The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-22
FOR FEDERAL
PRICE FIXING
II
The War Convention Favors
a Purchasing De-
partment
SHOULD ALSO
DISTRIBUTE OUTPUT
The Attitude of Workers Is
the One Chief Bug
bear

Atlantic City, N. j., Sept. 22.--Govern
ment price fixing of all essential prod
ucts, not only in sales to the government
mended in resolutions adopted yesterday
at the closing session of the war con-
vention of American business men. The
convention advocated legislative creation
of general government purchasing de-
partment, which, in addition TO fixing
prices, would have power to distribute
the output of industries in manner
most necessary to the conduct of the
war.
ut is the spirit of American business, +"
said the resolutions, that however
fundamental may be the change in the
relation of government business, the gov
eminent should have the power during
the period of the war TO control prices
and the determination of production for
public and private needs to whatever ex-
tent may be necessary for our great ma
tional purpose"
The purchasing department proposed
would absorb the present war industries
board and the functions of the director
of priority. The present power of the
government to control priority of ship
ment would be extended to include au-
thority t. direct priority of manufacture,
sale and distribution. All buying now
done by various bureaus of the war and
navy departments would be conferred in
the new board.
The convention recommended assisting
the government in making purchases and
the formation of general committee of
industry, representing all branches of
business, which would aid the purchasing
department in apportioning orders. This
committee would handle much of the |
work now done by committees of the |
council of defense
The attitude of business toward labor |
was defined In resolutions recommending |
that labor standards remain unchanged, |
and that labor adjustment board be
named to handle all major disputes. The
declaration was made for industry that
it indorse a policy of no lockouts or
strikes while differences were before the
board, and labor was urged to take a
similar stand.
A general declaration of the policy
business will pursue toward the govern
menu uhh iOa wal httuS set IoI III lldIs
'undismayed at the prospect of great
taxes, facing the consumption of accu-
mulated savings, America without hest
tation pledges to the government its full
and unqualified support in prosecution of
The war until Prussianism is utterly de-
stroyed, This convention will dedicate {
TO the nation every facility it has devel-
oped and every financial resource at it's
command on such terms and under such !
conditions as our government shall de-
,ermine to be just"
Other resolutions approved the govern
nent's policy in giving financial aid to {
Russia, and pledging the support of re-
all merchants to the efforts to bring !,
bout economies in retail trade; Endorsed 9
he proposal by the board of directors of
he Chamber of Commerce of the United 0
states TO send a commission abroad to y
tudy commercial conditions; advocated !.
plan for the payment of taxes in quar- Il
erly installments; urged industries to
all war meetings of their members $
rged suspension of laws preventing for 2
ign ships to engage in coastwise trade; '"
rged government action to keep the :,
american dollar on parity with ex- =
hange throughout the world; urged .
usiness to give full support to the next y
liberty loan, and advocated an imme- ~
late increase in the number of Amer ~ =,
an merchant ships. "