Imperial Valley press., 1923-03-27
TRANSPORTATION
TO Be IMPORTANT
TOPIC AT MEETING
Chamber of Commerce
Receives Word From
u. s. Chamber
National Body Holds
Convention in East
May TO

WI Tue lHllel states ana - Europe
and Europe S Affairs will be the
two major topics considered at the
Eleventh Annual Meeting of the
Chambers of Commerce of United
States in New York, May I to 10,
according to word received today
by the FL Centre California Cham
Der Of Commerce.
Because of the interest. of, bus
mess men through the country in
the two general subjects it is eXpec-
ted that the convention will he one
of the largest ever held by the
Chamber. Representative business
organizations in every State in the
Union have been asked to send del
cgatcs, and IN attendance of from
1000 to 5000 business men is look
cd for.
Il transportation will be the key
note of the meeting as it is the key
note of virtually every business dis
cussion over the country these days.
Already the National Chamber is en-
gagged on Il comprehensive study OF
the whole problem from every point
VI NiNN' w 'titl ii tHt uill-
mate formulation of national
transportation policy. That study,
however, has been intruStcd to {
Transportation Conference created
by the National Chamber and its
conclusions will not be available for
months in all probability. Special
committees of the conference, deal
ing. with specific divisions of the
general question, will be in session
at the time of the annual meeting
and the discussion of transportation
subjects at the big meeting in New
4 York naturally divides itself into
[tlines similar to the committee work
Of the conference.
To Hear All
Representatives of railroads, ship
ing interests, producers, the motor
industry, waterway operators and
the public are included in the CON
ference make up and also will be
heard before the annual meeting.
The aspects they will discuss ut the
meeting include governmental rel
ations to transportation, railroad
consultations, rate schedule read
justments, coordination of motor
transport and waterway carriers.
Into the European division of the
annual meeting program fall such
questions as reparations, war debts
currency depreciation and, others
which recent developments in
France and Germany have made of
outstanding importance American
y business interests.
President Julius II. Barnes of the
National Chamber and about a hun
dred American delegates are now
abroad to attend the second meet
ing of the International Chamber of
Commerce in Rome. They will re-
turn in time for the National Cham
Der meeting in New York, however,
and bring first hand impressions Of
theEuropean situation to their col
leagues.
Elliot II. Goodwin, resident vice
president of the National Chamber,
pointed out today that the transpor-
tation problem Was Il purely dOmes-
tic question which "can and must
be solved by American businessmen
ius''. The annual meeting will pro
vide, he said, far-reaching review
of transportation needs.
Matter of Importance
"No factor in our national life
/ is so universal in its application as
Athe need of adequate means of
Transporting our goods, Mr.. Good
win said. Business prosperity
and that means our greatness rs a
nation - depends on finding the
right way to deal with our carriers
by rail or water or highway. Con
ccrn in this regard is manifest in
every department of our national
life, in farming, mining, manufac.-
uring, distribution and no where
more than among railroad execut-
ives.
"There is necessity for adoption
of {. national transportation policy.
Our tonnage is growing; railroad
ton-miles have almost trcbled in
twenty years. What will they be in
another wtentys
"Mcn of the business world feel
that there must be a way TO harmon
\ lHc optIStlOiiS VI tidiiiS anu u W no
and water carriers to make our
commercial growth demands. But
involved in such project is all the
question of planning for national
treatment of transportation; insur-
ance of protection for the proper
public interest in railroads and at
the same time restoration Of confid-
ence among investors in the rail
roads and their management; revis-
ion of the railroad rate frame work
so that traffic will not be stifled,
yet providing such revenues as will
make the carriers living, expanding
industrial entities.
Hope to Make Start
cit is not to be expected that q
transportation cure all can be evolv-
ed over night at the coming annual
meeting of National Chamber. If
> is to be expected, however that the
meeting will foster and stimulate
discussion both among business men
and the public. Men who are rec
ognized nationally as authorities on
transportation will be among the
speakers and the annual meeting,
while not attempting itself to offer
transportation solution, well may
have an important influence to de-
velop national thought on this vital
subjct.
pronosals for solutiOn of the