Evening star., 1936-05-01
BUSINESS SCORES
PAY-HOUR CONTROL
U. S. Chamber Resolutions
Demand "Hands.0ff"
Policy by Government.
BY j. A. FOX.

mitted to a bluntly worded declara-
ton Of non-interference by Govern
ment.
Two resolutions adopted as the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States concluded the final business
session of the twenty fourth annual
convention late yesterday served
warning that the organization Is pre-
pared to resist any efforts to tinker
with wages or working conditions,
whether by revival of something akin
to the defunct National Recovery Ad-
rninistration or by any other legisla-
ton. Concurrently, it Endorsed the
Unemployment study just ordered by
chamber directors.
When government attempts by leg
islative means or executive nat to i'm
pose upon business rules of conduct
pertaining to such matters as wages,
hours, conditions and terms of en-
ployment, or other restrictive meas
ures interfering with free play Of eco
nomic forces, 1t retards both the ma
terial and spiritual progress OF the
Nation" the chamber said.
Again Oppose Codes.
Coupled with this was a reiteration
Of opposition Ito the imposition of
codes upon industry by administra-
tive or executive authority"
These are our sailing orders for the
coming year." President Harper L.
Sibley said as the complete report of
the Resolutions Committee was adopt
ed without dissent.
In demanding self rule for business
the chamber practically called on the
Government also to depart from the
problem up to management.
Business would ignore its gravest
responsibility if 1t failed to provide the
greatest possible degree of economic Sc
curity to the individual it was de-
clared. The attainment of this end
SO necessary to the furtherance OF
American ideals will require not only
the maintenance of high wages. but
likewise q constructive solution to the
complex problem of security to the
individual when he or she has out
lived their capacity to earn CON-
Portable living. Here again, interfer.
ence by government in attempts tc
reduce the whole complex problem tc
one of legislative formulae can only
postpone the final solution by making
1t more dificult for business to as
sumo its own obligations in the matter
Employees Also Warned.
"By the same token, too. employees
must recognize their own response
bilities and refrain from the arbi'
trary imposition Of any terms aI1t
conditions of employment which tenc
TO impair or destroy the inherently
mutual interests of both employer.
and employees"
Because of the known difference o.
opinion in the chamber on this whole
subject, the resolution was expected
to stir some debate, but 1t slid through
without discussion.
AS had been expected, the $803,'
100000 tax bill just passed by th'
House came in for vigorous condem-
nation. Coupled with a demand fol
TeOuCJ1On expenditures, l1lC
Der asked for a complementary reve'
nue. bill whose levies would be equita.
bly, distributed.
THE bill now pending in Congress
Is not a measure of this kind, and
should have no place in the legisla.
ton of a period of economic recov-
cry" the fiscal resolution added
This bill has been brought forward
without consideration of the reduc-
ton which should be made in ex-
penditures. There would not be the
revenues which have been indicated
The chief features are not designed
as means of taxation. but are at
tempts to regulate the management
of American corporations at a time
when in the interests of recovery
and Unemployment business enter
prise should be free from arbitrary
impositions."
U. S. Competition Opposed.
Opposition to Government compe-
tition with private industry was re-
stated, but the ambitious water power
program (such as Tennessee Valley
was dismissed with the statement
that hydroelectric development lis a
proper function of private enterprise
and should not be undertaken
by the Federal Government"
In the face of a warning by Sec
retary of State Hull that commercial
rivalries are threatening another
world war, and that the reciprocal
trade agreements fostered by the
United States standing as the prin-
cipal barrier to recurrence of such a
catastrophe, the chamber recon-
mended that its own facilities be used
to determine how far this reciprocal
policy is hurting American agricul-
ture, or any other enterprise, and
that corrective measures be taken