Evening star., 1927-11-13
A Business Legislative Program
BY FREDERICK J. HASKIN.

MGrs than usual interest Ia bsins
manifested in the business legislative
pr gfa sponsored by the Chamber Of
Commerce Of the United States and
iJrt ,efited by the president Of that body
to President Coolidge. 1t Is rot what
business asks frcm Congress that ex.
cites attention so much IA it is the
fact that business Is coming out i'm
the open and frankly declaring itself
In governmental matters.
Heretofore business has generally
sought to get M It wanted in poli-
ties and legislation by moving "' let
~ ali operating under cover for the
ftoat part. No one doubted that btisi-
ne ; was infltieneinging politics and
legislation. or seeking to, but 1t was
well understood that no brass band
methods we're be!hg used 1t was
only one shirt to his back and was
consistently deli.iuuent in lying his
poll tax had a right to make all the
noise Of which he was capable In con
nection with the election of public Of
flefals or the enactment OF laws. but
men Of large interests we're expected
to keep extremely quiet lii such af-
fairs ana cloak their movements In
secrecy and mystery.
Now 1t appears that the substantial
business interests of thu country,
speaking through great national or
ganiZation, are to tell the country
what they want from Congress and the
Federal administration ana to ten II
bolulv and in no uncertain language.
At any rate, they have made iaIr
start on that liind Of Il pfDsram.
Some time ago the Chambef or
eytf1
demand that Congress reduce taxes to
n tune of St0U. .OUO, 900 In annual reve-
nues and that the ina jof portion of the
reduction lie in cutting the corpora
ton income tax from 13A to 10 per
cent. 1t argued that the Treasury
surplus, present and prospective. JUST.
fed surh d reduction and that 1T
would have Il wholesome Influence on
Congress because that body might he
tempted into extravagart approprla'
tions Ivy the fact of an existing
surplus.
4 Presidential Rebuke.
This met with what was regarded
as A decided rebuke from PRESIDENT
Coolidge The President snid 1t was
all very we'll to talk about tax reduc'
tiuf1. but that any action In that direc
upon economies IN Government ex-
ptnditures that would justify 1t. lie
Unlimited, too. chat any loose change
the Treasury might have at the END
OF the present or any other fisca'
year might very wen he applied Il
ia yments on The public debt.
1t might have been expected that
The Chamber Uf Commerce, having
incurred presidential frown. would
go away back and sit down. but not
20. 1t came right back with de-
tailed program Of administrative
policy and action by Congress that 1t
regarded as highly desirable.
First Of ALL says the big business
organization, the coordination Of Gov
eminent administrative activities
doing away with overlapping on the
part Of bureaus, commissions and
departments. IL basic necessity In
my program for Il more efficient and
economical administration. Efforts tc
secure such coordination should be
continued TO n successful CONCLUSION
SECONDLY. the National Chamber
thinks that the Government should
stick strictly to governing and not
embark In enterprises that might be
better handled by private interests.
There is an increasing danger In
the growing pressure on Government
to enter into those fields OF activity
which 1t Is more proper TO carry ON
by private enterprise" says President
Plerson's letter TO President Coolidge
This not only increases the cost OF
Government hut is definitely antago.
| nistie to the principles on which this
government was, founded and on
which It hns been builded to its pres
ent position of leadership. In the
past, certain groups or localities have
urged Government to enter these
realms. without realizing that danger
Gus precedents were being established
The National Chamber believes 1t Is
| time to call each proposed encroach.
| ment to the attention of the American
people In the belief that the evil. once
recognized. will be condemned
Want Postal Rates Revised.
The third plank In the business
platform 10 n ringing declaration for
a revision Of postal rates, which, II
| states, have never been fixed accord
| ing to business principles. There
In unjust discrimination in the rates
charged to certain portions of the pub.
| lie, thus defeating the purpose OF pub
lie service and handicapping certain
groups OF mail users. 1t Is asserted
| The National Chamber wants the
| rates, revised to secure maximum use
with efficient service"
In the matter Of Hood control In the
Mississippi Valley. the Chamber of
Commerce thinks that Congress should
decide what. II will DO without link.
! Ing It up with rny other legislation