Evening star., 1921-04-27
REVISION Of TARIFF
PLEABEFOREC. OF c.
Foreign Trade and Immigra-
tion Are Also Taken Up
at Convention.
STRIKE LOSS DISCUSSED
Export Commerce Declared Cut
Nearly in Half During Five
Month Period.
STRIKE LOSS DISCUSSED
Fy the Associated Press.


ATLANTIC CITY. " j.. April 81
Revision of the tariff laws foreign
trade. the nations immigrant and
housing problems and remedial meas
ures for the industrial situation were
subjects of discussion today at the
opening of the ninth annual conven-
tion of the United States Chamber
OF Commerce. More than 1000 dele
gates We're in attendance
Joseph II. DefreeS. president of the
chamber, aid cooperation of all sin
. cere Americans should be effected in
Norder to bring about return to
formalcy in social and industrial
conditions, Declaring strikes and
iockouts had resulted in great eco
nonlc losses, he recommended the
establishment of impartial tribunals
not of legal origin-hefore which
proper disposition of labor disputes
might be- made.
Urges LonE-Term Credits.
John McHugh. bank official and
Chairman of the organization COM
mittee II the Foreign Trade Financ-
ing Corporation. declared organiza-
ton Of facilities for extending long
term credits to foreign buyers is
necessary 70 solution OF the present
situation. which. he said. is reflected
by the increasing paralysis of for
fisn trade.
>"Within a period of five months our
export trade has been cut nearly in
half" he added. The country's over
sea trade has fallen so far that last
week there were 65a steamers and
sailing vessels berthed in the port of
New York. - of which had no
charters. The United States Ship
ping Board has now more than $50
steel vessels idle, aggregating $780,
900 tons deadweight. Ships leaving
New York for Europe are going out
with only 80 per cent of their cargo
capacity employed"
Aerial Code Advocated.
Among resolutions to be placed
before the assembly was one from
,.the National Aircraft Underwriters
Association. asking the chamber to
urge Congress TO prepare and enact
( legislation embodylng an aerial code
and providing the necessary MIA
chinery for its enforcement
The Kansas City chambers board
of directors recommended that re-
vision OF the antitrust laws be urged
In Congress.
Resolutions calling upon Congress
to take steps for advancement of for
eign trade and the American mer-
chant marine. and development of
American ports, were introduced by
the Cincinnati Chamber of Com
merce.
Repeal of all excise taxes and sub
stitution of an equitable sales tax
was urged by the National jewelers.
Board of Trade. The Chicago associa-
tion of commerce suggested a court
of tax appeals to be provided for by
congress and appointed by the Presi-
dent.
Groups Meet in Hotel.
After adjournment of the opening
session of the convention meetings of
the various groups represented were
called in the hotel auditorium
a government subsidy large enough
TO amortize the greater cost of ship
building and operation was suggested
|as practical method of building up
foreign trade by Marcus de Brabat.
president of a navigation company
with headquarters in Los Angeles He
met with the shippers group.
Payson Smith, comm issioner of edu-
cation for Massachusetts, in an ad-
;dress TO the civic development group,
Criticised any Standardization of edu-
cation that would attempt the educa-
non OF all children on a similar level
Asserting that the oil problem of the
future Will not be the finding of mar
kets. but search for sources Of SUD-
ply. DIR. Van H. Manning. director of
research Tor the American Petroleum
Institute of New York told the nat
the United States should insist On an
: open door oil policy in all countries
; and provide effective means to protect
all rights acquired by American citi-
Zeps.
Housing Problems I'd.
The convention proper was urged
by various speakers TO take up the
countrys housing problem and at
: tempt solution. President Defrees
said that the country is 1,25O. 900
I dwellings short of its pre-war ratio
/ and that the situation had become
! one of the most critical of our do
! 1uestic problems.
The activities or the United States
, Chamber Of Commerce in Washington
J were defended in an address before
1 me chambers national council by
Elliott H Goodwin. resident vice
. president of the organization.
: We avoid secrecy in any form as
/ II II was the devil himself" said Mr.
! GOODWIN. declaring that lobbying
= carried on inc open and above board
fashion" was justified
Inc speaker quoted at length a
speech made by Senator La Toilette in
whIch he charged that the National