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.

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 questlon-of particular
importance to consumers, producers.
land operators-is submitted through
iareferendum sent By the Chamber OF
Commerce OF the United States, or
which the Clarksburg Board Of Trade
is an affiliated member. In the can
vass now being made upwards or
eight hundred local and national
commercial bodies will be heard from.
The vote will represent every state
In the Union, our insular possessions.
and the American chambers OF com
merce in the principal cities abroad.
Source OF Raw Material.
AS explained by Elliott H Good
Board Of Trade is asked to vote for.
Tor against the report Of a special
committee of the antlonal 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-i
dation is limited to timber, the ores,
and deposits OF useful metals, and or
minerals which arc Il source Of heat,
light and power.
1t is argued that there has long
been need for n definite national poI-
icy for the utilization and conserva-
tion Of the natural resources to which
,p0s4% -,
materials or fuel. Accordingly,
which would make it possible for the
federal trade commission to go be-
yond Its present powers OF investiga-
tion and to formulate constructive
plans under which an industry may
operate to the common benehtof con
sumers. workmen and producers.
Public Interest First.
The committee endeavors to show
how the public interest may be safe
guarded and promoted. AS things
stand today, it is said, 1t is being left
to take care of itself. There is q
strong argument for the prevention
of waste. Statistics are presented
which show an appalling loss. Only
about thirty five per cent Of the total.
volume OF lurn Der as it stands in4the
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 ~ plea for Increased safe
ty for workmen. Over 4 700 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, II 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 seventeenth referendum
sent by the national cham Der with
the purpose Of ascertafning for the
benefit of Congress and the president
business opinion prevailing through
out the country on topics of national
and imemdiate Importance. Follow
ing the invariable rule the referen-
dunn contains arguments for and
the recommendation SO that
organizations may be fully informed
before finally casting theirSvotes. The
bal1ottng closes Friday, January H..
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