Evening star., 1934-12-07
Industry's Program.

represented by the National Manu-
gress of American Industry, have
drafted a recovery program. The ker-
mel of their plan the underlying prin-
ciple. upon which the induStrialiStS
insist, the control of business by
private business as distinguished
from government. The program de-
clares that the administration should
resist any effort to continue or to
intensity control of Government over
industry beyond measures required to
insure the effective maintenance OF
fair, free and open competition and
to conserve the natural resources of
the country"
While such doctrine may have a
dull and wheeZv sound to some New
Deal ears, it is by no means in con-
tradiction of wishes expressed by
President Roosevelt and several of
his advisers. The difference between
the administration leaders and the
industrialiStS lies in the question of
degree of control which should be
exercised by the Government over
business to insure effective malnte-
nance Of fair competition. They differ,
too. in regard to the manner in
which the control is to be exercised.
One proposal of the industrialists,
which is significant, may be in en-
tire variance with the program OF
the administration. II relates 10 the
legislation for the continuance in
some form of the national industrial
recovery act. under which the
N. R A has been set up. The in
dustrialists seek no permanent legiS-
lation to continue the N. R. A. at
this time. They merely propose the
extension of some of the provisions
of the recovery act for another year,
after June 16, when the present law
expires. They would have the ad
ministration of the law transferred
to an independent administrative
court of five members" and they
would have the Interpretation OF Sec
ton IA materially changed.
While the industrialists do not turn
their backs upon the proposals for
social security" and declare that in
dustry should do its full share toward
cooperating with the administration
in its efforts to bring about recovery.
they express ideas that do not march
on all fours with several theories of
only as total national production is
increased and its fruits are exchanged
and used can the American people
have more to divide" They are
against any policy which tends arbi-
trarily to increase the cost of pro-
ducing commodities or operates to
diminish the output Of an entire in
relief and how it should be admins
tered and decreased whenever possible.
They denounce the domination of re-
lief by political machines. They
attack the use of the taxpayers money
to "incite strikes" by financing those
voluntarily quitting their jobs.
The industrialists urge also return
to the gold standard and a balanced
Government budget. Many of its pro-
posals will fall upon critical ears. And
yet American industry and American
business must be relied upon to turn
the trick and lead the country back
to a measure Of prosperity such as
has not existed for the last four years
Indeed, the representatives of the ad-
ministration in recent weeks have
called more and more frequently upon
industry to carry the ball and to re-
move from the Government the pres
ent burden of relief. To what extent
will the administration and the Con-
gress listen to the voice Of American
industry in formulating its legislative
program? The industrial system and
business generally have been de-
nounced often as being in large part
responsible for the economic crash
and the ensuing depression. Yet if the
world and America had not been
forced to pay through the nose for
the World War-pay in many and
various ways-the economic situation
would have been vastly different
today.