Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-14
BUS|NEs Sc SHOWN
BELOW NORMAL IN
INDUSTRIAL PROBE
Digest of Replies to National
Manufacturers Question
naire Shows Volume Is Un-
der Fifty Per Cent,

New York. April 13,-Ohly five out
Of twenty-twoe principal industrial
groups throughout the country re-
ported a condition of general bust
ness prosperity in reply TO ques-
tionnaire sent 10 its 4400 members by
the national association of manutac-
ttirers. A digest of the replies, issued
today by the association showed that
sixteen out of -tfe twenty-five groups
into which its membership was u
yided reported business below my
per cent of normal pre-War condluohS'
The seventeenth, leather ana leather
manufacturers, reported trade about
equally divided between far ana
good.
In response to a request for sugges-
lions to hold general prosperity the
reolies enumerated a total of eleven
obstacles lying in the path of a re
turn to normal conditions. Michael
I Hickey, who prepared the digest
for the association, placed the eleven
in the following order of importance
estimated according to the relative
emphasis laid upon them by the asso-
citation members:
a. Delay in signing the treaty of
peace; t2) General high cost of labor
and material; go Sudden cessation
of war buying operations by the Unit
ed States and foreign governments
ca Hand to mouth buying by Jop-
bers; retailers and consumers await
ing expected price reductions; (3)
continued government control man
agement and operation of railroads,
etc; C6) Sudden imposition of heavy
war revenue tax burdens on indus
Try: (7) Labor unrest, agitation ana
Industrial strife; go High prices OF
wheat due to government guarantee;
90 Unemployment and poor distrl-
button of lahnr forces released from
val or military service; G0) Delay
in settlement by federal government
of claims for payment under formal
war contracts; on Partial shuttlnS
off of important European markets
due to import trade embargoes by
Great Britain, France and Italy.
The digest thus summarizes the
opinions of the association members
as to what Is needed to promote ma
tional prosperity and a return to nor
NAL business conditions:
"Stop war time extravaganza; re-
turn the railroads and the wires &c
the owners; modify taxes on indus
try let the government bear tn
losses on wheat-the foundation OF
food prices: abolish warperiod regu-
lating agencies: let increased produe-
ton Justify high wages: have the gov
eminent nav its war bills; inaugurate
public works: educate the pubic il
the elements Of economies
NJ Relief Soon.
The digest does not give n very np.
timistic outlook in respect to i'm
proved business conditions for thi:
wear. After remarFing that the pro
dnction of iron ard steel is untvers
ally REGARDED in business circles n
the most reliable Trade barometer. J
saws that the replies from this in
quirv show trade in a state of com
narrative lethargy and prospects 70
1919 not bright,
An overwhelming ncrcentago n
the members. ono hundred per con
in seven groups and above ninety
five ner cent in the remainder, de
clared themselves opposed tn an
form Of government ownership an
urged the return Of the railroads L
their private owners. Governmen
regulation was approved in EIGHT
pc, cent of tho total replies received
The labor problem was dealt with il
three questions:
"Do Won favor ~ Onpose n legal
constituted rational hoard for the ad
Indication of labor Disputes"
"Are vou in favor of legislation i'm
rosne legal responsibility on trad
uninns?"
"Do Won favor or oppose the repea
of the LaFollette seamen's act?'
The vote on the first question show
ed sixtv-four ner cent in favor of
national Adjudication board but sor
important qualifications were made
The DIGEST declares that the comment
showed general dissatisfa ction wit
the present national war labor boar
on the ground that It has conceae
too mrch to the labor side. tn
greatest unanimity shown on an
question was in regard to the placin
of statutory responsibility on trad
unions for their contacts and tn
acts of their agents. Less than one
half of one per cent of the replie
were negative.
Tho opposition to the repeal of tn
LaFnllettp sesmen's law was also Yer
small, being less than ~ per cent.