct an in
Yestigation.
Suppose that this appropriation is
decreased so that the commission is
unable to carry sufficient corps OF
efficient experts TO conduct these in
NestigationS when ordered" he said
1t had just as well close it's doors"
Other Cases Cited.
Representative AyIes cited other
important cases that the Federal
Trade Commission now has before it.
He described the Eastern Farm Ma
chinery Dealers ease as more i'm
portant TO the farmers than most. if
in their behalf" He said that this
is the most extensive antitrust suit
ever instituted by any agency of the
United States government. and that
counsel for the commission are pre-
pairing to go to trial on it at the
earliest possible daIe.
The bread investigation is another
emphasized by Representative Ayres,
as also the vestigation of the con-
tinued high price of furniture.
Referring particularly TO the study
of the radio industry by the commits
sion. Representative Ayres said:
The partial investigation made by
the Federal Trade Commission has
taken by the government to stop a
gigantic combination or trust from
being perfected. if il has not already
been done. the radio business soon
VIII be absolutely controlled and ex-
clusively manipulated by few mem
bers of the com mbine When this oc-
ours that part of the business world
not in the combine is at the mercy Of
the trust This investigation was
called for by this House in a resoII-
Sixty-seventh Congress. at the sug-
seSuon of the committee on mer-
chant marine and fisheries
Radio Inquiry Fruitful.
There is a complaint before the
commission at this time charginE =
that the General Electric Company
and others had set up the Radio
Corporation as bogus independent,
and by the use of tying contracts ami
price discrimination in the sale of u {
products was attempting to ACQUIRE
monopoly in the manufacture and
sale of radio apparatus. The COM
mission started on its Investigation
and on December l, 1923. made its
report, which consists of 346 pages.
and some startling facts are set forth
in that report. 1t is shown there were
contracts entered into between the Cen
eral Electric Company. Westinghouse
Electrict and Manufacturing Companv.
Western Electric Company, Inc: Amer
lean Telephone and Telegraph Company
Wireless Specially Comp pany United
Fruit Company and the Radio Corp
Grafton of America, as to the inter
chanse OF patents, licenses. etc. If
the members of Congress have nor
read that report, I suggest that they
do sc, and without doubt they HIil
have no trouble in reaching a con-
clusion, that the commission shoald
pursue the investigation further ard
De furnished the means TO do so"
Among the organizations quoted nv
Representative AyreS as urging that
the Federal Trade Commission an
propriation be not decreased, are:
Inc American Livestock Associa-
ton. the national board of farm or:
ganizatlons. creamery associations.
dairy associations, the National
Wholesale Grocers' Association. the
typographical unions. the National
League of Women Voters, all of the
1arm and labor organizations, and
practically all of, the leading news
papers of the country, showing the
respect and feeling the people have
for this commission