New Britain herald., 1917-10-18
GIVES INTERESTING
 TALK CONCERNING WAR
President Jones Says Every. one Has Got to Help
 to Win

Hartford, Oct 18.-A plea for earnest cooperation to win the war
 and praise for the work of the State Council of Defense are contained in
 the report of Edward P. Jones, of Winsted, president of the Connecticut
 Chamber of Commerce at the annual
 meeting of that organization here today. Referring to the war situation
 he said that military autocracy is
 battling with the principles of de-
 mocracy, that the world is turning a critical corner and that the help of
 every man and every organization is need.
 'It rests with every man present." he said, "and every member at home
 to produce all he can, conserve all he
 can, to give all he can, to sacrifice if
 need be, and as the time goes on to
 help allay the dissatisfaction which
 may be caused by the higher prices for the necessities of life, discontent
 with living conditions and criticism
 of the government and government
 officials because of failures which could not be avoided. Every man
 must have a cheerful optimistic view | that out of this awful cataclysm there
 shall come a time of peace and se-
 curity such as this world has never l known before."
 President Jones said it had been ex- pected that there would be work of great importance in connection With | the war for the chamber to take up, but the Connecticut Council of De- fense composed of a main committee l and it's auxiliaries, numbering about l 15O men have been so efficient that | there has been no call for such serv- | fee. Your president" he continued, l having been a member of one of the l sub- committees knows what a serv-
 ice has been performed by those who l have carried the burden. We are | fortunate to have had such a gover
 nor as His Excellency, Marcus HI. Holcomb, and to have lived in state
 having Council of Defense and
 Home Guard of 13S companies" | Commenting on the report of the
 chambers committee on taxation. i headed by the treasurer, R. Lamotte
 Russell, President Jones said that it
 shows conclusively that the present
 taxes are neither equal nor just, and
 that the ability to pay does not con- | stitute the basis for taxation" 1 He expressed the hope that before
 another legislature convenes the
 chamber would take up the study of the report and "be ready to approve such changes as shall seem desirable
 in our present tax laws" He con-
 tinued:
 l 1T would especially recommend a
 state board of assessors or bureau 1 of appraisers acting under the tax | commissioner who could be called
 upon by the assessors of any town 1 or by the person, firm or corporation ! whose property is valued for taxa
 tion."
 l recommendation was also made
 that the chamber adopt a bylaw
 which would allow the organization l to receive individual memb bers at from s10 to $1O0 year. following the ex- l ample set by the national chamber | which found that the dues it could
 collect from organization members
 were not sufficient for it's needs, and 1 decided to admit individual members who pay from $25 to $100 a year with no voice or vote but who are l glad to help financially The finan- 1 cial link, MT. Jones said, is the weak est part of the state chambers chain, | and while by strict economy running 1 expenses are met, the funds of the l organization are not sufficient flor | real constructive work along broad l lines" During the year the Bridgeport i chamber of commerce affiliated with l the state organization and the New | Haven chamber, whoso connection
 had been through it's business mems department, came into full memb ber- ] ship.