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38
States had not assumed control of transportation systems; but in
any such case the court having jurisdiction may, upon the application
of the United States, stay execution of final judgment or decree until
such time as it shall deem proper.
Approved March 21, 1918.

[ P u b lic —No. 126— 65 t h C o n g r e s s ]
[H. R. 2316]
An Act To promote export trade, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the words
“export trade” wherever used in this Act mean solely trade or com­
merce in goods, wares, or merchandise exported, or m the course of
being exported from the United States or any Territory thereof to
any foreign nation; but the words “export trade” shall not be deemed
to include the production^ manufacture, or selling for consumption or
for resale, within the United States or any Territory thereof, of such
goods, wares, or merchandise, or any act in the course of such produc­
tion, manufacture, or selling for consumption or for resale.
That the words “trade within the United States” wherever used in
this Act mean trade or commerce among the several States or in any
Territory of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, or
between any such Territory and another, or between any such Ter­
ritory or Territories and any State or States or the District of
Columbia, or between the District of Columbia and any State or
States.
That the word “association” wherever used in this Act means any
corporation or combination, by contract or otherwise, of two or more
persons, partnerships, or corporations.
S ec . 2. That nothing contained in the Act entitled “An Act to pro­
tect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies” ,
approved July second, eighteen hundred and ninety, shall be construed
as declaring to be illegal an association entered into for the sole pur­
pose of engaging in export trade, and actually engaged solely
in such export trade, or an agreement made or act done in the
course of export trade by sucn association, provided such asso­
ciation, agreement, or act is not in restraint of trade within the United
States, and is not in restraint of the export trade of any domestic
competitor of such association: And provided further, That such
association does not, either in the United States or elsewhere, enter
into any agreement, understanding, or conspiracy, or do any act which
artificially or intentionally enhances or depresses prices within the
United States of commodities of the class exported by such associa­
tion, or which substantially lessens competition within the United
States or otherwise restrains trade therein.
Seo. 3. That nothing contained in section seven of the Act entitled
“ An Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and
monopolies, and for other purposes”, approved October fifteenth,
nineteen hundred and fourteen, snail be construed to forbid the acqui­




39
sition or ownership by any corporation of the whole or any part of
the stock or other capital of any corporation organized solely for the
purpose of engaging in export trade, and actually engaged solely in
such export trade, unless the effect of such acquisition or ownership
may be to restrain trade or substantially lessen competition within the
United States.
S e c . 4. That the prohibition against “ unfair methods of competi­
tion” and the remedies provided for enforcing said prohibition con­
tained in the Act entitled “An Act to create a Federal Trade Com­
mission, to define its powers and duties, and for other purposes” ,
approved September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred and fourteen,
shall be construed as extending to unfair methods of competition used
in export trade against competitors engaged in export trade, even
thougn the acts constituting such unfair methods are done without the
territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
S ec. 5. That every association now engaged solely in export trade,
within sixty days after the passage of this Act, and every association
entered into hereafter whicn engages solely in export trade, within
thirty days after its creation, shall file with the Federal Trade Com­
mission a verified written statement setting forth the location of its
offices or places of business and the names and addresses of all its
officers and of all its stockholders or members, and if a corporation,
a copy of its certificate or articles of incorporation and by-laws, and
if unincorporated, a copy of its articles or contract of association,
and on the first day of January of each year thereafter it shall make a
like statement of the location of its offices or places of business and
the names and addresses of all its officers and of all its stockholders
or members and of all amendments to and changes in its articles or
certificate of incorporation or in its articles or contract of associa­
tion. It shall also furnish to the commission such information as
the commission may require as to its organization, business, conduct,
practices, management, and relation to other associations, corpora­
tions, partnerships, and individuals. Any association which shall
fail so to do shall not have the benefit of the provisions of section two
and section three of this Act, and it shall also forfeit to the United
States the sum of $100 for each and every day of the continuance of
such failure, which forfeiture shall be payable into the Treasury of
the United States, and shall be recoverable in a civil suit in the name
of the United States brought in the district where the association has
its principal office, or in any district in which it shall do business.
It snail be the duty o f the various district attorneys, under the direc­
tion of the Attorney General of the United States, to prosecute for
the recovery of the forfeiture. The costs and expenses of such
prosecution shall be paid out of the appropriation for the expenses of
the courts of the United States.
Whenever the Federal Trade Commission shall have reason to
believe that an association or any agreement made or act done by
such association is in restraint of trade within the United States or in
restraint of the export trade of any domestic competitor of such
association, or that an association either in the United States or else­
where has entered into any agreement, understanding, or conspiracy,
or done any act which artificially or intentionally enhances or de­
presses prices within the United States o f commodities of the class
exported by such association, or which substantially lessens compe-




40
tition within the United States or otherwise restrains trade therein,
it shall summon such association, its officers, and agents to appear
before it, and thereafter conduct an investigation into the alleged
violations of law. Upon investigation, if it shall conclude that the
law has been violated, it may make to such association recommenda­
tions for the readjustment of its business, in order that it may there­
after maintain its organization and management and conduct its
business in accordance with law. I f such association fails to comply
with the recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission, said
commission shall refer its findings and recommendations to the
Attorney General of the United States for such action thereon as be
may deem proper.
For the purpose of enforcing these provisions the Federal Trade
Commission shall have all the powers, so far as applicable, given it in
wAn Act to create a Federal Trade Commission, to define its powers
and duties, and for other purposes.”
Approved April 10,1918.
(EXTRACT FROM)

[P ublic— No. 181— 65th C ongress]

Enforcement of antitrust laws: For the enforcement of antitrust
laws, including not exceeding $15,000 for salaries of necessary em­
ployees at the seat of government, $100,000 : Provided, however, That
no part of this money shall be spent in the prosecution of any organ­
ization or individual for entering into any combination or agreement
having in view the increasing o f wages, shortening of hours, or bet­
tering the conditions of labor, or for any act done in furtherance
thereof not in itself unlawful: Provided further, That no part of this
appropriation shall be expended for the prosecution of producers of
farm products and associations of farmers who cooperate and organ­
ize in an effort to and for the purpose to obtain and maintain a fair
and reasonable price for their products.
Approved July 1,1918.
(EXTRACT FROM)

[ P ublic —No. 21— 66t h C ongress]

Enforcement of antitrust laws: For the enforcement of antitrust
laws, including not exceeding $15,000 for salaries of necessary em­
ployees at the seat of government, $100,000: Provided, however, That
no part of this money shall be spent in the prosecution of any organi­
sation or individual for entering into any combination or agreement
having in view the increasing of wages, shortening of hours or better­
ing the conditions of labor, or for any act done in furtherance thereof,
not in itself unlawful: Provided further, That no part o f this appro­
priation shall be expended for the prosecution of producers o f farm
products and associations of farmers who cooperate and organize in
an effort to and for the purpose to obtain and maintain a fair and
reasonable price for their producta.
Approved July 19,1919.