Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24
Permanent TRADE
AIDS ARE PLANNED
Government and Business
Leaders Work for Organ
ization of Resources.
BY ]. C. ROYLE.

Special DlSphICh 10 Inc 5tuEs
Conferences which have been held
| and which will be held here between
representatives of business, labor and
Government are not part of the pro-
gram of day. The White House state
ments have indicated that, while the
council which is planned is designed
first of ALL to lead to cooperation
which will effectively stave off any con-
traction of business prosperity, 1t Is ex-
pected to be continuing body, ready
to meet similar situations in the future
1t is the hope of President Hoover
that the program will lead to a perma-
nent organization, based on mutual un-
Outstanding that will make 1t possible
to summon into council and into action
at any time the leadership of all
branches of American industry and
commerce to deal with any extraordi-
nary economic situation which may de-
velop in the future.
Tentative Plan for Aid.
If the plan works out as expected, the
new organization might eventually be
made to function somewhat in the mat
ter of the Federal Reserve system in
dealing with prevention Of panics and
bank failures-that is to say, reserves
and assistance might be rushed to any
general line of industry by other indus
tries which might eventually be al
fected through the weakening of the
business structure at any one point. AS
an example, if the steel industry were
threatened with acute depression, con-
sumers of steel, such as the building in
dustry, the automobile industry, the
| railroads, the agricultural equipment
manufacturers, the petroleum industry
and others, might so gauge and arrange
! their steel purchases as to bridge over
| the difficulty.
1. is pointed out in official circles that
President Hoover in his present pro-
gram is following the plan he pursued
as Secretary of Commerce in problems
dealing with industrial waste and other
questions which involve broad-scale
planning and cooperation Of various
competing elements within the business
army.
The part outlined for the Govern
ment in such an organization, it is
stated in official quarters, would be
subordinate. The President has fire.
| quently indicated that, while the Gov
eminent could provide an agreeable
| setting for conference and in other
ways facilitate the work of business
! planning, it should not in any case
assume a dictatorial attitude toward
| business within the field of it's legiti-
| mate operation. In other words the
President, it is said by well informed
| executives, feels the function of the
| Government in such case is to stimu-
late sound thinking and planning and
| lend its vast facilities to gather bust
ness data and disseminate business
facts vital to the adoption of an in
dustrial or commercial program.
! One function of the Government, II
is anticipated, would be to aid in elm
| mating any diStrust and luminosity
which might exist within business anc
industrial circles.
| Distrust Widespread.
| Distrusts exist both between variou.
| lines of endeavor and between factors
in the same lines. The railroads, the
| public utilities, the textile industries
building construction, the producers Of
| agricultural and other raw materials
the manufacturers, shippers, wholesale
distributors, retail merchants and othel
lines all are burdened with these
handicaps, with labor battling witt
considerable consistency both within
and without its ranks. Even the gov
| ernmental departments are not un'
touched by jealousies. 1t is hoped tina
the mobilization of all the forces o.
business and industry to face al
economic peril may have an effect sim
liar to that produced when the mer
and activities of the Nation are mobil
lied to face military peril
1t is made plain that the Government
| does not intend, however, to be a mere
Stacker in the program now being for
| mulated. Government participation IL
the. activities against industrial decline
| will include a reduction of taxes anC
expansion of the Federal building pro-
| gram. Secretary of the Treasury Mel
| lon already has made that plain. Build
ing of ships will be stimulated Thi.
will be made possible by the fact tina
the United States Shipping Board ha
almost finished its program of getting
rid of the tonnage laid up in estuarie
and which has been in service. 1t il
this oversupply which has held bacl
ship construction since the war.
Power Projects.
1t is anticipated that the Government
department will shortly be entirely re
organized to effect economies, max,
more funds available and eliminate
duplication of work. President Hoove
worked on that plan as Secretary o
Commerce and the program has alread.
been pretty thoroughly worked out
The Bureau of Internal Revenue will
strike a brisker pace to speed up dis
posal of pending tax refund case
which are holding back many million
dollars from commercial and industrial
activity.
The applications for licenses TO
power projects now pending will be ex
pedited, and speedier action will b.
sought on applications for the issue o
securities, for extensions and new line
and for railroad consultations from tn
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Copyright, 1927