The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-19
TRADE BOARD
IS ASKED TO
TAKE A VOTE
BY National Chamber Of Com
merce on Natural Resources
Combination Question.

is
The Clarksburg Board OF Trade
has been asked to express itself as to
whether or not combinations to con-
serve natural resources shall be per
mitted The questioned particular
importance TO consumers, producers.
and operntors-is submitted through
a referendum sent by the Chamber of
Commerce OF the United States. OF
which the Clarksburg Board OF Trade
lis an affiliated member. In the can
yass now being made upwards of
eight hundred local and national
commercial bodies VIII be heard from.
The vote will represent every state
in the Union, our insular possessions.
and the American chambers or com
merce in the principal cities abroad.
Source OF Raw Material
AS explained by Elliott II. Good
win, Its secretary, the Clarksburg
Board Of Trade is asked to vote for
or against the report of special
committee OF the anttonal chamber
which recommends that there shall
be remedial legislation to permit Co
operative agreements under federal
supervision in those industries which
involve primary natural resources
on condition that the agreements In
fact tend to conserve the resources,
to lessen accidents, and to promote
the public interest. The recommen-
dation is limited to timber, the ores,
and deposits OF useful metals, and OF
minerals which are a source OF heat,
light and power.
It Is argued that there has long
been need for a definite national pol
toy n
ton Of the natural resources to which
manufacturers must look for raw
materials or fuel. Accordingly. a.
plan Is advanced by the committee
which would make it possible for the
federal trade commission to go be-
You'd its present powers Of inyestIga-
ton and to formulate constructive
plans under which an Industry may
operate to the common benefit OF con-
sumers. workmen and producers.
Public Interest First.
VI The committee endeavors to show
how the public interest may be safe
guarded and promoted. AS things
stand today, 1t is said, it is being left
to take care of itself. There Is a
strong argument for the prevention
of waste. Statistics are presented,
which show an appalling loss Only
about thirty -fve per cent of the total
volume Of lumber as it stands in the
forest now reaches the consumer.
Millions of barrels OF oil are lost.
Something like forty per cent OF the
coal in the seam Is not utilized.
Fatalities Due to Industrial Accidents
There is a plea for Increased safe
ty for workmen. Over 1000 deaths
occur IN the metal mining, coal min
ing, and lumber industries each year.
In the three industries In question
between three and four men at an.
average in every thousand were killed
in 1913. In other words. Il man
remained IN such an industry twenty
years his chances for being killed
during the period would be almost
one in ten.
Both Sides OF Question Presented.
This is the sevente referendum
sent by the national chamber with
the purpose Of ascertaining for the.
benefit of Congress and the presto lent
business opinion prevailing through
out the country on topics OF national
and imemdfate Importance. Follow
ing the inyariabfe rule the referen-
dun contains arguments for and
against the recommendation so that
organiz cations may be fully Informed.
before finally casting their votes. The
balloting closes Friday. January 10.
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