Difference 

 beyond 

 Control 

 of Manu- 

 facturer 



be worth approximately the same money for beef, but the 

 milk from one may be much richer than the milk from the 

 other and greater in quantity. No basis of commercial valu- 

 ation is sound that does not take into consideration all the 

 factors that influence it. 



Furthermore, as the "difference" between value and selling 

 price is more or less dependent upon local conditions, such as 

 cost of freight, hauling from station, storing, etc., and as this 

 difference may be further modified by the profit charged by 

 the local agent, it seems unfair to subject the manufac- 

 turer to criticism for the difference, since it is absolutely be- 

 yond his advice or control. To go further and make these 

 "differences," without knowing all the factors, the basis for 

 Government comparison, we believe is likely to be misleading 

 to the consumer as well as unjust to the manufacturer, thus 

 defeating the object of the law, which in language and in exe- 

 cution should aim to protect all interests. 



Finally, our own view is, that even if all the factors influenc- 

 ing value could be determined, "commercial valuations" would 

 still be wrong in principle, for the reason that the principle 

 was early established that the Government would assume to 

 value merchandise only for purposes of taxation, never for com- 

 parison in commercial transactions. If, however, the principle 

 is right, why should it not be applied to all lines of business? 

 Why should not milk, butter, cheese, hay, grain, woolen cloth 

 and rubber goods be "valued" by State inspectors for purposes 

 of comparison? 



We want it understood that we are strongly in favor of 

 fertilizer laws, of official sampling, analysis, and publication 

 Government ^^ results, — in a word, of the most thorough Government inspec- 

 tion. It is a great safeguard to the business, it protects the 

 honest manufacturer as well as the consumer; but Government 

 regulation should begin and end with inspection, as in other 

 lines of business. 



Regulation 



52 



