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THE FEDERAL TRADE

COMMISSION

CHAPTER I.

NATURE OF THE COMMISSION.

§1. Organization of Commission: The Federal Trade Commission1 consists of five Commissioners, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The first Commissioners2 appointed are to continue in office for three, four, five, six, and seven years respectively, from and after the taking effect of the Trade Law on September 26, 1914, but their successors are to be appointed for terms of seven years, except that a person appointed to fill a vacancy is to be appointed only for the unexpired term of the Commissioner whom he succeeds. The salary of a Commissioner is $10,000 a year. None of the Commissioners may engage in any other business, vocation, or employment, and not more than three of the Commission

1Created by the Trade Law, entitled "An Act to create a Federal Trade Commission, to define its powers and duties, and for other purposes" (H. R. 15613; Pub. No. 203; 63d Congress) in force September 26, 1914. Printed in full in appendix. For organization of Commission, see Trade Law, Secs. 1-3.

2The first Commissioners appointed were Joseph E. Davies, Edward N. Hurley, William J.

Harris, Will H. Parry, who are to serve, respectively, for seven, six, five and four years from September 26, 1914, and George Rublee (a recess appointee), who is to serve at all events during the pleasure of the President, and until the end of the session of the Senate next after March 6, 1915, and thereafter, if confirmed, until September 26, 1917.

ers may be members of the same political party. Any Commissioner may be removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, and in case of a vacancy in the Commission, the remaining Commissioners may exercise all of the Commission's powers. The principal office of the Commission is at Washington, D. C., but it may meet and exercise all of its powers at any other place, and may, by one or more of its members, or by such examiners as it may designate, prosecute any inquiry necessary to its duties in any part of the United States.

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The Commission has a chairman chosen by it from its own membership, and a secretary appointed by it. It has an official seal, of which courts are required to take judicial notice. It may employ and fix the compensation of such attorneys, special experts, examiners, clerks, and other employees as it may from time to time find necessary for the proper performance of its duties, and as may be appropriated for by Congress. Other departments and bureaus of the government are required to detail to the Commission from time to time such of their officials and employees as the President may direct. Upon the organization of the Commission, and the election of its chairman, all the clerks, employees, records, papers, and property of the Bureau of Corporations were transferred to the Commission, and the Bureau of Corporations, and the offices of Commissioner and Deputy

3Three Commissioners constitute a quorum. See Rules of Practice, No. I, in appendix.

4 All communications to the Commission shall be addressed to Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D. C., unless otherwise specifically directed. See Rules of Practice, No. XI, in appendix.

As to sessions of the Commission, see Rules of Practice, No. I, in appendix.

5Commissioner Joseph E. Davies is Chairman. At the time of his appointment to the Trade Commission he was Commissioner of Corporations. See Sec. 2, infra.

Leonidas L. Bracken is Secretary.

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