Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
SERVICE DECLARED
AIM OF INDUSTRY
Sloan Points Out Need for
Effective Catering to
Public Wants.
BY JOHN F. SINCLAIR.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, March 6.-"The trend
of industry, as we all know, is growing
bigger and bigger. Undoubtedly this
will continue-perhaps even in more
important way in the future" said Al
fred p Sloan, jr., president of General
Motors Corporation. THAT being the
case, I wonder whether the time has not
arrived when every industrial manage
ment must recognize that serving the
public in the most economic and effec-
tive way is vital to its own progress ana
success? Certainly we feel that way IN
General Motors. That being the case,
then the way is open to give industry
somewhat of a broader opportunity and
judge it by what it does"
Antitrust Laws.
Speaking Of the future of antitrust
laws and their effect on business, this
automobile executive said
Il rather feel that our antitrust laws
were begun in the interest OF the con-
sumner. think all will agree as to that.
Through evolut on-aS we stand today
II am just wondering whether these
laws actually are working out entirely
in the interests of the consumer. Their
principle is that industry should not
DO certain things. In other words, they
are prohibitive in the interest OF the
consumer. 1t might be better to be more
liberal toward industry and judge 1t by
what it does-not by what it might do.
The result cf this might be that the In
terest of the consumer would be still
further improved"
do you see any dangers lurking in
the way of revision OF the antitrust
laws?" I asked
If the policy should be altered
somewhat in the above direction, and
as a pert of the alteration there came
some sort of outside supervision, then
certainly it would be most destructive"
was his reply.
Industry might better struggle along
and do the best it can with the oppor-
tunities it has to serve the public the
best it can rather than to accept any
broader opportunities if they are to be
accompanied by that sort of thing. We
all know what the result of that is sure
to be-"
Americas largest industrial corporation
sees a need for a liberaliZing of the
antitrust laws But If such liberalizlng
is accompanied by closer governmental
supervision, then far better let matters
stand as they are now.
Tax-Reduction Problem.
s'The outstanding problem at the
nresent time is the reduction OF taxes,
saws James L. Donnelly, vice president
of the Illinois Manufacturers Assocla-
ton. This can only be accomplished
by the adoption of elementary business
methods in the conduct OF the Local
taxino bodies throughout the United
States. which raise and spend approx
mately 90 per cent Of the taxpayer
-Four other factors which Mr.. Dom
nelly thinks should be studied are:
ID The control of excessive raw ma
terials; % amending the an mt LUIS,
laws; 90 the development OF new
products, and (4) revising sales ana
merchandising plans.
Each one of these factors would
require a special study before any con-
structive suggestions with regard 10 IL
could be made.
Women in Industry.
Weir Jepson, Sioux City, Iowa. in
vestment banker, wants to see the large
industries gradually eliminate women
from their employment and replace them
with men, upon the theory that the
'real" wages of men will then be IN
creased resulting in a much larger
consumer demand for all lines OF COM
modities and services.
s.Slrely one does not have to be an
economist to see that married man
living in a home, supporting from Two
TO four people, Is lar greater con-
sumner Of merchandise and services
than single girls living with their
r1arents or in apartments away from
home" Mr.. Jepson said in letter
To this column ut is also true in re-
iation to the couple, both OF whom
are working, and in most instances
onlv occupy rooms in apartments. -.
Think Of the stimulus 70 business
Mr.. Jepson continued. The bullolng
Of homes, the demand for lumber, steel,
cemen-. automobiles, radios, furniture
farm products. carpets, ETC. savings
accounts would grow. Insurance poll
cies would increase and millions OF peo-
pie who now live in fear OF the future,
fear for their own security and security
of those dear to them, would be
changed into hopetulness, the mother
Of ambition and work.
Today there are more than 100000
women in industry. They are becoming
economically independent. They would
resent and resist any movement TO de-
priye them of this economic indie
pendence.
Railroad Business.
The railroad business so far has not
shown any signs of renewed activity.
The net operating income OF the hrst
81 railroads to report their January
earnings SflONeO q hCNAAAAO Va IA PNA
cent under their income Of January,
1880. The net earnings Of January,
1881, were $24, 900, as against SAL
600, 600 for January, 1880.
OF the 81, 9 have shown an Incl ease
over the net operating income OF jan
uary, 1880. These nine are the Erie,
Great Northern, Burlington, Northern
Pacific, Texas g. Pacific, Chicago, Great
Western: New York, Ontario q West
ern: Detroit; Mackinac and Minneapolis
g. st. Louis.
A reading of these roads indicates
that the ma jority of the railroads in
the Northwest are standing up better
than those in other and more thickly
populated parts Of the Nation.
MOsley Program.
George Bernard Shaw seems to in
cline toward the Mosley program. For
he has stated that what the world needs
is more efficient State control end less
talk "about liberty 200 years out OF
date"
THE remedy is to reform OR politi-
cal institutions end sect to work or
social problems with new and effective
political machinery" says M Shaw.
Many Americans are Of he E2me
opinion. The political institutions TO-
day are at least two generations behind
business institutions in their efficiency
and potency.
Ccopyright. 1891. by North American News.
paper AilianceD