Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-13
WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD
LACKS NECESSARY POWER
Expected to Develop Need for De-
partmcnt of Government With
Real Authority.
LIKELY TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH
Chamber Of Commerce of United
States, in Bulletin, Urges All Bust
ness Men to Cooperate With
Newly Organized Body.

W "A S H I n G T IN. August 1.-THE
Chamber OF Commerce of the United
States. in a bulletin issued to-day. seeks
TO make clear TO the American bust
ness men what may be reasonably cx-
pectcd from the newly appointed War
Industries Board. The officials of the
chamber believe the board Will accom-
plish much valuable work. and IL urges
all business men to cooperate with It.
Under the most favora BILE conditions
the War Industries Board must ncces-
sarily labor under great difficulties"
tho statement Of the Chamber Of Com
merce says. Not being an official de-
par,ment Of the government engaged in
procuring war supplies. the board Will
not have problems presented as they
arise. but only as they are referred or
may he known after they have de-
vcloped. in Its deliberations on these
problems the board must rely upon in
formation compiled and furnished by
STATS Of employees acting under indie
pendent supervision and control. When
the board reaches decisions. II will
have orly indirect means OF putting
these decisions into effect.
f'UopLEM OF PRICES
UNDER CONSIDERATION
'Nevertheiess. the board will un-
doubtcdly accomplish great deal. Tho
problem OF y general basis OF prices on
war materials and supplies for the gov
eminent and for the allies is already
under consideration, and a satisfac-
tory conclusion may BE- anticipated.
Ais, regarding priorities on govern
ment contracts. the board may be ex-
pccted at an early date to bring about
Improvement In conditions as they may
CT M vi to
wise offered for an arrangement with
the allies so tina, their requirements
in this country may be determined and
contracts let.
1T is difficult however. to see how
the War Industries Board. with its
present function. can bring about such
concentration OF effort in :ouyinS as
exists in the English Ministry OF NUM-
lions. or how. without delay and lost
motion, the industries of the country
can be brought to an output of ma
terials and supplies to meet the war
needs of our government and the allies.
Furthermore. the board is faced with
extreme difficulties in the effort it Will
make to bring about fair prices to the
public, or to formulate a general plan
OF priorities or adjust private business
TO tho extraordinary conditions of this
great industrial war
More and more II becomes evident
that here, as in other countries at war.
the normal business life is so dis
rupted by the war that concerted ac-
tion is necessary to prevent a break
down in the distribution of the coun-
try's output. Continued reliance upon
uncontrolled prices as the basis of dis
tributibn in war is producing harmful
r6 ri
action that will avoid such results the
War Industries Board must receive a
hearty welcome. This board will ac-
complish much and will develop the
need for board or department with
powcr-not power which comes from
friendly cooperation, but the real
power which compels action and can
be judged by results.
The board will act as a clearing
house for the war industry needs of
the government, determine the most
effective ways of meeting them and
the best means and methods of in
creasing production. including the crea-
ton or extension Of industries de-
manded by tho emergency the Sc
quence and relative urgency or the
needs Of the different government SER
vices. and consider price factors. and.
in the first instance. tile industrial and
labor aspect of problems involved, and
the general questions affecting the pur-