assist in the organization of exports, preparation of trade agreements, and control of the quality of goods exported.

Executive orders published in August 1938 incorporated into the national reserves all potassium salts and phosphate rock deposits not theretofore covered by concessions, including deposits lying under surfaces of privately owned property.

Norway-A committee has been organized for the purpose of investigation and study of the various unfair trade practices, with a view toward revision of the Unfair Competition Act of 1922.

Poland. The Law for the Encouragement of Private Investments, April 9, 1938, and regulations thereunder, granted special tax exemptions on investments, for a 5-year period, to build up industries deemed of national importance, including industrial plants, agricultural projects, mineral and petroleum prospecting and refineries, and building plans. A law dated August 5, 1938, empowered the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform to secure the supply of articles of prime necessity (food, clothing, and fuel), to store such products, and to fix prices, in order to prevent undue increase in price.

Peru.-A law dated July 27, 1938, provided for Government control of the prices of articles or services to the public; and prohibited an increase in prices at that time prevailing, without permission of the Minister of Public Welfare.

Portugal.-Under decrees in 1938, a board was established to control standards and exportation of cotton from the colonies; and a minimum price was fixed. If the landed cost of American cotton in Portugal is lower than the fixed price for the colonial product, the difference is to be refunded to the purchaser of colonial cotton by the Cotton Board. To provide funds for the payment of this subsidy, a tax is collected on all foreign cotton imported.

Salvador.-A new constitution was signed on January 20, 1939. Switzerland.-A federal decree dated July 8, 1938, placed all war materials under Government regulation, including arms, ammunition, explosives, aviation equipment, and chemical products.

Turkey.-The Tobacco Monopoly Act of June 10, 1938, created a State monopoly for control of the culture, manufacture, transportation, and sale of tobacco products.

Venezuela.-A petroleum law published January 6, 1939, declared the petroleum industry to be a public utility. The right to explore, exploit, manufacture, refine, and transport petroleum products, may be exercised by the Government or through concessions granted for that purpose. The National Coffee Institute was reorganized and granted new powers, under an executive decree of January 18, 1939.

Yugoslavia.-A Government regulation issued June 24, 1938, provided for formation of a joint stock company, under Government ownership and direction, which shall acquire and operate steel mills, iron foundries, and iron and coal mines.

On April 1, 1938, the Minister of Agriculture was authorized to draft plans for a system of public warehouses for farm products. A Privileged Company for Warehouses was registered on August 15, and a special board set up for the purpose of fixing standards for farm products to be warehoused. Government loans will be granted on products placed in storage. A decree effective on July 1, 1938, authorized a permanent fund for land conservation projects, flood control, and soil improvement. A decree published on July 12, 1938, included regulations for control of fruit intended for exportation.

A petroleum decree published July 1, 1938, declared mineral oils, resins, and gases found in the earth or on its surface, to be the property of the State. Prospecting and exploitation may be conducted by the Autonomous State Monopolies Administration, or concessions may be granted under regulatory conditions. Expropriation by the State is permitted. Imports and exports are under Government control, and maximum wholesale prices may be fixed by the Minister of Finance.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF THE PURCHASER

TRADE PRACTICE CONFERENCE RULES

LEGAL ENFORCEMENT AND ECONOMIC INQUIRIES

CONSUMER PROTECTION

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF THE PURCHASER SHOW STEADY

INCREASE

The functioning of the Commission is directly concerned with affording protection to the purchasing public, as well as to business, from the destructive effects of harmful trade practices, such as unfair methods of competition, deceptive selling practices, and monopolistic restraints. As originally enacted and as subsequently amended by the Wheeler-Lea Act of March 21, 1938, the Federal Trade Commission Act provides that the Commission's corrective proceedings are to be instituted in the interest of the public. Not only sellers, but consumers as well, are embraced within the protective arm of such broad public interest served by the Commission.

The Commission work for consumer protection has been increasing steadily, both in volume and in effectiveness. Increased effectiveness has been achieved largely as a result of the above-named amendment to the Federal Trade Commission Act, and also as a result of the growing understanding on the part of industry generally, and of consumer groups, of the value to the public and to business of eliminating unfair practices and harmful restraints from trade and commerce and of dealing fairly and honestly with the buying public. When an unfair trade practice is employed by a concern, it has an injurious effect upon the purchasing public as a result of the elements of dishonesty, fraud, oppression, or exploitation which often characterize such methods. It likewise has a harmful effect upon the entire industry and upon scrupulous concerns, in particular, because of the tendency in such practices to divert trade from competitors unfairly, to destroy goodwill and purchaser confidence in the integrity of the industry as a whole, and to bring about competitive burdens which are of stifling and restraining nature in relation to the free flow of trade and commerce. Thus, in the work of maintaining and protecting the ethical standards of fair competitive practice, both industry and trade on the one hand and consumers or the buying public on the other have a common interest as beneficiaries of the constructive results achieved. They have a