New-York tribune., 1918-12-04

and to permit business men in groups
representing the various trades to
operate unitedly. but without tho right
to fix prices. His resolution suggested
that such groups be supervised by the
Federal Trade Commission or similar
body.
An equally outspokcn view was taken
by the members Of the War Service
Committee on building stone, whose
resolution was as follows:
THAT the conference of American
business, as called under the auspices
fthe Chamber of Comercc of the
United States declare for the outright
repeal of the Sherman Antitrust Act
and substitution for same of such CON
structive Legislation as will grant
American business the same privileges
respecting domestic trade as it al
ready enjoys as to foreign trade under
the Webb Act.
Railroad Rate Plan Opposed
That the conference of American
business as sailed under the auspices
OF the Chamber of Comercc Of the
United States, voice emphatic protest
against the proposal to inauguratc a
nation wide basis of railroad rates,
constructed on the theory that distance
Is the outstanding controlling factor
and that any scheme to disrupt rate
structures, which are the bulwark Of
commodity and locality relationships
be deferred until it is finally deter
mined whether private or public owner
snip OF railroads shall prevail.
hat the conference 90 on record
as opposed to government ownership
o! raliroads and requests that the in
dlVioual lines be returned to private
control as promptly as possible. but
spects particularly their corporate af
fairs. '''' q
THAT the conference Of American
business men insist on the immediate
eieaNon ;sn OF such tariff provisions as
VIZ guard all elements of industry
soiolers returning TO civil life. labor
IN general and employers during the
iecohstructlon period at least against
e.croachments from foreign sources.
which already are indicating they arc
gong to absorb American wealth,
To Keep Wages Up
+; '. Durham, representing the
Southern Pine Association and the ]nm-
Der industry generally, said that his
associates had set themselves on record
that there shall be no reduction in the
wage to labor until there is a CORE
spondlng reduction in the cost of liv-
ing Many of the lumbermen. too. he
SAID, believe that the so-called Webb
Pomercne law permitting business men
IN common line to associate them
selves Tor purposes Of export business
lght also be applied to domestic in
oustrles. Normally, he added, there
was exported previous to the war about
o,0oo, 100000 feet of lumber. They are
OF the opinion that with restrictions re-
moved and with increased shippinc
iacllltles this could be extended to af
least 6,000,O00,O00 feet.
A. Z. Bedford, chairman of the board
Of the Standard Oil Company Of New
Jersey and chairman of the National
Petroleum War Service Committee. in
an address to the petroleum interests.
prophesled labor shortage during the
reconstruction.
Foreigners Going Back
Il cannot altogether agree with that
portion Of President Wilson's message
which deals with the employment prob
iems,' ne said. ~ do not fear that we
shall have idleness through inability
TO provide sufficient employment, but
rather that We shall not have enough
labor. Statistics show large per
centage of foreign laborers in this
country are preparing to 60 to their
native countries. They have made big
wages during the war period and they
are going back to work out the recon
struction problems in their own coun-
tries. Commercial lines are booked I'D
for year. l doubt if this will be off
set by Europeans coming to this coun-
try"
In connection with the informal con-
ferences to-day Of the individual war
service committees, which were ap-
pointed during the war to cooperate
with the Council Of National Defence