The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-06
BUSINESS LEADERS
ASK TRADE COURT
Chamber of Commerce Dele
gates Hear Suggestions for
REIMBURSEMENT Period.
WAGE BOARDS ARE URGED
II. L. Requa, ]. d. Rockefeller,
Jr., and J. A. Farrell Tell
Of Coming Tasks.
spscinl Despatch 70 Tnn shy.


Special Despatch 10 THE suS.
ATLANTIC CITY. Dec. 5.-Two striking
ideas stood out from the mass of sug-
gestions that came to-day from the
group conferences that preceded tho
formulation tomorrow OF a platform
to meet the industrial needs OF the
country, to be urged by the Chamber
OF Commerce of the United States as n
guide during the period of post bellum
readjustment and construction.
A high court Of commerce. on lines
parallel with the Supreme Court, to
limit, guide and counsel the domestic
and foreign trade policies of the coun-
try and to act for the Government In
Industrial matters, was suggested by
Mark l.. Requa, general director Of
the oil division of the Fuel Admins
tration.
Wage adjustment boards, inaugu-
rated by the industries and their en-
ployees, with equal representation for
both sides and with power to deter
mine the standards of wages. hours
and conditions, were advocated by
Henry Z. Kendall, chairman OF the in
dustrial relations of the chamber.
The leaders in the gathering that
holds 1000 Of the industrial chiefs of
the country stopped long enough dur
ing the day to hear Mr.. Requa speak,
to listen to John d. Rockefeller, Jr,
insist that capital and labor should be
partners. sharing alike in bodies
formed to decide matters relating to
their welfare and TO hear the reading
Of an address sent by James y. Far
rell, president of the United States
Steel Corporation, in which he opposed
any trade war on Germany after the
war, SO long as she conformed to the
principles of humanity.
Many Ideas Developed.
Scores of ideas were developed in
the group conferences for welding
into the general platform to be
adopted tomorrow. Among them
were:
A commission to be sent to France
to represent business men during the
session of the peace conference.
Modification of the Sherman anti
trust law.
Restoration of the grain trade to
the status II had before the war and
the removal of restrictions regarding
production and distribution, giving
dealers. shippers and millers the same
protection as producers.
Making Of n strong appeal for loos-
ening the hold the Government took
over business during the war.
A demand for a great merchant ma
rine.
Retention, through voluntary action,
Of some OF the regulations enforced
during the war to prevent waste in
production. incidentally the conserva-
ton of raw materials.
protective tariff on sugar TO pro-
tect the American beet sugar market
and make it Independent of foreign
crops.
Maintenance of n foreign trade COM
mission and the collective purchase OF
raw materials in foreign markets.
There were many other suggestions,
ranging from a demand for high
ways commission to the legalizing OF
trade mark resale prices and better
trade mark laws, but the outstanding
features were the high court of COM
mercc and tho labor adjustment boards
as advocated by Messrs. Requa and
Kendall.
Must Meet situation.
"FarsceinS business men," said Mr.
Kendall, will do we'll to speak in no
uncertain terms and declare the priu-
ciples on which they staEd. They must
b. able to meet the situation -quarcly
end with fun knowledge of the eco
romic law and the laws of society
Tic Labor Department has established
O system of public employment agen-
cics.
Il believe that this theory is just
a. sound for the fiexibiiIty OF labor as
the Federal Reserve Board Is for the
fiexibility of currency. These should
not be contaminated with a political
influence. The practice should be de-
centralized through local agencies
made up OF representatives of en-
ployers and employees, and the public
Should control such agencies"
lie called attention TO the social cur
rents in Russia, England, Germany
and in this country and said that
something must be done TO understand
and meet the social drift.
shall the only big organization
representative of business in this
country remain silent on this sub
Ject!' he asked. "Or shall 1t lead the
way and declare set of principles
about which business may rally and
which shah serve as a guide to the
Government in its action, as far as 1t
IS required, in addition to what the
business men of the community, in
conjunction with tho workers ac-
Complish by their means?"
at needs only review OF the activ-
tiles Of Government during the past
year and a half to demonstrate how
utterly inadequate existing laws have
heen In meeting even the simplest
problems said Mr.. Requa. Indus
try might not combine our railways,
but Government was forced 10 COM
b!ne them to give reasonable and adj
equatc service. Industry might not
Sit in conference and discuss trade
relations, practices and prices lest II
infringe upon the Sherman law, yet
Government promptly demanded CO.
operative action in order that industry
might efficiently discharge it's func-
TONS.
Al