Evening star., 1930-06-28

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their efforts to get A # q E3
money away from
Washington people, Louis Rotbsehild.
reported successful
action against alleged bucket shops and
detailed the methods used by get-rich-
quick statesmen who have been out
Wltted by the bureaus efforts Resi-
dents of the District have been so well
educated against fraud that many pro-
moters have moved their activities to
Maryland and nearby Virginia.
AS noted in his annual report in
Yesterdays Star, Director Rothschild
deplores the fact that there is no blue
SKY law here for use in Furnishing
fraud. He makes it clear thaN the
bureau does not oppose speculation, but
. feelS that any investor or Speculator
has the right to know that he is as
suming risks and not be led to believe
that he is making a sound investment.
Mr.. Rothschild reports that two years
ago sos people appealed to the bureau
in some alleged fraud, trickery, or some
business controversy. Last yea 437
complaints were taken up. This year
895 went to the bureau Office, showing
that the bureau is increasing its field
and adding great many friends in
legitimate business. In referring to some
Of these cases Mr.. Rothschild said:
Refers to Typical Cases.
typical of these instances is the
case of the elderly lady who bought a
pair of shoes believing them to be black,
but finding in the daylight that they
were blue. The store manager refused
to do anything about the matter. AS
this happened to be a chain establish
nent, an appeal to the home Office
quickly resulted in the lady being sat-
isfied.
"A number Of complainants against
one particular moving van company
and a few similar complaints against
other companies in this field resulted
in the Better Business Bureau looking
into this situation in a larger way dur
ing the past year. Conferences were
held, both individually and in group,
with the better companies in this line
of business and the bureau hopes that
by the cooperation of this group a real
house-cleaning may later be undertaken
in this field.
Typical complaints against this one
company were injuring of furniture;
contracting to move furniture from one
city to another and then demanding a
higher price than the contract specified
before the goods would be delivered
and when they were still in the van;
unjuStified knocking and unethical con-
duct toward competitors; and delaying
goods in transit when their delivery
according to the signed contract speci-
ned certain date.
Activity in Merchandise Field
again the Better Business Bureau
has expanded its merchandise services
as is indicated in the fact that during
the period covered by this report, the
total number of cases handled was
4,721. This is an increase as compared
with the preceding year total of 4,481
and shows consistent growth as COM
pared with the figure of 5,914 mer-
chandise cases in the year before. OF
the total for the year. 1s2s-3o, 1850
were shopping investigations, 1,746 other
investigations and 895 consumer COM
plants of a merchandise nature.
The bureau is led to believe by the
public and business responses to its
efforts, that the fiscal year ending
July l, 1880, was most successful one;
many achievements for the betterment
OF business having been made in a
constructive way. Progress has been
made toward that ideal of a community
entirely free from misleading and un-
truthful advertising and with complete
absence of questionable financial pro-
motion. Our hopes and anticipations
are that the coming year will witness
even greater strides toward accuracy
and fair play in business with complete
harmony and good will between the
public and legitimate business" Mr..
Rothschild concluded.
Analysis Covers Southern Diaries.
In a review OF Southern Diaries, Inc,
o Washington concern, Standard Sta
+ tistics says in part:
Holding and managing concern,
controlled by Kraft-Phenix Cheese,
which in turn is now controlled by Ma
tional Dairy Products. Subsidiaries
operate in the district lying between
Washington, D. c., and Miami, Fla.
Principal products are ice cream, but
ter. milk and cream.
Rapid expansion has been made in
last few years, but costs also have
mounted, resulting in small net profits,
which have been still further diluted
by steady increase in capitalization.
Retrogression in sales volume occurred
in 1929. but closer control of costs re-
suited in largest net income in history
(aided, however, by reduction in depre-
citation charges of around so per cent?
Eoualed 1885 per class A share. as
compared with S144 in 1928 and 70
cents in 1927. Deficits on class B
stock amounted to SO cents share in
1929. $2.29 in 1928 and $226 in 1920
Unfavorable general business conditions
have prevailed in the Southern terri
tory in late months, and it seems i'm
probable that substantial gain in earn
ings will occur this year, although ad-
ditional progress in reduction of costs
is not impossible. Financial condition
at the end of 1929 was somewhat i'm
proved. with current assets "A times
current liabilities"
Heard in Financial District.
A. G. Neal, controller of the Wash
ington Railway & Electric Co. and the
Potomac Electric Power Co., is passing
q months vacation on the Pacific
Coast. This week he has been attend
ing the convention of the American
Electric Railway Association in Sar
Francisco.
S. B. Murdock formerly assistant
passenger traffic manager of the Sea-
board Air Line Railway at Norfolk, will
be transferred to New York as assistant
passenger trafhc manager, effective
July /. William n. Donny, genera
eastern passenger agent at New York
has been appointed general agent al
Washington.
Stanley Co. of America and subsidi.
aries report for rs weeks ended March
/. 1890, consolidated net profit o.
S2,2a5, ,7o5, after charges and taxes, anc
excluding extraordinary profit arising
from sale of investments. Warner Bros
Pictures, Inc, owns in excess Of SO PEI
cent Of the capital stock of the Stan
ley Co. of America.
w. L. Carey, formerly president o
Royal Baking Powder Co, has joinet
the banking and investment firm o
b Eastman, Dillon g. Co.