Evening star., 1936-10-15
PRICE ADVANCES
HIT BY M0ULT0N.
Brookings Head Outlines
Course to Prosperity in
Trade Board Talk.

American business "can lay the
foundation for enduring prosperity"
by following the same principles ani
methods that have been used in this
country for generations, DR.. Harold
G.. Moulton, economist and president
Of the Brookings Institution, told the
Washington Board of Trade at the
Willard Hotel last night.
DR. Moulton outlined five economic
principles which he said will apply
to long run" business growth and
prosperity, and then asserted they are
Immediately applicable, if business
wants to continue the upward trend
that began in 1898.
He pointed out that Q) the social
function of the capitalistic system is
to bring to the masses higher stand
ards of living; (2) maximum profits
can be realized only from maximum
service to the public; (3) the stand
ard of living of urban industrial work.
ers can be raised only by changing the
ratio of wages and prices, either by
raising pay rates or lowering costs of
essential goods; (4) improvement in
the wage-price ratio depends upon the
increasing efficiency of production,
and (5) that of the alternative means
of improving the wage-price ration,
reduction in prices is more universally
effective in improving general busi-
ness conditions.
Should Resist Price Rises.
ITO say that these principles can
not be applied now," DR.. Moulton said
'is to say that the capitalistic system
has reached the end of its growth
Instead, We should be at the threshold
OF economic progress"
He denied that present business i'm
provements were brought about by
rising prices, and asserted that the
opposite is true.
Business should resist rises In
prices" he declared, "and instead
should make price reductions as soon
as possible and as soon as technologi-
cal improvements will justify them.
BY so doing, business will lay the
foundation for enduring prosperity"
James M. Hepbron, acting director
OF the Washington Criminal Justice
Association, outlined the purposes of
that organization and told of the sue
cess of similar Organization in Balti-
more. founded 13 years ago. BY the
presentation of facts and by rousing
public opinion, he said, the Baltimore
association has improved conditions
from one arrest in six crimes to one
arrest for every two crimes.
Early Trials Cited,
In the Maryland Capital, he said
the courts are trying 80 per cent of
all criminal cases within three weeks
and the prosecutors are only about
three days behind the grand Jury in
the presentation of criminal cases.
Elghty-seven per cent of the cases
tried, Hepbron said, result in con-
victions.
THE same results can be obtained
IN Washington" he said. 1T all de-
pends upon whether you want efficient
law enforcement or whether you are
willing Just to let nature take its
course"
Operation Of the association. he
said. will cost about $4,000 per year
He urged the board members to give
thelr financial as well as their moral
support to the movement.
motion pict1Iro ebou,;ro ~.
common causes of highway accidents,
prepared by the New Jersey Depart
ment Of Public Safety, was presented
by the boards Traffic Committee
headed by Col. Lawrence C. Crawford
Col Crawford pointed out that last
year Washington's death rate from
motor accidents was about II per
100000 population, in New York and
Milwaukee the rate was 10 per 1Oo,-
600; in Philadelphia, liz, and in Los
Angeles. where the city regulates
pedestrians, the rate was 80 per 1OO,-
600.
Hits Ticket Fixing.
Fixing of tickets and the reduc-
ton of penalties, because the guilty
person is good fellow is simply
contributing to the death and acci-
dent rate" he said. ANY Judge or
other official guilty of permitting
ticket fixing and mitigation Of penal
ties is guilty of aiding and abetting
the accident record"
William A. Van Duzer, director of
traffic, urged the board members to
take the drivers test now being con-
Quoted at his Office. Wednesdays, he
said, have been set aside for Trade |
Board members to visit the driving |
clinic"
Gen. Albert L. Cox urged support |
Tor the annual Red Cross roll call, |
and J. L. Martin asked for aid in the |
current membership drive of the Y. |
M c. A.
Edgar Morris. new president of the |
board. made his first public appear
ence as presiding officer.
A buffet supper followed the gen.