CONGRESS APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Mr. McNARY submitted the following CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE BILL (H. R. 13481) MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1924, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. JANUARY 16 (calendar day, JANUARY 20), 1923.-Ordered to be printed. The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 13481) making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924, and for other purposes, having met, after full and free conference have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows: That the Senate recede from its amendments numbered 3, 4, 16, 17, 22, and 28. That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendments of the Senate numbered 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, and 32, and agree to the same. Amendment numbered 7: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 7, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the matter inserted by said amendment insert the following: For the investigation and improvement of cereals, including corn, and methods of cereal production, and for the study and control of cereal diseases, including barberry eradication, and for the investigation of the cultivation and breeding of flax for seed purposes, including a study of flar diseases, and for the investigation and improvement of broom corn and methods of broom-corn production, $697,505: Provided, That $425,000 shall be set aside for the location and destruction of the barberry bushes and other vegetation from which rust spores originate: Provided further, That $125,000 of this amount shall be available for expenditure only when an equal amount shall have been appropriated, subscribed, or contributed by States, counties, or local authorities, or by individuals or organizations, for the accomplishment of such purposes. And the Senate agree to the same. Amendment numbered 9: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 9, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed insert $2,891,450; and the Senate agree to the same. SD-67-4-vol 12-48 Amendment numbered 10: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 10, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed insert $3,376,470; and the Senate agree to the same. Amendment numbered 18: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 18, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed, insert $225,000; and the Senate agree to the same. Amendment numbered 19: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 19, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed, insert $100,000; and the Senate agree to the same. Amendment numbered 21: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 21, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed, insert $1,797,880; and the Senate agree to the same. Amendment numbered 25: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 25, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed, insert $541,223; and the Senate agree to the same. Amendment numbered 26: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 26, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the sum proposed, insert $4,005,853; and the Senate agree to the same. The committee of conference have not agreed upon amendments numbered 11, 31, 33, 34, and 35. CHAS. L. MONARY, W. L. JONES, I. L. LENROOT, LEE S. OVERMAN, WM. J. HARRIS, Managers on the part of the Senate. SYDNEY ANDERSON, WALTER W. MAGEE, Managers on the part of the House. 4th Session. No. 293. ACTIVITIES OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND MANUFACTURERS OF POSTS AND POLES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AND MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TERRITORY. LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, TRANSMITTING, PURSUANT TO LAW, A REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS COMPOSED OF MANUFACTURERS OF POSTS AND POLES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AND MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TERRITORY. JANUARY 23 (calendar day, JANUARY 24), 1923.-Referred to the Committee on Interstate Commerce and ordered to be printed. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, To the PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, Washington, D. C. SIR: The Federal Trade Commission, under authority of paragraph (f), section 6, Federal Trade Commission act, herewith transmits to Congress a report analyzing the activities of the trade associations composed of the manufacturers of post and poles in the Rocky Mountain and Mississippi Valley territory, one of a number of reports resulting from an inquiry undertaken at the request of the Department of Justice. The instant report, which deals primarily with attempts to fix and control prices, is also being made public. These associations have their headquarters in Spokane, Wash., and are as follows: Western Red Cedar Association, Lifetime Post Association, and Western Red Cedarmen's Information Bureau. Approximately three years ago the Federal Trade Commission undertook, at the request of the Department of Justice, an inquiry into the activities of the various groups of lumber manufacturers throughout the country. A nation-wide inquiry was made, covering some 12 or more associations or groups of associations. From time to time during the last two years, as the report of a particular group has been completed, it has been transmitted to the Department of Justice. In the case of the more important associations, reports were simultaneously submitted to Congress. The three largest groups are the Southern Pine Association, the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, and the Western Pine Manufacturers' Association. By direction of the commission: VICTOR MURDOCK, Chairman. REPORT ON WESTERN RED CEDAR ASSOCIATION, LIFETIME POST ASSOCIATION, AND WESTERN RED CEDAR MEN'S INFORMATION BUREAU. THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION'S STUDY OF LUMBER ASSOCIATIONS. In September, 1919, the Federal Trade Commission began a rather extensive inquiry into the activities of the several groups or associations of lumber manufacturers in the United States to determine if, and to what extent, any of these associations were violating the antitrust laws. The Department of Justice initiated the matter by formally requesting the Federal Trade Commission to conduct such an inquiry. The activities of about 12 associations or groups of associations were analyzed by the commission. As soon as a report could be prepared for any particular association or group, it was submitted to the Department of Justice, the evidence forming the basis of the report being made available at the same time. Preliminary reports of the more important associations were submitted to the Department of Justice in June, 1920. More detailed reports followed, some of which were submitted to both Houses of Congress and made public by the commission. The first of these published reports, issued in January, 1921, presented a general summary of the activities of the more important associations of lumber manufacturers in their relation to the antitrust legislation. A second report, issued in February, 1921, dealt with the Southern Pine Association. This was followed immediately by an injunction suit filed by the Attorney General against the association, which is still pending. A third report, issued in June, 1921, pertained to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association. A fourth report, issued in February, 1922, covered the work of the Western Pine Manufacturers' Association. Several other reports, discussing lesser associations or groups, were completed by the Federal Trade Commission and submitted to the Department of Justice, without, however, being made public. The present report deals with one of the smaller groups of associa tions. RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF ASSOCIATION GROUP. The Western Red Cedar Association, Lifetime Post Association, and Western Red Cedarmen's Information Bureau are composed almost exclusively of manufacturers of posts and poles in what is frequently called the "Inland Empire," that section comprised by the western portion of Montana, the State of Idaho, and the eastern portion of the States of Oregon and Washington. Only a few members of these organizations are not manufacturers, but are engaged exclusively in the sale of lumber products in the Mississippi River Valley territory. Most of the companies manufacturing poles also manufacture posts. The three groups listed above have many common members, and are managed by practically the same individuals, therefore they are considered simultaneously. |