[H. J. Res. 444]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To amend the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution authorizing the Federal Trade Commission to make an investigation with respect to agricultural income and the financial and economic condition of agricultural producers generally", approved August 27, 1935.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1 of the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution authorizing the Federal Trade Commission to make an investigation with respect to agricultural income and the financial and economic condition of agricultural producers generally", approved August 27, 1935 (Public Resolution. Numbered 61, Seventy-fourth Congress), be, and the same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows:

"That the Federal Trade Commission is hereby authorized and directed to investigate and report, at the next session of Congress"First. (1) The extent of the decline in agricultural income in recent years, including the amount and percentage of such decline; "(2) The extent of the increases or decreases in recent years in the income of the principal corporations engaged in the sale, manufacturing, warehousing, and/or processing of the principal farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits and vegetables, and of the other principal sellers, manufacturers, warehousemen, and/or processors of the principal farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits and vegetables, as compared with the decline in agricultural income, including the amount and percentage of such changes; and

"(3) The proportion of total consumer cost of representative products manufactured or processed from the principal farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits and vegetables, which is represented by the proceeds received by (a) the farmer; (b) the manufacturers, processors, and warehousemen; and (c) the distributors and such principal farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits and vegetables, and such representative products manufactured therefrom.

"Second. The financial position of the principal corporations engaged in the maufacturing, processing, warehousing, distribution, and marketing of the representative major products manufactured from such farm products, including

"(1) The capitalization and assets of such corporations and the means and sources of the growth of such capitalization and assets; "(2) The investment, costs, profits, and rates of return of such corporations;

(3) The salaries of the officers of such companies; and

"(4) The extent to which said corporations avoid income taxes, if at all, and the extent to which officers receiving such salaries paid income taxes thereon.

"Third. The extent of concentration of control and of monopoly in the manufacturing, processing, warehousing, distribution, and marketing of representative major farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits and vegetables, which is maintained or has been obtained by any corporation or other organization, including"(1) Methods and devices used by such corporations for obtaining and maintaining their control or monopoly of the manufacturing, marketing, processing, warehousing, and distribution of such commodities, and the proportion of any such major farm commodity, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits and vegetables, handled by each of the large units involved; and

"(2) The extent to which fraudulent, dishonest, unfair, intimidating, and injurious methods are employed in the grading, warehousing, and transportation of such farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits, and vegetables, including combinations, monopolies, price fixing, and manipulation of prices on the commodity exchanges, and by racketeering and so-called auction markets.

"Fourth. The extent to which the cooperative agencies have entered into the processing, warehousing, and marketing of representative major farm products, and of table and juice grapes, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and the general effects of such cooperative agencies upon the producer and consumer."

SEC. 2. That section 5 of the said joint resolution be, and the same is hereby, amended by striking out the figures "150,000" and inserting the figures "300,000”.

SEC. 3. That section 6 of the said joint resolution be, and the same is hereby, amended by striking out all thereof and by substituting in lieu of the said section the following:

"SEC. 6. The Federal Trade Commission is directed to present a final report to the Congress in respect to such principal farm products and such representative products manufactured therefrom, together with recommendations for legislation not later than October 1, 1936, and a further report to the Congress in respect to table and juice grapes, fresh fruits, and vegetables, together with recommendations for legislation on or before January 31, 1937, and a final report in respect to the said last mentioned products, together with any further recommendations, not later than May 31, 1937.

"It is hereby further provided that any unexpended balance of the appropriation of $150,000 made in the Independent Offices Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1936 in accordance with the authority contained in Public Resolution Numbered 61, Seventyfourth Congress, first session, is hereby made available for like purpose to and including October 1, 1936."

Approved, June 20, 1936.

[S. J. Res. 277]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To investigate corporations engaged in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of agricultural implements and machinery.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Federal Trade Commission be, and it is hereby, directed under the authority of and in pursuance of the Act entitled "An Act to create a Federal Trade Commission, to define its powers and duties, and for other purposes", approved September 26, 1914, as amended, to investigate and report to the Congress the facts relating to―

(a) Whether any corporation engaged in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of agricultural implements and machinery, of whatever kind and description is, or within the past three years has been, violating any of the antitrust Acts of the United States, and the nature, extent, and effects of any such violation;

(b) The existence and effect of any contract, agreement, combination, or conspiracy in unlawful restraint of trade and the existence of any unfair methods of trade or competition in connection with the manufacture, sale, and distribution of said agricultural implements and machinery;

(c) Whether and to what extent methods of price fixing, price maintenance, and price discrimination in violation of the antitrust Acts exist in connection with the manufacture, sale, and distribution of said agricultural implements and machinery;

(d) Any developments and tendencies in the direction of monopoly and concentration of ownership or control of the means of the manufacture, sale, or distribution of said agricultural implements and machinery;

(e) The existence of any combination to restrict or control the manufacturer or supply of agricultural implements or machinery or to raise or control the price thereof, or to restrict credit in the sale thereof:

(f) Whether and to what extent the present prices of agricultural implements and machinery are due to any violations of any of the antitrust laws;

(g) Whether and to what extent costs and profits of any corporation engaged in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of agricultural implements and machinery have been affected, enhanced, or maintained by unlawful combinations, agreements, or understandings, or any other violations of the antitrust laws, and whether and to what extent costs and profits of any such corporations have been misstated or misrepresented to conceal or promote violations of the antitrust laws;

(h) The extent of concentration of control of manufacture and distribution of such equipment in the hands of particular manufacturers and the basis thereof;

(i) The costs, prices, and profits of manufacturers and distributors of agricultural implements and machinery;

(j) The distribution methods and dealer price spreads of margins entering into prices paid by farmers for agricultural machinery and equipment;

(k) The facts regarding the relative price movements of farm machinery and farm products since 1914;

(1) The facts regarding the relative price movements of farm machinery and implements and some of the machinery and implements and so ewhat co.nparable material and labor;

(m) Any other pertinent facts regarding the present prices of agricultural implements and machinery, and the cause thereof; and

(n) What measures, legislative or otherwise, in the opinion of the Commission are needed to correct conditions in the farm-implement industry adversely affecting the interests of farmers. Approved, June 24, 1936.

55-000 O-71-15

[H. J. Res. 642]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to apply such methods of control of grasshoppers as in his judgment may be necessary.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the application of such methods of control of grasshoppers as, in the judgment of the Secretary of Agriculture, may be necessary, in cooperation with such authorities of the States concerned, organizations, or individuals as he may deem essential to accomplish such purposes, including the employment of persons and means in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, printing and binding, rent outside of the District of Columbia, and for other expenses there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $250,000, to remain available until June 30, 1937: Provided, That this appropriation shall be used for expenditures of general administration and supervision, purchase and transportation of poisoned bait, or materials for its manufacture, and such other expenses as in the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture may be deemed necessary and that the cooperating States shall be responsible for the local distribution and utilization of such bait on privately owned lands including full labor costs: Provided further, That, in the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, no part of this appropriation shall be expended for grasshopper control in any State until such State has provided the necessary organization for the cooperation herein indicated: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be used to pay the cost or value of farm animals, farm crops, or other property injured or destroyed: Provided further, That procurements under this appropriation may be made by open-market purchases notwithstanding the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (U. S. C., title 41, sec. 5). Approved, June 24, 1936.