434 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPAETMENT OF AGKICULTTJRE. 



COMMISSION HOUSE ACCOUNTING. 



Investigations and studies conducted with a view to standardizing 

 methods and accounts and for an improvement in general business 

 procedure in commission houses have been continued in all of the 

 principal cities of the States of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsyl- 

 vania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The trade in general 

 seems to be in hearty accord with the object of the work and has ex- 

 tended opportunities for study in as full a manner as consistent with 

 the natural limitations which affect the type of business. Accounting 

 committees w'ere appointed by the National League of Commission 

 Merchants and the Western Fruit Jobbers Association, with direction 

 and authority to cooperate to the best of their ability Avith the Bureau 

 of Markets in perfecting a uniform system of accounts. When the 

 sj^stem has been finally effected and is ready for adoption, it is ex- 

 pected that these committees will recommend its use to the members 

 of the above associations. The investigational activities have prac- 

 tically been completed and tentative forms have been installed for 

 experimental purposes in representative houses located in Philadel- 

 phia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and St. Louis. 



AUDITING ASSOCIATIONS. 



Auditing associations have been formed in North Dakota and Kan- 

 sas. The Bureau of Markets has rendered assistance to these associa- 

 tions by drawing up model by-laws and in both cases helping in the 

 organization. These auditing associations are formed for the pur- 

 pose of conducting periodic audits for all business associations hold- 

 ing membership, with the object of limiting the annual expense for 

 this service and of securing comparative statistics in similar lines of 

 business operation. The Auditing Association of Kansas has en- 

 listed 22.5 members. Auditing associations, if properly conducted, 

 may serve not only as a committee of audit, but also as a centralized 

 business reference bureau wherein the managers of various business 

 units may receive valuable advice and assistance. 



COTTON WAKEHOUSE ACCOUNTING. 



In connection with the warehouse investigations reported else- 

 where, a system of accounts for cotton warehouses has been devised 

 and issued as Department Bulletin 520, A System of Accounts for 

 Cotton Warehouses. Indications are that the system will probably 

 be installed in many cotton warehouses in the South. 



MARKET SURVEYS, METHODS, AND COSTS. 



Most of the work conducted under this project, wdiich is under the 

 leadership of JNIr. Wells A. Sherman, is in direct connection with the 

 market news service on fruits and vegetables reported elsewhere. 

 The following lines of investigation are among those which have 

 been developed. 



