Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-28
u. S. BUSINESS MEN
MOVE T0REST0RE
RUSSIAN MARKETS
Chamber of Commerce to
Send Commission, Its Di-
reCtorS Decide.
Hy the Associated Press.

ATLANTIC CITY. y. J.. April IS
The board OF directors of the United
states Chamber Of Commerce toda.
authorized appointment of a commits
sion to proceed to Europe to investi.
gate the possibility Of resumption Of
trade relations between the United
States and the Russian people.
President Homer L. Ferguson was
directed to name the members Of the
commission. and given authority to
bring the project to a successful
termination" with the provision that
the commission should make its re
port TO the board Of directors.
The action was taken in an eXecu-
tive session Of the board after Presi-
dent Ferguson had presented cor
rcspondence with Allen Wardell. tenn
posed Of the heads of several manu-
featuring corporations. inviting the
boards cooperation in an effort to
determine conditions under which
trade with the Russian people might
be resumed.
The foreign commerce group of the
chamber previously had unanimously
adopted resolution proposing Amer
lean trade with Russia be resumed
and characterizing the soviet govern
ment as failing regime.
Subjects Discussed.
Discussion in the conventions gen
eral and group sessions today cen
tered about problems of transporta-
ton and production as bearing upon
the high cost of living, and organized
labor's attitude toward recent legisla-
ton.
George A. Post, chairman of the
chambers railroad committee. de-
clared I'VE have the right to expect
and insist that the railroad employees
will cooperate with their officers
and keep the wheels rolling, and not
paralyze commerce with quarrels
among themselves, which in effect is
strike against the public. whose
congress has established tribunal
for the fair. impartial adjudication OF
labor disputes.
"The attitude of organized labor to-
ward the railroad labor board is deep
ly to be deplored.' he said. 80 bitter
was their opposition that after the
passage of the transportation act pun
LEGATION was made by labor leaders
of their intention to mark for condign
punishment at the polls all senators
and representatives who voted lol
the measure.
"The national Chamber of Commerce
represents a large part of the pubic
and it seems entirely proper, indeed
imperative. that an appeal Should De
made to this body and to all those
whom YOU represent to see to it that
no representative or senator IS ue-
feated because of supporting this.
Every mothers son of the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States owes
it to himself, to his country and to the
target of organized wrath to see to II
that courageous, fair public service
shall have its reward in militant sup
port at our hands
Rail Equipment Shortage.
1.-The railroads today are short at
least 1000 locomotives, 100000 freight
cars and 5000 passenger cars, and, be-
cause of the high cost for borrowings
and the restricted money market, they
are not contracting for enough addi-
tional equipment to relieve the sltua-
ton"
John H. Pardee, president of the
American Electric Railway Associa-
ton, appealed to business men of the
country to help save the electric
lines from ruin
The plain truth" said he, lis that
their credit no longer exists and a
necessary public service is being
slowly, perhaps. but no less surely
destroyed"
What the electric railways ask, he
said. is that the laws, ordinances
or agreements which now contro
them be so readjusted as to make the
price at which their product is sole
dependent upon the. cost of produc.
ton, and not upon an arbitrary fixed
allowance"
Mr.. Pardee urged the increased use
of electric lines for short haul freight
and passenger business.
Daniel c. ROper's Address.
Delay in Transforming national OPP
erations and expenditures in the
United States to peace-tfme basis
sis chargeable solely to the failure OF
the Senate to confirm the peace treaty
and enable the President to put the
country on a constructive peace basis
and reorganize governmental opera
tions accordingly" Daniel c. Roper
former commissioner of internal rev.
enue. told the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States last night.
He attacked the excess profits law
as having "outlived it's usefulness
nations for the encouragement of flu
ture peace. we could be able with
greater propriety to extend the tax
burdens brought on by the war fur
Their into the future.
Other Speakers and Themes.
Joshua w Alexander. Secretary OF
Commerce. declared HIS department
was handicapped by insufficient funds
and some work of the bureau would
of necessity be abandoned or neglect
ed because of the shortage He re-
iterated he was not receiving proper
cooperation from the State Depart
ment. and said commercial attaches
should be taken from under contro1
Of the State Department and placed
under the Department Of Commerce
George T. Buckingham of Chicago
declared 1.-The first great outstanding
move in the tax program as viewed
by the business community is the OBJ
yious public necessity that the gov
eminent should cut down this three
billion peace-time annual budget as
much and as soon as possible.
Labor and the Railroads.
Discussion of labor's relation to CAPT.
tai began with the railroad group last
night, when speakers urged the neces-
sity of an organized effort to combat
the control it was alleged union labor
has assumed over operation of the rail-
roads.
H. Angel. banker and lumber dealer
and acting mayor of Roanoke. Va. de-
clared union labor now Is in control OF
the railroads. absolutely. and II We wait
a little while they will have strangle-
hold upon us from which we cannot ex-
tricate ourselves"
Labor mas mace IHe cHdINhSe ana
we should accept it, for this fight which
has been thrust upon us must be Tough,
out some time" he said. 1T may as
we'll be in 1920"
He asserted he was not antagonistic
to union labor. nor to workingmen. but
he was opposed to anything like the
dictatory Plumb plan. which aims to
first, paralyze the railroads and Their
throw them into government control
|,
road officials to wait upon the viii OF
every little clerk" and added:
1.-THE Chamber of Commerce should
make recommendation to both nationa