The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-03
BOARD OF TRADE
IS ASKED TO VOTE
Opinions of Members Desired as to Per
hitting Combinations to Conserve
Natural Resources.

The Brattleboro board of trade has
been asked to express itself as &c
whether or not combinations to conserve
natural resources shall be permitted
The questioned particular importance
to consumers, producers and operators
is submitted through referendum
sent by the chamber of commerce of the
United States, of which the BrattleborC
board of trade is an affiliated member
In the canvass now being made upwards
Of 500 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 commerce in the principal
cities abroad.
AS explained by its secretary, the
Brattlcboro board of trade is asked ia
vote for or against the report of a
special committee of the national cham.
Der which recommends that there shall
be remedial legislation TO permit co.
operative agreements under federal SUI.
pervision III those industries which in
volve primary natural resources on
condition that the agreements in fact
tend TO conserve the resources, to lessen
accidents, and to promote the public in
terest. The recommendation is limited
to timber, the ores, and deposits of use
full metals, and of minerals which are
a source OF heat, light and power.
IL is argued that there has long been
need for definite national policy for
the utilization and conservation of the
natural resources to which manufactur-
crs must look for raw materials or fuel.
Accordingly, plan is advanced by the
committee which would make il possible
for the federal trade commission to 90
beyond its present. powers of investiga-
ton and to formulate Constructive plans
under which an industry may operate
TO the common benefit of consumers,
workmen and producers.
The committee cndeavors to show
how the public interest may be safe
guarded and promoted As things stand
today, il is said, il is being left to take
care of itself. There is a strong argu-
ment for the prevention Of waste. sta
tisties are presented which show an ap.
palling loss. Only about 81 per cent of
the total volume of lumber as II stands
in the forest now reaches the consumer.
Millions OF barrels of oil are lost.
something like 10 per cent of the coal
in the seam is not utilized.
There is plea for increased safety
for workmen. Over 1000 deaths occur
in the metal mining, coal mining, 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 1918. In
other words, if a man remained in such
an industry for 90 years his chances for
being killed during the period would
be almost one in 10.
This is the 18th referendum sent bv
the National Chamber with the purpose
Of ascertaining for the benefit OF con
9ress and the President, business opinion
prevailing throughout the country on
topics OF national and immediate inn
portance. Following the 'invariable rule
the referendum contains arguments for
and against the recommendation so that
organizations may be fully informed
before finally casting their votes. The
balloting closes Friday, Jan. -, and
any member Of the local board of trade
who has an opinion on the subject is
asked to communicate with Secretary
Hopkins before that time.