Evening star., 1934-05-01
CHAMBER TO- OPEN
ANNUAL MEETING
U. S. Commerce Group to
Review New Deal To.
morrow.

Business Is ready to review the first
year under the new principles laid
down in the national recovery act and
to chart its course for the future.
Bringing leaders from fields Of COM
mercial activity, the Chamber of Com
merce Of the United States tomorrow
will open its twenty-second annual
meeting here. Today, as the delegates
were gathering, there was prelim-
mary session of the national .coun-
cilors at chamber headquarters.
This group had lunch at the Will
lard, where the awards to winners in
the 1888 inter-chamber fire waste and
health conservation contests were
made. Tonight at 7:30 the American
section of the International Chamber
Of Commerce will have dinner at the
Mayfower Hotel. The speakers will
be Secretary Of Commerce Roper and
DIR. William Mather Lewis, former
president Of George Washington Uni
versity, who now heads Lafayette Col
lege.
Seek New Trade Practice.
Outstanding among the proposals
to come before the chamber, it was
disclosed today, Is one for new trade
practice legislation, which has the
Endorsement of prominent leaders in
the organization.
It entails codification in q single
law what business can and cannot
do-virtually new antitrust legisla-
ton. There was no indication that
replacement of the N. R. A. was con-
templated, but consideration of the
proposal was viewed as requiring
more definite enunciation by the
chamber to its attitude toward the
recovery act. Proponents felt that
consideration should be given to the
establishment of definite legal prin-
ciples of fair competition, founded on
experience gained from operation OF
Clayton antitrust and Federal Trade
Commission acts. Both have been
criticised in the past by the chamber
as being too restrictive.
AS a collateral issue, the business
men will be confronted with a survey
from 100 cities, covering various
aspects of the recovery act.
AAAAo Woo SSAARAASo Ny 4aCohASAAA2Ak
member organizations. and disclosed
that about 40 per cent reported very
material benefits under the recovery
program. Inversely, a large propor-
ton reported certain special detri-
mentS.
Employment Gains Seen.
The summary also reported that In
centers with much industrial de-
velopment there had been a marked
reduction in unemployment since
January !, 1888, running up to 40
and so per cent in number q
cities and even higher In q few"
ITO the Question Of whether or not
there were any special detriments
traceable to N. I. r. A., there was a
general response" the summary said.
"A minority Of the responses were
to the effect that there we're no spe-
cial detriments observed. A large ma
jority reported detriments, however.
There was a large group Of COM
plants about unequal consideration
for employers and employees, with 90
much favor to the latter as to cause
disturbances, the effect Of which upon
recovery locally was feared.
There was almost an equally large
number of complaints based on an
increase in costs without ability to
get a corresponding increased in
prices, with varying degrees of appre-
hension expressed by reason of this
condition.
There were several expressions to
the effect that there was local detri-
ment because of the uncertainty with
respect to future national action re-
lating to labor, as well as other mat
ters under codes.
There was some testimony about
the troubles of restaurants and other
small enterprises in trying to pay the
minimum wages that had been fixed. u
Sales Resistance Not Seen.
To the question whether there was
sales resistance because of increased
prices, the summary stated that,
many cities reported no sales resist
ance on account Of increased prices
Rather more reported varying degrees
of sales resistance.
"All the responses received from
such States as Kansas reported sales
resistance; in some instances with
fears of a buyers strike locally. In a
few instances there were statements
that there was a tendency for original
sales resistance to disappear"
Regarding the settlement of COM