Milford chronicle., 1958-05-09
INQUIRY INTO AUTO PRICES

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INQUIRY INTO AUTO PRICES
The Justice Department recently opened
an inquiry into the reported price-fxing prac-
tices used by automobile dealers. The inquiry
came as the recession and slumping car sales
hit dealers harder than at any time since
World War IL.
In our opinion, the inquiry could hardly
have been WorSt-timed, or hardly have come
at time when nothing Tor very little) was
so certain to be accomplished. In past years
there has been crying need for such an in
quiry and we will go along with the sug-
gestion of one Senator that the suggested list
price of all cars be plainly attached to cars
in dealers show rooms.
In past years there have been Irregular
ties in the automobile business (as there have
been in all businesses this large) and some
sort of investigation and subsequent action
would have been thoroughly warranted. 1t is
a known fact that unScrupulous dealers Ga
very small segment of the total in the indus
try) have taken some purchasers to the clean
ers by agreeing with other dealers to "up"
the retail list price on certain model.
The Justice Department is now of the
opinion that this sort of thing is still going
on. 1t lis the departments contention that
dealers of a certain car get together and
agree on this fixed or artificial price, and
stick together in dealing with the public.
But conditions in the automobile industry
today-in most areas of the country at least
ARE enough evidence to show that any such
rigging of price can hardly stand the test of
some desperate competitor, of which there
are many, in these times. In other words
while we agree that such reported cOnspir-
acy is against all that free enterprise and the
system is supposed to stand for, we think
this is an odd time to begin such study.
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CRISES
Practically every speaker, including those
on the air and behind the pulpit, and many
of our columnists, are very busy advertising
the crises at hand for humanity
"This is the day of great decisions they
assert, almost in unison, and upon the de-
cisions we make, they say, rests the hope of
humanity for years to come. The general
idea seems to be to excite the emotions of
readers and listeners and thus persuade them
to "unselfsh action which, it is suspected,
they will not accept on the basis of intelli-
gent argument.
While the people of the world do face
great difficulties at the present time, there
is no reason to believe that they are insur-
mountable or that they are unsurpassed in
magnitude. Nearly every generation has
heard the same argument advanced, as men
and women battle for aims.
1t may be encouraging to note that, so
far, the human race has refused to commit
suicide. 1t evidently possesses greater sta
bility than some of its members would be-
lieve. Modern civilization, despite crises
real and maginary-continues to spread
throughout the earth and men and women
everywhere seem to be making progress to
ward the goal of better human beings.
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DE-JUNKING THE MAIL
If useful and popular action wins votes
first-term Michigan Congressman should be
hard to beat at the next election. Always
provided, of course, that he succeeds in his
undertaking.
Like everyone else, Representative Will
liam S. Broomfeld has been troubled by the
amount of unwanted mail that the carrier
brings him. 1t is not merely that it is unso-
hcited advertising matter, but that its sender
does not even know his name, or care. Every
one knows what is meant: the mass of stuff
marked only Occupant"
The recipient does not want it, and the |
carrier dislikes it because it not only adds |
to the weight of his bag but to the number of
his stops. He has to take one of each Soc
cupant' circular for every recipient of mail
on his list. Were it not for this, often he |
could omit many calls and shorten his trips.
The remedy offered by Broomfield is SIM
pie. He would abolish the requirement that
all such mail must be delivered Once year,
according to his bill, the postmaster would
send out card asking whether delivery of
such matter is desired. If you replied mo,
the flood of circulars would stop. It's tempt |
ing idea.