Evening star., 1927-10-17
TAX CUT AND FLOOD
CONTROL ARE HELD
NEEDS BY PERSON
President of u. S. Chamber
of Commerce Sets Legis-
Iative Program.
ADDRESS is DELIVERED
TO NATIONAL COUNCIL
Platform for Business Also Asks
for Private Ownership of
Merchant Marine.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated FreSS.
WEST BADEN, Ind. October IL
Downward tax revision, Mississippi
flood control as a measure Of national
defense, scientific postal rates and
regulation of business by business
ITSELF were cardinal points in a ten
tative legislative program for Amer
lean business, enunciated by Lewis E.
Pierson, New York, today. He ad-
dressed the opening business meeting
Of the National Council of the Cham
Der of Commerce Of the United States,
Of which he Is president.
In addition to those main planks In
his platform for business, he advo-
Gated private ownership of merchant
marine. approval of voluntary rail-
way consultations, opposition to
growing bureaucracy in Govern
ment," workmen's compensation for
accidents as a private and not public
enterprise, swift disposition of Sc
questered alien property, ratification
Of the Lausanne treaty with Turkey,
and wholehearted cooperation be-
tween the business man and farmer
for farm relief.
Corporation Taxes Hit.
Launching into the question of a
permanent peace time Federal tax
program, Pierson urged equitable re-
vision of corporation income taxes,
repeal of the Federal estate taxes
with a view to returning this source
of revenue to the States, and the
final "wiping out of wartime excise
taxes that are an anomalous, even
ludicrous, hang of a war happi-
ly now 10 years in the background"
He recalled the pronouncement of
the chamber at it's annual meeting
last May. condemning taxation that
produces "surpluses so large they
necessarily mean that there is being
taken from the taxpayer more than Is
necessary to meet the current ex-
penses of government"
Closely linked with public financial
problems, he said, is the question or
Mississippi flood control.
1.-THE destruction left in the wake or
rioting waters is quite as devastating
as the forays of an armed invader"
he said, in recommending the "pru-
dent course of looking upon flood con-
troll as H. huge engineering problem.
and keeping it absolutely free from
tie.up with other legislative projects"
It is not the function of organized
business, he said, to accept supinely
the defeatist propaganda that Gov
marine Is the only way to keep the
American flag on the seas" He
counseled sound measures to en-
courage private investment in ship
ping enterprises"
Seeks Postal Program.
Charging that political expediency
and not fact-finding' dictated current
postal rates, he set down scientific
revision Of mailing charges as one of
the chambers principal detectives.
RATES so burdenSome as to drive
large volume of traffic from the
mails" should be replaced at the De-
cember session Of Congress with rates
scientifically determined, in which
efficiency is the first consideration"
Reiterating the chambers stand in
favor of the transportation act of
1920, Pierson advised that the or
Sanization continue to present to Con-
greSs it's views advocating voluntary
consultations of railway systems" in
support of a national transportation
policy fostering an adequate system of
rail, water and highway transporta-
ton, at the lowest cost compatible
with efficient service"
Government SnouIQ not naraSS 1tS
citizens by imposition of needless and
costly procedures" said Pierson in
voicing criticism of spreading bureau
cratic tendencies which, he said, was
mot in a spirit of carping or fault
finding, but in an earnest desire to
press home its belief that government
as well as business should adhere to
the principles of economy and eff
ciency."
The United States traditional policy
has been to refrain from confiscating
private property seized in time of war.
he said, and, in conformity with that
practice, he urged the chamber to ad-
vocate return of sequestered alien
property las soon as suitable provi.
sion has been made for the satisfac-
ton of all such American claims"
Urges Stable Treaty.
Ratification of the Turkish-Ameri.
can treaty OF 1923 would be entirely
consistent with the American open
door policy" he said, and would ter
inmate insecurity of relations between
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