Evening star., 1932-01-24
Continued from Fourth Page


mencature is unmiStakable but some of it
has the investigators at sea, although they
vision possible use for such as "hot foot"
powders-getting away from the police for
instance.
One concern that handled a collection of
this didn't find it very eficacious for it is no
longer in business.
1t also had side line, offering advice on
a multitude of problems, including love- busi-
ness and games of chance. But not now.
THE commission did its worst, too, for the
sociaby inclined in another instance by
putting the skids under a preparation adver-
tised cure for bashfulness and nerves"
1t has also squashed the paid testimonial"
for various products.
At present the commission is working the
hackers of a number of puzzle contests. At
first glance, these appear to offer rich prizes
for solutions so evident school child could
get them without difficulty
The catch however lies in the fact that the
correct answers" just qualify" the contend
for the awards, which only given-as
they find out-for selling something other,
and only then-if then-in quantities.
Forty of these concerns have been ruled
out already and others face the same fate.
they build up in this way may be interchanged,
perhaps sold, but the commission has never
been able to pin that on any of them.
1t has discovered, however, that many of the
quack promoters work" their own lists
just long they can and then sell them
to a kindred organization that is putting out
something else
In connection with these "rackets" the ques-
tiOn naturally arises as to why the postal laws,
rigid as they are, cannot reach all.
The answer is that so often they manage to
twist and squrm and get that margin of safety
that keeps them within the boundary where
otherwise criminal prosecution would be en-
countered. But the Post Office Department
serves valuable ally, turning into the Trade
Commission anything in the advertising line
that looks fishy.
The Department of Agriculture is another
agency that lends Whole-hearted cooperation
particularly IN the case of preparations of
various sorts.
Under the pure food and drug act that de-
partment can institute proceedings for false
branding, but its jurisdiction ends with the
label Consequently like the Post Office De-
partment its assistance is confined for the
most part to tipping off the Trade mmission
where abuses are suspected.
Other Government departments also keep on
the alert, and last, but not least, the victims
themselves frequently complain, though gen.
orally loath to betray their gullibility
The Trade Commission itself has no power
to administer punishment, or enforce laws,
against these rackets, but it manages nicely
despite this limitation, even though it may
take little time
A typical proceeding is like this
The commission, getting case where indi-
cations are that all is not WELL sends through
the Board of Investigation a QUESTIONABLE to
the individual or concern whose operations are
under scrutiny, asking for full details of the
business carried on samples of the advertising
matter used and of the product dispensed, and
whether it's traffic is in interstate commerce
If it is decided then that further inquiry is
desirable, the operator is called to the COM
mission Office for hearing.
At this the three members of the board
Chairman Adams, w. F. Davidson and CLYDE
M. Hadley, go thoroughly into the matter The
case may be dropped if warranted; otherwise
the board has the power to negotiate stipua-
ton with the offender to drop action, if ap-
proved by the commission, provided the prac-
tice complained of is discontinued.
If the defendant refuses to enter into stipua-
tion the commission is notified and asked
to issue formal complaint. Again there is
hearing and If the commission agrees that the
complaint has been upheld, cease and desist
order is issued.
Tier ts when the teeth in the Trade Com