Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-10
OPEN DRIVE TO KEEP
INDUSTRY PRIVATE
300 Business Organizations
Planning Permanent Body
to Oppose Interference.

Calling upon every citizen to stand
behind the proposition that American
democracy is founded upon the
private ownership of property ana
maintained by the private enterprise
of its citizens engaged in galnful oc'
equations, a group of business men
representing more than 800 DIG
business organizations today paved
the way Cor permanent organization
to combat Government interference
with private industry.
permanent organization of a
conference on government in indus
try" to meet once each year. and to
maintain headquarters in washington
10 carry on the work begun today
was proposed at the opening session
of two-day meeting at the Wash
ington Hotel.
Two guiding statements of purpose
and of principle, upholding the right
of business to confine Governln mt &c
its declared legitimate field afs re
main out of competition with the e"N
payers of the Nation, were laid bel''re
the conference.
The statement of purpose pledged
the organized effort of the business
groups representa- TO show the Amer
lean people and their political repre-
sentaties that government. whether
municipal, county, State or Federal
should abstain from business in which
citizens may properly and legitimate
ly engage. Opposition to every exist
ing or proposed intrusion by govern
ment into the proper field of private
enterprise was also pledged.
Marks New Era.
The meeting is the first ever held
IN Washington with such an avowed
purpose, and marks an entirely new
era in Government relation with bust
ness
Numerous private industries are &C
tually being destroyed by the magni
fed industrial enterprises already in
operation or contemplated by Govern
ment. according to the declaration OF
principle as drawn up by a commit
tee headed by F. Highlands Burns
Of Baltimore.
Government enterprise pays nc
taxes" the declaration said. "Wher
Government diSplaCeS private bust
ness the loss in taxes as we'll as the
excessive cost of operation is levied
upon property and business which
survives. The national defense Is
best and most economically served by
private business enterprises, which
may be converted TO war purposes II
case of emergency.
Government enterprise almost in
variably inCurs loss far exceeding
any possible profit. These losses
constitute an unjustifiable waste OF
public money Costs of Government
are concealed from the public by
neglect to employ a system of cost
accounting which fully reveals the
total expense.
Charges Money Suuandered.
Government In business drives cit
liens out of legitimate occupation,
II discourages business, which is
threatened. It squanders the money
of the taxpayers. increasing their
burdens. 1t is marked by extravagant
delays. public inconvenience and loss.
1t deludes those engaged in agri-
culture. industry and commerce with
estimates of cost in undertakings for
which they must pay. piling up costs
In excess of estimates under no re
sponsibility or check.
Government and industry must be
protected against the ASA ults of those
who would destroy both by confusing
the functions of each. The door of
opportunity must be kept open"
A vigorous attack upon Government
competition was made by Homer l..
opened the conference and presided
Mr.. Ferguson declared Government
entrance in the business field is mark
ed by waste. extravaganza and at
tempts at -glorification by Office
holders who do not reveal the true
cost of their operations because they
do not take into account capital &C
counts, "a legitimate charge upon
any business"
Those of us affected have felt that
as long as our businesses could be
attacked in detail we had no redress
Mr.. Ferguson said. Instead of sin
ely. we have felt that if a common
front could be presented We might
get somewhere. Business men COM
plain frequently about how govern
ment has been run, but government
will continue to be run as always I'M
til business men take some steps to
remedy it. And we find greater COM
petition in State and municipal gov
ernments than in Washington"
Says Government Projects Lose.
Government competition with its
own taxpayers invariably works to-
ward elimination of private enter
prise, Mr.. Ferguson said, adding that
the loss of taxes from the businesses
forced out must be borne by the sur
VivOrs. He said that Government
projects, enthusiastically started and
glowingly described, always save
money at the beginning and lose it
at the end.
When private industry loses
money we retrench and reform" he
said. When Government loses
money the taxpayer is it, Mr.. Fer
guson explained that Government
competition with industry is not con-
fined TO means for national defense
or water projects alone, but extends
into manufacture of metal furniture,
post boxes and "a thousand and one
things" for which full account of ex-
penses is not made.
A permanent coalition to line up
big business against further on