Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-03-16
Optimistic.
View Taken
By Harding
Plans to Boost American Busi.
ness Principal Topic of
Discussion at Cabinet
Meeting.
Conditions Improving
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNINGS.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.


Washington, d. C., March Is
How to boost American business at
home and abroad was the principal
subject of discussion at the meeting
of President Harding with his cabi-
net today
The president took all optimistic
view of the present period OF busi-
ness depression. reporting to his OF
ficial advisers the substance OF the
talks he has had in the last few days
with the heads of great industries,
like James A. Farrell of the United
States Steel Corporation.
The information which has come
to the president i'll this way is that
the low tide of business depression
has been passed and that conditions
are 1eginning to improve in those iii
dustries, particularly which were the
first to be hit by the buying slump
and fall in prices. I
Mr.. Harding directed the cabinet
discussion to the consideration OF
definite policies for fostering the ex-
pansion of domestic and foreign
commerce, which lie sums up as the
promotion OF national prosperity, one
of the highest functions of f-govern-
inent.
Urges More Co. Operation. :"
The president indicated that he fa-
vors the abolition of lettering restric-
tons imposed on the industrial and
! agricultural departments and
greater degree of cooperation be-
tween the government and the busi-
ness activities OF the country. While.
he drew no comparisons, he left no
doubt that he intends to effect a
change IRON the professional attitude
of the Wilson administration in seek
ing to apply impractical theories to
the solution of problems OF trade and
production. ....
| In the field of foreign commerce,
the president cited the fact that the
lack OF government cooperation and
outright restrictions, had served to
place American business at disad-
vantage in competing with foreigners
whose governments are extremely
paternalistic in the promotion of for
eign trade. Such foreign paternalism
takes the form of government sub
sides of ship lines and the extension
OF banking and marketing facilities
to exporters.
Aid to Exporters.
J While not advocating direct sub
sides to American ship lines, the
president was of the opinion that
American ships would be relieved OF
the payment of Panama canal tolls
and that the government should fur
nlsh the same aid to exporters en-
joyed by their foreign competitors.
Secretary OF Commerce Hoover
expressed the opinion that one OF the
first steps taken should be the adop-
ton of the Webb-Pomerene act,
which permits computation of expor-
ters so as to enable them to operate
| distributing agencies abroad. He
also described his plan for advisory
committees OF the principal indus.
tries OF the country which will CO.
operate with the government in de-
veloplng the production and mar
keting of the sort of goods required
by foreign customers. / He is TO
formulate this plan at meeting
with committee OF the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States
next Saturday.
While on the subject of business,
the president said he was convinced
that the territories and insular pos
sessions had suffered from neglect in
some important respects. He cited
the situation i'll Alaska, which has
declined in population, owing, to
economic conditions and inadequate
transportation. He asked Secretary
Of Interior Fall to proceed to Alas
ka as soon as possible to survey the
situation and report recommenda-
! tons
! Discuss War Supplies.
Secretary of Labor Davis brought
up the question of disposition of
/ war workers houses at Quincy, ILL.,,
and this led to a discussion OF the
whole problem of disposition of sur
plus war supplies and setting war
contracts. Secretary of War Weeks
told how he is required to devote
a large amount of his time to wind
Cup the accounts of the late war.
time which he feels should be given
to the management of the army and
consideration of future military
needs of the nation. y
AS result of these representa-
tions, the president is seriously con-
sidering, recommendation TO con-
gress for the creation of liquida-
ton committee to settle war con-
tracts and sell surplus property. He
is convinced that a single agency
could realize more salvage than the
scattered agencies OF the various de-
partments.
Another suggestion was that the
federal power commission be made
All independent body. 1t is now COM
posed OF the secretaryies of war, agri-
culture and interior. who cannot give
the time to it requisite for the proper
consideration 81 water power devcl-
opment SIT