Evening star., 1934-11-08
LABOR OBLIGATION
IS CITED IN FORUM.
Responsibilities to Public
Should Equal Those OF
Capital, Says Roper,
Continued From Tenth page.)

CONTINUED From Tenth Page.)
fair trade practices and which ade-
ouately safeguard the welfare OF the
employer. the employe, and ell
others involved.
Danger In Misguida nee.
It frequently happens that misin-
terpretstion. misguidance in analysis
and lack Of patience are responsible
tor the loss of great objectives in
life. Let us all. employer, employe,
and consumer. make sure that we do
not forfeit the great opportunities
which can be worked out under the
recovery program through adjust
ments. readjustments. cooperation
and patience. It really is up to the
wisdom OF the American business
man to determine whether these new
liberties rendered by this recovery
program shall be preserved and
wisely applied in the future
l have little patience with those
who attempt to split the American
business system into two distinct
divisions: one comprising so-called
big business and the other little
business. The two are definitely
inter-related and inter dependent and
efforts to draw distinct line OF
6emarcation only serve to foster a
harmony. A few DAYS ago the presi-
dent Of one OF the largest business
corporations in the country said to
me: "A mai ior part Of our attention
should be devoted to the small buSi-
ness man. Even from a selfish point
of view large business corpora tions
want small businesses TO thrive and
prosper. The small business man, his
family and his employees make up the
nra iority OF the purchasing power and
the millions of consumers that large
business companies must depend upon
in order to exist" NV friends. that
is a frank and realistic expression
and it is typical rather than an
exception.
Welfare of Small Business.
am pleased 10 report 10 you that
the members of the Business Advis-
ory and Pla nniI.s Council for the De-
'partment Of Commerce. which is COM
posed of executives from private busi-
ness and industry, are deVOting large
amount OF their time and attention.
in cooperation with the Deps rtment
of Commerce. 10 the problems and well
fare of the small business unit and
employees generally. Important among
the studies being pursued are unem-
,~I ..
immediate credit needs of small bust
ness and industry and the applicati tion
OF the N. r. A to the small and me-
dium sized unit.
I fully recognize the disturba nee
that comes to the business man who
asks himself the question as to where
the money is to come from TO meet
the extra emergency needs for money
under the Recovery Program Asso-
cialed with this question is another
which Is. is business going to be 30
reeimented that 1t cannot look for en-
couraging future rewards of profit in
business? The answer to these
questions is found partly in our ex-
perience during and following the
World War. Prior to the war. the
Federal Budget was met in an impor-
tant way through customs taxes. but
with the enlarged expenses incident TO
all-consuming conflict. requiring four
or five times the annual budget re-
quired before the World War. a new
method of raising funds to meet the
Federal Budget had TO be devised.
This took the form OF an income tax.
This income tax is based upon busi-
ness profits For the Government TO
destroy this source OF revenue would
mean that it would have to recon-
struct its entire fiscal program and
certainly no such plan will be coun-
tenanced. Hence, it is that the Gov
ernment must encourage business
profits in order that the Government
itself may survive and function. The
increased indebtedness in this emery
encv period can be met gradually. as
business gets on its feet. earns profits
and divides the same eQuitably and
Justly with the Government to balance
its budget. This does not mean that
business will be shouldered with ex-
cessive taxes, for it is plainly evident
that this would prevent the return of
normal and prosperous conditions.
Sound taxation is just as much key
to recovery as any other single factor