Salt Lake Telegram | 1937-08-20 | Page 13 | G-Men Inspect Utah Auto Laws

G-MEII INSPECT UTAH AUTO LAWS Car Sale Financing Is Studied by FBI Minor mystery developed at the eapltol Friday when the federal department de-partment of justice revealed an Interest In-terest In a 1838 law affecting automobile auto-mobile sales financing. Robert H. Jackson, assistant attorney at-torney general, from Washington, D. C, wrote to J. Waldo Parry, clerk of the bouse of representatives, representa-tives, asking for data and records concerning introduction, discussion and paaaage ef bouse bill 23a While before the house banking committee, commit-tee, the bill had been altered in three sections to meet evils that bad grown up In connection with automobile auto-mobile financing. One section waa altered te prohibit pro-hibit restrictive agreements that would force financing through certain cer-tain channels. Another termed as Illegal any threats by manufacturers, manufactur-ers, or finance companies allied with manufacturers, to stop deliveries deliv-eries to retailers. A third prohibits giving of "wrongful gratuities." Mr. Jackson's letter asksd for data as to witnesses during commit- tee hearings on the bill and whetner records of testimony would be available avail-able for federal inspection. Mr. Parry forwarded the information informa-tion to Mr. Jackson, noting the bill had been-enacted March 14, IMS. the last day of the legislative session. ses-sion. It had been introduced by then Representative Lyie B. Nicholas, Nich-olas, and went before the house banking and senate sifting committees. commit-tees. Ths banking committee, beaded bead-ed by Dr. E. K. Monson. now secretary sec-retary of state, reported the measure mea-sure without recommendation. Officials at the capitol were unable un-able to guess ths motive behind the justice department's Inquiry, but suspected that antitrust prosecutions prosecu-tions were contemplated.