individuals and took place prior to 1938, when the Federal Trade Commission Code came into being. I would like to say, too, that the effectiveness of that code in putting an end to these practices is best evidenced by the fact that in the 10 years which have elapsed since its adoption it has not been found necessary to amend or supplement it in any fashion. Surely if it had failed in achieving its purpose the Federal Trade Commission would have come forward long ere this with modifications and extensions calculated to remedy shortcomings which had been disclosed in its administration. Also in furtherance of this conviction on my part is the fact that with all the consumer organizations and better business bureaus which exist in our country, all of them jealously guarding the consumer interest, no one consumer demand or support for this bill has been manifested. It is true Mr. Francis did say that such support had been offered him but that he had rejected it because he felt that this was a caǝs where the industry should "clean its own house." I respect his opinion and join wholeheartedly in his conclusion, if there is such a situation in the industry, then I say with Mr. Francis that it is the duty of the industry to eradicate it. But nevertheless I am persuaded that if the demand for this bill flowed from consumer demand, or had any extensive consumer support, the consumer position would have been expressed here before this committee. Now, with those few preliminary statements I should like to read my prepared statement. Mr. O'HARA. Mr. Benedek, before you pass on that, would you permit me to insert in the record at this point an advertisement from the Chicago Tribune, I believe, of February 8, 1948, in which a number of different furs are advertised. For example, what is a sheared beaver dyed raccoon? What would that be? Mr. BENEDEK. The fur is that of a raccoon. The other descriptive words indicate the process to which that raccoon skin has been subjected. It has been sheared, which means the long guard hair has been removed, and it has been dyed a color described there as a beaver shade. Mr. O'HARA. What would a genuine gray krimmer be? Mr. BENEDEK. Just that. The skin of a gray krimmer, krimmer being the name, the English name, of an animal. Mr. O'HARA. What type of animal? Mr. BENEDEK. Of the goat species. Mr. O'HARA. What would you say was a northern back mink blended muskrat? Mr. BENEDEK. The skin of a muskrat, the back or dorsal portion of the skin as distinguished from the belly or under side. Did you say mink? Mr. O'HARA. Mink blended muskrat. Mr. BENEDEK. Blended or processed to resemble, in color, the color and shading of a mink skin. Mr. O'HARA. It gave the inference to me, in reading it, that it was part mink and part muskrat. Mr. BENEDEK. Under the provisions of the Fair Trade Commission Code the last word in the name applied to a dyed or processed fur is that which describes the animal from which the skin was taken. All prior verbiage is descriptive of the processes and colors to which it has been subjected. Mr. O'HARA. Another one is the mink blended Russian marmot. What would that be? Mr. BENEDEK. It means the skin of a marmot, brought from Russia, which has been blended to resemble the color scheme or coloring and shading of a mink skin. Mr. O'HARA. I am reading the names as they are advertised in the paper itself. Mr. BENEDEK. Those names so described conform to the rules and regulations of the Commission. Mr. O'HARA. What would a mink blended Russian marmink be? Mr. BENEDEK. Precisely the same thing as a marmot, or a variant of a marmot skin, treated in the very same way that the other marmot skin is. Mr. O'HARA. But a marmot is not a mink, is it? Mr. BENEDEK. No; definitely not. Mr. O'HARA. What would a spotted leopard dyed lapin be? Mr. BENEDEK. Lapin is the French word that means rabbit. The skin in that case is the fur of a French rabbit which has been dyed and stenciled to resemble a leopard in coloring and in spotting. Mr. O'HARA. I thought we had another word that the industry treated for rabbit. Mr. BENEDEK. The word "coney" is a universal term describing Australian, New Zealand, and Tasmanian rabbit as distinguished from the word lapin which is the French word for rabbit. Mr. O'HARA. What would a beaver shade bon mouton be? Mr. BENEDEK. Bon mouton is the trade style that was registered and promulgated by a corporation for its special process on sheep and lamb skins processed into a fur, called mouton and then dyed the particular shade that is there indicated. Mr. O'HARA. What would a sable dyed Russian weasel be? Mr. BENEDEK. A weasel skin imported from Russia and dyed in the shade or color resembling that of the sable. Mr. O'HARA. The last two were from the Chicago Sun, advertisement of November 30, 1947. What would a gray assembled Russian Persian lamb be? Mr. BENEDEK. A Persian lamb coat made of the gray skin as distinguished from those which are dyed black and assembled out of Persian lamb pieces. Mr. O'HARA. At this point in the record I will insert the advertisements to which I have referred in these last questions. (The newspaper clippings are as follows) [Daily Sun and Times, Chicago Friday, February 13, 1948] HERE IT Is! FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY! THE GREAT SALE EVERYONE IN CHICAGO IS TALKING ABOUT! MOUTON LAMB Look! These fine quality coats! Actually they sell for $198. Now $100, plus Federal tax. Pay only $10 down, balance in easy monthly payments. Yes! Luxurious, nationally advertised famous make mouton lamb coats that regularly sell at $198 specially priced at only $100. Your unrestricted choice (pick them right off our racks) of the season's smartest blends. Compare for 74903-48- -10 yourself, their beautiful rich brown tones, their silkiness, their softness, qualities which are found only in high priced moutons. These are full, lavish coats, in new longer lengths. Never before values like these! Look! Compare! You can actually save from $64 to $200 on your fur coat. Choose from these and many others-Right from our racks. Was Now || 199 225 265 245 189 189 229 325 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 Balance in easy monthly Store Hours Friday and Saturday, 9 a. m. 7 West Madison Street; Corner of Madison and State; entire third floor. [Chicago Sun and Times, December 28, 1947] O. K. CHICAGO! Here are the greatest clearance values ever offered on fur coats. Save 50 percent and more. These sensational values at Feuer's, Chicago's largest exclusive furriers! Save! Every fur coat in our entire stock has been greatly reduced! Pay only 10 percent down; balance in easy monthly payments. Just pick them off our racks! Tremendous selection, new 1948 styles! See the hundreds of unadvertised fur values. 4,300 3, 300 Mink trimmed! Black-dyed assembled Persian lamb, regularly $350, now $197. Jet black, tightly curled pelts, lovely sheen. Cut long and full. Sable blended norther back muskrat, regularly $450, now $259. mink shades. In magnificent deep lush quality, flare backs, new collars, new balloon sleeves with cuffs. FEUER FUR Co. In sable and 7 W. Madison Street, Corner of Madison and State, entire third floor TAKE YOUR PICK. [Chicago Sun and Times, December 28, 1947] SHELDON OFFERS THESE LOVELY FUR COATS AT ONLY $111 (PLUS FEDERAL TAX) AND UP, WHILE THEY LAST Don't miss this rare opportunity to get the fur of your life at an undreamed of price! Values like these may never again be available at so low a price. No money down, 15 months to pay! Formerly Now Sable dyed mouton lamb.... Natural grey Persian lamb paw. Grey-dyed Chekiang lamb. Black-dyed Persian lamb.. Silver fox greatcoat_. Black- or brown-dyed fine broadtail. Blended back muskrat_ _ _ Silver mist dyed muskrat_ Black-dyed Persian lamb. Grey-dyed Bombay lamb. Sheared dyed nutria shade raccoon_ Black-dyed Persian lamb__ Let-out mink blended muskrat. Let-out silver-blended muskrat_ Hours: Daily, 9 to 6; Monday and Thursday, 9 to 9; open Sunday 11 to 5. OUT THEY GO! Jammed! Loaded! [Herald-American, Chicago, December 5, 1947] Here is the Greatest Clearance Sale in Our History. We're This is the chance in a lifetime to own a gorgeous fur coat you have always wanted at a price you can afford. Hurry . . . These Sensational Values won't last. 137 FUR COATS at one hundred and nine dollars, values to two hundred and forty-five dollars Grey dyed bombay lamb. $109 Grey Chekiang lamb.. $109 $109 Mink blended Russian marmink. $109 Silver fox blended raccoon__ Plus Many More Great Values at one hundred and nine dollars 153 FUR COATS at seventy-nine dollars, values to one hundred and sixty-nine Beaver blended mouton lamb. dollars Plus Many More Great Values at seventy-nine dollars $79 $79 Open Sunday 11:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m.; Monday and Thursday 9:00 a. m. to 9:00 p. m. Buy Now! No Money Down. 24 Months to Pay. Immediate delivery. Special Guarantee: Your money back if these sensational values can be duplicated anywhere in Chicago. FURRIERS INC. 202 South State Street, corner Adams, third floor The Busiest Place in Town [CHICAGO SUN AND TIMES, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1947] TAKE YOUR PICK! $111 WHILE THEY LAST! SHELDON OFFERS 152 MORE GREAT FUR VALUES! Don't miss this rare opportunity to get the fur of your dreams at an undreamed of price! Values like these may never again be available at so low a price. And you don't need cash! Pay nothing down and take your coat immediately! NO MONEY DOWN. 15 MONTHS TO PAY! THESE, PLUS MANY MORE: ONLY $111 (plus Federal excise tax): |