which is prohibited from appearing on labels. The mandatory information is intended to apprise the consumer of the identity and quality of the products. Other information appearing on labels must not be false, misleading, obscene, or indecent, and the use of unenforceable guaranties, therapeutic claims, scientific analyses, and other information tending to mislead the consumer is banned. The labeling regulations make mandatory the inclusion on the labels for wine of the brand name; class and type; designation of the product, in conformity with the standards of identity; name and address of the responsible firm such as the manufacturer, bottler, or importer; the alcoholic content; and net contents of container. Standards of identity for the several classes and types of wine have been established for still grape wine; sparkling grape wine; carbonated grape wine; citrus wine; fruit wine; vermouth; and imitation, concentrate, and substandard wine. The advertising regulations are patterned on the labeling regulations paralleling in many respects the requirements or prohibitions of the latter. Regulations dealing with distilled spirits and malt beverages are similar to the regulations for wine, except that in the case of distilled spirits standards of fill of container are prescribed, which have the effect of requiring the use of bottles of prescribed sizes, which are not of such shape or design as to mislead the consumer as to contents. Enforcement. In order to prevent the shipment in interstate commerce of misbranded products, all bottlers and importers of distilled spirits and wines, and to a limited extent bottlers of malt beverages, are required to obtain from the Administration certificates of label approval covering alcoholic beverages intended to be withdrawn from customs custody or bottled for interstate shipment. The act, however, also provides that, where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Administrator that a product will be distributed within a single State, it shall be exempted from the necessity of label approval. Twenty-two States have adopted, in whole or in part, the Administration's labeling regulations as State requirements applicable to intrastate transactions. From December 16, 1938, to December 15, 1939, 93,656 applications for label approval certificates and certificates of exemption from label approval were acted upon. Of this number, 79,253 certificates of label approval were issued, 5,117 certificates of exemption were granted, and 2,286 applications for label approval were disapproved. Some 5,028 applications were returned because of incomplete filing. Government officials have supervision over all customhouses, and are on duty at all distilled spirits distilleries and bottling plants to prevent the removal of the merchandise from the plants unless the importer or the bottler, as the case may be, is in possession of the required certificates of label approval. Most of the complaints with respect to misbranding are received by the Administration from industry members and State alcoholic beverage control board officials. After appropriate investigation, cases involving violations of the law or regulations are disposed of through the institution of proceedings for the suspension of permits, the acceptance of offers in compromise, the reference of the case to the Attorney General for prosecution, or the transmission of the file to State alcoholic control board officials for appropriate action under State laws. During the past year, permits were suspended in 8 cases involving labeling violations, 1 case was referred to the Attorney General for prosecution, and 15 cases were settled by offers in compromise. In addition, many minor and technical violations of the labeling regulations were corrected by correspondence with offenders, informing them of the requirements of the regulations and suggesting the immediate discontinuance of irregular practices. As part of the enforcement program, the Administration employs specialists who examine advertisements of liquor firms in all of the major periodicals and newspapers carrying liquor advertising. Spot checks of advertising in smaller newspapers are made with the assistance of the Press Intelligence Division of the Office of Government Reports. In addition, reports of improper advertising in media of a more local nature are submitted by competitors, trade associations, and by members of the Administration's field staff. An official is assigned to check billboard and point-of-sale advertising. Examinations of approximately 75,000 advertisements are made annually. FEDERAL LOAN AGENCY FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION The objective of the program of the Federal Housing Administration, as defined in the National Housing Act, is "to encourage improvement in housing standards and conditions, to create a sound mortgage market, and to provide a system of mutual mortgage insurance." From the standpoint of housing values, the development by the Federal Housing Administration of a national system of minimum property standards and construction requirements has been responsible for a marked improvement in the quality of the construction and planning of new homes, particularly in the lower-price brackets. Consequently, new home buyers under the Federal Housing Administration plan have secured sounder investments and more livable dwellings than were generally available for the same amounts of money under previous conditions. Standards and Minimum Requirements for Individual Houses and Properties. The interests of the home buyer and of the Federal Housing Administration are jointly served by the physical standards and requirements, developed by the Technical Division, for the properties securing insured mortgages. The procedure used in developing these standards is shown in chart VII. These standards are based on the minimum requirements considered necessary for a well-built dwelling which will be resistant to the elements and to normal use, and which will provide convenient, livable housing. These standards are especially intended to foster those elements which retard deterioration and decay, promote safety, safeguard health, and secure an efficient utilization of space. Many Federal Housing Administration requirements are designed as safeguards against common faults and errors in building which result in accelerated deterioration of the structure, unsanitary conditions, and the premature development of value-destroying influences. These requirements, however, afford wide limits within which houses may be built to suit individual tastes if the location is planned to provide adequate light and air for these houses and their neighboring dwellings, as well as space for access to a garage, and an acceptable location with respect to street lines and adjacent houses. Requirements of this nature are of benefit to individual properties as well as to the neighborhood and community as a whole. House plans of fixed design are not mandatory. Most plans may be used which meet minimum requirements as to room areas, closet 97 and storage space, and standards of privacy, and which avoid uneconomical use of space. The construction of houses planned and designed on a highly individualistic basis is discouraged, however, since such dwellings are generally limited in their appeal and may prove difficult to market if resale becomes necessary. On the other hand, departures from conventional plans and exterior designs are not discouraged if these departures are considered to have a broad appeal. In particular, the development of regional types of design which recognize climatic conditions as well as local tradition is encouraged. The minimum construction requirements likewise do not restrict home owners and builders in their choice of suitable building materials or methods of construction. Any material or method normally used for building may be employed. Once the selection has been made, however, the Federal Housing Administration ascertains compliance with its minimum standards to assure the proper use of materials or methods so as to retard deterioration and functional obsolescence. When the proposed construction methods depart from the generally accepted practice proven by many years of experience, the Technical Division reviews them as individual systems and rules on their acceptability. The public thus receives the benefits of any improvements in construction or cost reductions which may be provided by new methods but is safeguarded against methods which may be structurally or otherwise unsound. Each insuring office of the Federal Housing Administration uses minimum requirements, which have been adapted from a set of master requirements, to meet local conditions and customs. The master requirements consist of general minimum requirements applicable to any average locality. The requirements for individual districts are adjusted upward or downward to conform with local conditions, and may also include minor variations based on local custom or practice. These adjustments from the master requirements involve practical considerations such as the depth necessary to place foundations below the frost line; bracing to resist unusual stresses in localities subject to earthquakes; greater structural strength of roof members in regions subject to heavy snowfall; allowance for types of construction in southern areas which would not be feasible in the north; more stringent requirements for the waterproofing of basements in areas where water conditions are severe; and protection against termites in areas. where termite infestation is prevalent. In some instances, variations in requirements show recognition that a desired objective in construction often may be attained in one of several ways and that local custom and practice, when satisfactory, should not be disturbed by requiring a different procedure without improvement in the ultimate result. In preparing and revising the minimum construction requirements, the Technical Division uses standards established by such organizations or agencies as the American Standards Association; the American Society for Testing Materials; the National Bureau of Standards; the American Institute of Steel Construction; the United States Forest Products Laboratory; the Federal Specifications Executive Committee; and others. Many of these standards are based on long years of research, and experience in the laboratory and in practical construction. Where recognized standards and recommendations are not |