Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-26
DELEGATE To
A NATIONAL
CONF ERENCE
ALMA {. OF {. INVITED TO SEND
REPRESENTATIVE TO WASH
INGTON MEET.
Consider Rail
Road Situation

An invitation today reached the Al
ma Chamber of Commerce asking that
representatives be sent to a national
conference of business men to be held
1t Washington, February 3 and 9, for
the purpose of considering the rail
road situation and what should be
cone about it from the business stand
point.
The conference is to be held under
the auspices of the National Council
Of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States. More than 400 bust
ness organizations throughout the
country holding membership in the
National Chamber have been asked to
participate in the conference. The
National Council is made up of one
representative each from these bust
ness organizations.
Some business men, who have fol-
lowed closely the railroad situation
since the roads were turned back to
private control, see a drift towards
EONtilllltill ONliCl SillH anu ORti eSbiOil
unless there can be worked out some
plan by which the roads can be put
on a self-supporting basis. They feel
that the Transportation Act should be
given longer trial and that at
tempts which are being made in Con-
grcss to amend the Act, if success
full will preciptate a crisis which
may make it impossible for the roads
to continue Under private manage
ment. As yet, in their opinion such
an increase in earnings as has been
attained may have been reached at
the expense of proper maintenance.
The Railroad Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States is of the opinion that the
transportation Act can be left un-
touched and at the same time there
can be worked out a constructive plan
which will help solve the problem. 1t
will prepare a report to be presented
at the Council meeting suggesting a
program for dealing with the situa-
ton. This report when completed will
propose means for keeping the nation
al interest in adequate trans portatior
foremost in all measures which may
be taken in relation to transportation
The National Chambers Railroad
Committee in the past has made sug-
gestions which have been adopted by
the Chambers membership and the
corresponding principles subsequent
ly have appeared in legislation. Tn,
Transportation Act itself contain:
many features which the Commitse,
strongly recommends as result ot
the years of study which it has de
voted 10 railroad transportation il
the United States
A new nominating system for di
rectors of the Chamber, adopted b!
referendum vote that closed on Jan
uary 10 also will be subject for dis
= cussion at the Council meeting
"The Council is peculiarly appro
{ pirate body says a statement by tn
. Chamber, "to consider questions o
the internal operations Of the Cham
= Der. The subject of nomination o
u directors has been given great inn
portance ever since the organization
of the Chamber. The founders Of tn
! Chamber and its members alway
= have placed emphasis on the fact tha
i the Council is a truly Representative
: body In keeping this tradition i
: mind the new plan for nomination
= makes it possible for the presidents O
II the fourteen hundred organization
: within the Chamber to participate i
y bringing forward candidates for tn
Board Of Directors to which election
regularly will be made next spring.
The meeting of the Council wi
take up also principles for a chang
n to the metric system of measurement
1t will receive a report from a Con
1T mittee which goes into arguments fC
5, and against the metric standard an
lie it will decide whether the subject
m one to go to referendum of II
m Chambers membership.