Evening star., 1936-04-28
Jobs OR TAXATION
BUSINESS CHOICE,
ROPER DECLARES
Commerce Head Addresses
Leaders in Opening of
c. of c. Session.
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
OF 10 POINTS OUTLINED
fundamental Concepts of Ameri-
can Industry to Be Maintained,
Secretary Promises.
BY J. A. FOX.

DI j. n. EoAs
American business was told today
by a spokesman for the admnistra-
ton that there must be re-employ-
ment or a longer period Of increased
taxation"
Addressing several hundred leaders
in trade and industry, gathered here
for the opening session of the twenty
fourth annual convention of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, Secretary of Commerce Roper
emphasized that IF a substantial
measure of increased unemployment
does not take place, the taxation for
relief purposes will come largely from
business earnings"
He outlined a 10-point program to
enable business to cope with the un-
employment problem.
Listeners ReaSSured.
With his warning, however, Roper
coupled an assurance to his hearers
that "it is not the desire or purpose
of your Government to destroy those
fundamental concepts and principles
of American business and Industry
which have made possible our ma
tional wealth and progress"
He said also that the Federal Gov
ernment proposes to turn back to
local rule many of the responsibilities
that have been assumed during the
depression"
Roper's speech attracted particular
attention because it was known that
it had been scanned at the White
House before delivery.
In its course, he called for mutual
understanding between Government
and business same plea that
was made in the opening address
earlier today of Harper Sibley. pres
ident of the chamber. which for
months has been at loggerheads with
the Roosevelt administration.
Roper was warmly applauded at the
conclusion of his speech.
Program Summarized
The Commerce Secretary summar-
ized his business Unemployment pro-
gram as follows:
A survey of the needs and con-
ditions fro mthe viewpoint of en-
ploying as many persons as current
improvements and future programs
demand
Formation of industrial commit
tees to study chronological unem-
ployment and methods for speeding
up the transfer into other fields
of workers replaced by machines.
Stimulation of the durable goods
industries.
A home-building program.
Foreign trade expansion.
A long term useful public works
plan with national, State, local and
private endeavors co-ordinated.
As Improvements in productive eff
cheney are secured, consumers should
get the benefits of lower cost of pro-
duction, the secretary said. He added
that business also should make in
tensive research studies of the rela-
tionships that should be maintained
with respect to production, wages and
hours of labor"
Education Program Urged.
Business" he continued, must rec
ognize and apply its best endeavors
to fundamental educational program
involving methods and efforts to get
the States and subdivisions to reas-
sumo their social responsibility as soon
as possible, to study economies in
government and the promoting of self
respect and mutual responsibility in
the individuals and in the groups and
organizations of our citizens"
Roper's recommendation that busi-
ness undertake survey of unemploy-
ment had been anticipated by the
chamber, whose directors late yester-
day authorized special committee to
see what could be done about restoring
the millions Of jobless to pay rolls.
The Secretary also said his depart
ment is now making study of en-
ployment and unemployment in an
effort to get an intelligent and ace
quate picture of the situation.
Truce With Government Urged.
In his address, Sibley sounded a
call for cessation of hostilities between
business and the Government and the
application Of common sense" to
cure economic ills.
He emphasized that the great
(See CHAMBER. Page A-3.)