The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-30
LAWS TO CURB
FEDERAL TRADE
INVASION SEEN
Shannon Committee Learns
How u. S. Has Entered
Ranks of Business.
BY MARSHALL M'NEIL
Times STAFF Writer

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-Legis-
lation to curb the scope Of federal
farm board operations, and to halt
all other invasions of business by
government-Such as the sale of
lingerie, auto parts, and radios by
army and navy storeS-may result
from the Shannon committee in
vestigation, now in its last phases.
The committee, at present IN
New Orleans, having gone there
from Memphis, is expected to COM
plete its hearings at New York and
in this city, about mid-September.
A report to the short session of
congress, recommending legislation
is in prospect.
Thus far, the inquiry has devel-
oped more than ten large volumes
of typewriter testimony from
merchants, businessmen, editors,
farmers, lawyers, railroad men, and
others complaining against the gov
ernment's entrance into business.
through one doorway or another.
Argue Against Farm Board
The outstanding testimony has
been that against the farm board,
whose operations have been ana
thema to Representative Joseph
Shannon Dem., Mo-.
These hearings have revealed
some of the governments opera
tons in business which heretofore
have escaped general notice.
From out in Bremerton, Wash,
came the city finance commission
er, to complain about government
laundries hurting private business.
The committee delved into the
manufacturing operations of the
war department, and Brigadier-
General H. c. Whitehead of the
quartermaSter corps testified that
it costs from IS to 80 cents more
to manufacture soldiers uniforms
at government factories than it
would under contract.
The general admitted he never
had worn uniform made by a
government agency.
At Kansas City, L. F. Savage of
Portsmouth, Va, told the commit
tee how the navy stores sold every
thing from women's lingerie, per-
fumery, FrigidaireS and radios to
oY-fc
Imposing List Presented
But it was M. w. Borders ST.,
general counsel for group of
business men, who furnished the
most imposing list of commodities
and services in which the govern
ment dealt.
According to his testimony, the
government, through various agen-
cieS in which it is directly or indi-
rectly interested, turns out such
things as:
Anchor chains, architectural draw
ings, bakery goods, book printing
and binding, brushes and brooms
cat PRISON., calendars canvas prod
uctS clothing, coffee the farm
board traded wheat for it to BRAZIL,
commercial tests at the bureau of
standards, contracting work, cord
age, creamery products Cthrough
farm board co-operatives), dredg-
ing, electric power, engraving, ex-
ploSives, firearms and furniture
The government deals in furs lit has
a seal herd on Pribiloff island, he
lium gas, ice, ice cream Tin the
Canal zone, in a year, 186,023 es-
kimo pies were made; it handles
insurance, operates laundries, leases
oil lands, sells lumber, makes maps
and charts, metal castings, and mo-
vies; it is interested in the reindeer
ranching industry in Alaska, makes
sausage in the Canal zone, shoes at
prisons, lends money for ships,
makes textiles in other prisons, and
has an interest in the wool business
through farm board co-operatives.