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ceptively shaped packages, involves the use
of various containers of shapes, sizes, and
dimensional proportions which give an ex-
aggerated impression of the quantity
within. This is common in potato chip pack-
aging for example.
Further, plastic jars of hair pomade
often look as if they would hold two ounces
but, because of hollow sides and a hollow
bottom, actually hold only one ounce.
Another phase of this problem is the
practice of letting air occupy a significant
part of the container. This prevalent prac-
tice is known as "slack fill" or "slack". Non-
functional air space creates the appearance
of more bulk than actually exists, and the
consumer pays product prices for nothing
but air. The detergent industry engages in
this practice.
A final phase of this particular problem
is the "cents off" promotion. "Cents off"
labels do not provide the meaningful price
information they propose to and, in fact,
are not price guides at all. Rather, they
serve merely as promotional devices de-
signed to make the buyer believe he is being
offered a bargain, when, actually, bargains
cannot be determined without price com-
parisons. One product might trumpet "6
cents off the regular price." What is the
"regular price" for such a product is not
clear or really deterrninable at all.
Another problem which stymies the con-
sumer-shopper is the lack of uniform, rea-
sonable, appropriate weight standards to
facilitate comparative shopping: Which is
the better buy — two 6% ounce cans of tuna
fish for 63 cents, or one 91A can for forty-
three cents?
There are seventy-one quantities of po-
tato chips under three and a half pounds.
How would one make a price comparison
without a slide rule?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Finch, the
Chair does not like to interrupt you. We
are not under debate schedule, and under
the rules you have, if you choose to take it,
15 minutes to speak.
The Chair suggests to you, however, that
you have already lost the attention of the
Committee of the Whole, and you would
gain your point much better by bringing
your remarks to a speedy conclusion.
DELEGATE FINCH: The above recom-
mendation concerned consumer goods but it
is not confined to goods — it relates to dis-
closure of factors surrounding credit trans-
actions and the purchase of services. These
areas are equally vital, even though they
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are not as prone to advertising mediums as
are consumer goods. Requiring disclosure
in these areas to protect the purchaser does
not violate any methods of competition as
might be claimed in the highly competitive
consumer market ; it merely makes honesty
a reality and gives the average man a de-
cent opportunity to secure a fair deal when
he seeks a loan or purchases a service.
The above, then, are but some of the
problems facing the consumer-shopper. This
recommendation merely endorses the idea
that the State should act to protect the
consumer and require full and meaningful
disclosure to accomplish this end. Such an
endorsement, written into the new consti-
tution, will serve the public interest by, in
effect, endorsing the enforcement of honesty
and endorsing the protection of the con-
sumer with respect to the goods he buys.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for
the question?
(Call for the question.)
The question arises on the approval of
Committee Recommendation GP-4. A vote
Aye is a vote in favor of the Committee
Recommendation. A vote No is a vote
against. Please ring the quorum bell.
Cast your vote.
Has every delegate voted? Does any dele-
gate desire to change his vote?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
There being 69 votes in the affirma-
tive and 60 in the negative, the motion
carries. Committee Recommendation GP-4
is adopted..
The next item on the calendar is Com-
mittee Report EB-1. This is not Committee
Recommendation EB-1, but Committee Re-
port EB-1.
We will proceed under Debate Schedule
No. 5.
The Chair calls on Delegate Morgan to
present the Committee Report.
DELEGATE MORGAN: Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Morgan.
DELEGATE MORGAN: Ladies and gen-
tlemen of the Committee of the Whole: The
Committee on the Executive Branch has
the honor to submit its recommendation as
to what should, and what should not be
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