Evening star., 1925-05-20
NATIONS BUSINESS
IN 18TH CONVENTION
HEARS OBLIGATIONS
President of U. S. Chamber
of Commerce Reads
Signs of Times.
DECLARES ORGANIZATION
DEVOTED TO PUBLIC VEAL
Leaders in Commerce and Industry
Address Group Meetings
of Delegates.

~ 0NAS6 osSS'
Representatives of the American
energy and ingenuity which have ad-
vanced mankind further in material
comfort and opportunity in the last
half century than it had advanced be-.
fore in hundred centuries-delegates
to the thirteenth annual meeting Of
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States-convened in their first
general session at the Washington
Auditorium today.
They gathered to hear from their
president, Richard +. Grant, an appeal
for continuation of the fundamental
thinking and altruistic aggressiveness
by which in century they have built
the worlds greatest civilization.
Few occasions ever have brought to
Washington more distinguished and
powerful figures in American life than
the more than 500 men who sat in
the Auditorium this morning while
Mr.. Grant spoke of their opportuni-
ties, their obligations. the disturbing
and the encouraging signs of the
times.
World Goes Forward
He stressed and they applauded the
idea that the organization was dedi-
Gated to the service, not of business
alone, but of the comfort, prosperity
and righteousness of the entire Ma
ton.
Straight thinking. with all the ele-
ments that enter the intricate struc-
ture of American life taken into con-
sideration, was the text of Mr..
Grants address. He expressed the
conviction that the world had gone
long way toward a more secure foun-
dation since the armistice, Russia
alone having gone backward. The
continuation of this progress, he said,
demands clear ideas on the part of
all the people to counteract the often
sincere but muddled conceptions OF
demagogues.
Problems Nation Faces.
President Grant enumerated the fol-
lowing economic problems which con
front the country and which business
must solve or aid in solving:
The adjustment. in cooperation with
the international Chamber of Com
merce, of international economic Ques-
| tions affecting American commerce
and industry arising in the wake OF the
adoption of the Dawes plan.
Further reduction of taxes to stimu-
late industry and the elimination OF
ridden taxes" such as insurance
taxes, of which there are in some
States as many as 15 kinds.
Appraisal and improvement of the
banking and credit machinery of the
country.
The formulation of a permanent
merchant marine policy.
The safeguarding of the public in
terest in the adjustment of railroad
labor disputes.
The application of sound economics
to the business of agriculture.
The maintenance of adequate cotton
production to protect the position Of
the United States.
Co-operation between business and
agriculture for the promotion and sta
bilization of regional agriculture, an
appraisal of cooperative marketing,
and the determination to the effect
of the "exportable surplus" upon do
mestic prices of certain agricultural
commodities.
Restoration of normal buying
methods and aid for the small manu-
facturer in maintaining his position in
the economic world.
The adjustment of supply to demand
in both agricultural and industrial
production.
The study and adjustment of the
processes of distribution.
The problems involved in urban con
gestion.
Government Interference.
1T is not possible to solve these
problems on the broad principle OF
| Government interference. either with
| States rights or with business said
| Mr.. Grant. Each one has some Spe-
| cial aspect which demands the closest
consideration and study. But each
| one, if left to decision by the locality
or group most objected, would most
| likely be settled in a manner which
would not take into consideration the
welfare of the whole country. When
any particular bloc or group is dis
/ satisfied with a situation there is too
| much of tendency to rush to Con
gress demanding a new law. Curing
! the ills of the world by statute does
not work.
THE tendency of increasing centrali-
! Zation of government in Washington
| is meeting with increasing distrust on
! the part of the public. The public
feels that the Federal commissions
and Federal Investigations have been
| overdone. Government inquisition of
| the private citizen and his business,
from the publishing of his income tax
| to innumerable Investigations by spe-
! cially constituted commissions, is be
coming extremely unpopular. Already
we see a tendency to curtail the power
| of commissions or to do away with
! them entirely. This seems TO be
healthy reaction against the paternal-
| ism of a central government. But we
must be ca eful not to go too far to
| the other extreme. A number of the
| older established commissions are per
! forming a much. needed service"
Defends Trade Commission.
| A defense of the Federal Trade Com
missions recent changes in it's rules
I! of procedure with an appeal for the
approval of the United States Cham
Der of Commerce was presented by
! Commissioner w. e. Humphrey.
| Opposition to the changes. which
sharply restrict publicity TO be given
the commissions procedure and per
NIT settlement of cases by stipulation
without issuance of a complaint, was
declared by Commissioner Humphrey
| to come from those who believe that
these changes will prevent them from
| using the commission for personal and
political purposes"
The changes in the commission s
! publicity rule have been consistently
opposed by Commissioners Thompson
and Nugent. Democratic members of