Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-19
PRESIDENT MEETS
RAIL EXECUTIVES IN
CONFERENCE HERE
CONTINUED From First Page.)

CUNfEhENCE HEhE
Continued From First Page)
New York Central Lines: Agnew T. Dice,
president of the Philadelphia &
Reading Co.: Fairfax Harrison, presi-
dent Of the Southern Railway Co.;
L. F. Loree, president Of the Delaware
& Hudson Railroad Co.; Jeremiah
Milbank of the Southern Railway Co.
]. j. Pelley, president Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co.;
Fred w. Sargent, president of the Chi
cago. Northwestern Railroad Co.; Ju-
Illus Barnes, chairman of the board OF
the United States Chamber of Com
merce: Hale Holden, chairman of the
executive committee of the Southern
Pacific Railroad Co., and William But
terworth, president of the United States
Chamber of Commerce.
Daniel Willard, president of the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad Co.. had ac-
cepted an invitation to be present, but
was unable TO attend the conference be-
cause OF an attack of bronchitis.
The President this afternoon is hold
ing conference with the members of
the advisory council Of the Federal Re-
serve Board.
The railroad executives, speaking pri-
Yately and not for quotation following
the White House conference, took op-
timiStic views Of the situation. They
pointed out that the condition of the
country was baSicly sound. In line with
the announced determination of the
railroads to go ahead with programs
OF construction 1t was learned that the
Philadelphia 81 Reading Railroad Co.
plans to spend about $40 OOO, 600 on
Identification of its line leading out of
Philadelphia and also to spend a con-
siderable sum on the elimination of
grade crossings.
Many important factors, 1t was said
today, are working in the interests of
the continued prosperity and business
progress OF the country. One among
them is the fact that the United States
is creditor nation. Another is the
fact that the credit system Of he coun-
try is sound and operating well. The
principal problem today is to see that
employment is continued fully in ali
parts Of the country. The announced
determination Of the railroad execu-
tives to go ahead with large programs
OF construction Is regarded as extreme
ly helpful.
Death Changes Plans.
The program Of the conferences ar
ranged by the President with repre-
sentatives of industry, agriculture and
labor has necessarily been revised be-
cause of the death of Secretary Good
OF the War Department, for whom fu-
neral services are TO be held in the
East Room Of the White House tomor-
row. The conference with representa-
tives of industry has been postponed
until IL am. Thursday. The repre-
tot 80 ~
meet with the President, the Secretary
of Agriculture and Chairman Legge OF
the Federal Farm Board, will assemble
at the White House Friday at IL am.
The meeting Of representatives of
labor with the President has yet to be
arranged. Secretary Davis of the De-
partment Of Labor as he left the White
House today, following the brief cabinet
meeting, declared that labor would CO.
operate to the fullest with the PreSi-
dent in his plan for co-ordinating eff
forts, looking to the progress of bust
ness in this country. The Secretary
expressed the opinion that If the people
generally, would at this time undertake
necessary repair work on their homes,
that alone would put to work every
man who now happens to be idle be-
cause of the seasonal slack in building
work.
The members Of the advisory council
are Frank A. Wetmore, Chicago, preSi-
dent; B. A. Mckinney, Dallas, vice
president; Arthur M. Heard, Boston;
william @. Potter, New York; l.. L. Rue,
Philadelphia; Harris Creech, Cleveland
John Poole, Richmond; J. p. Butler, jr.,
Atlanta; w. w. Smith, st. Louis; Theo-
dore Void. Minneapolis; p. w. Goebel,
Kansas City, and F. L. bipman, San
Francisco. 80 "a
The advisory council of the Federal
Reserve Board is meeting in Washing
ton to determine whether the redis-
count rates of the IL reserve banks out
side of New York City shall be de-
creased. Its members come from the
IL Federal Reserve DISTRICTS, and 1t was
regarded as a singularly fortuitous cir
cumstance that they should be meeting
in Washington coincidentally with the
inauguration of Mr.. Hoover's program.
The conference arranged by Presi-
dent Hoover with Secretary Lamont,
manufacturers and officials of the
United States Chamber of Commerce,
which was to have been held Wednes-
day, was postponed until Thursday
night because funeral services will be
held Wednesday for Secretary Good in
the east room of the White House.
A close study is being made OF the
Treasury Departments announcement OF
plans for expanding the Federal build
ing program. Congress will be asked
next month, according to Secretary
Mellon, to approve an increased appro-
priation of $175,000,000 for govern
mental building, bringing the total OF
authorization for this purpose to $423,-
600 900. This may be a substantial con-
trtbution by the Federal Government to
the plan to stabilize conditions in the
business world through large program
Of construction work.