Evening star., 1927-10-28
BUSINESS MEN ASK
GREATER ECONOMY
Coordination of Government
Activities Urged by u. S.
Chamber of Commerce.


States should be kept out of business
and there should be greater co-ordina'
lion of the Governments administra'
tive activities in the interest OF
economy were the principal recon-
mendations contained in the summary
of a legislative program adopted by
the United States Chamber of Com
merce. which was presented to Pres
dent Coolidge today by Lewis r.
pierson, president Of the chamtHr. IN
rresentirr these views of the cham
her Mr.. Person said that the chamber
will advocate during the coming SEES
sion of congress policies aiming at
creater efficiency and economy OF the
Government and for the elimination
of any tendency toward Government
paterhalism or bureaucracy.
II is the contention Of the chamber
according To the views presented TO
the President. that there Is an increas'
inC danger in the growing pressure
on Government to enter into those
Fields of activity which it is more
nroper to carry on by private enter
prise.
1t was held that this is definitely
antagonistic TO the principles on which
the Government was founded ana on
which it had been builded TO its pres
ent position of leadership. In this
connection. the attention of the Presi-
dent was called to the fact that in the
past certain groups have urged the
Government TO enter these realms,
without realizing that dangerous
precedents were being established, and
al~n h.,,- hnJt
TO call each encroachment to the at
tention of the American people in the
belief that the evil, once recognized,
will be condemned.
Postal Rates Hit
1.-THE greatest single bit of activity
by the Government is the Post Office
Department" Mr.. Persons report
stated. "The postal rates never have
been fixed according TO business prin-
ciples There is unjust discrimination
in the rates charged to certain por-
tions Of the public, thus defeating the
purpose of public service and handi-
capping certain groups of mail users.
The national chamber believes that
postal rates should be revised to Sc
cure maximum use with efficient
service.
In its Advocacy of greater economy
and efficiency in Government the
chamber contends that q better CO.
ordination of activities, doing away
with overlapping on the part of bu-
reaus. commissions and departments,
IS a basic necessity in any program
for more efficient and economical
administration. Therefore the cham
her believes that efforts to secure such
coordination should be continued to
q successful conclusion.
The President was reminded that
the chamber is convinced that the
question of flood control in the lower
Mississippi Valley is a national prob
lem. 1t believes this to be an es-
sential activity of the Government
and of such importance that it should
be acted upon as single project
unconnected with any other problem
before Congress.
Touches Tax Problems.
The chambers legislative views
touched lightly upon tax reductions,
expressing principally the belief that
there are certain war revenue taxes
which now should be largely reduced
or repealed.
The chamber is confident that this
may be done without jeopardy to a
sound governmental fiscal policy. In
this connection the attention is
called to the fact that economies in
Government administration have
contributed largely TO the great an
nual surpluses in the Treasury and
that due to this program the Govern
ment has been brought practically to
n peace-time basis within less than
a decade after the greatest war in
history.
Touching upon the prosperity of
the country. the views of the cham
ber set forth that during the last
few years public confidence in busi-
ness had attained the highest tide in
our history due to integrity, fair
dealing and efficient service. The
attitude of Government agencies the
Department of Justice. the Depart
ment of Commerce and the Federal
Trade Commission-co-ope with
business that is conducted with
proper regard for the public interest.
has immeasurably contributed to-
ward the era Of prosperity which
this country now enjoys. On behalf
of business the national chamber ex-
presses its appreciation of this con.
structive attitude by Government
agencies and pledges its unremitting
effort toward the establishment of
sound principles Of business conduct
and toward the outlawing Of prac-
fices which are not for the public
good. therefore not for the good
of business"