Evening star., 1937-12-05
TALKS HERE SEEK
SLUMP REMEDIES
| Lawmakers and Economists
Confer for Program to
Halt Recession.

Anxiety over business decline
Nhich has developed with unprece-
dented rapidity during the past four
months is stimulating frequent in
formal conferences in Washington
among legislators and economists, 1t
was learned today, in the hope that
some program might be devised which
would halt the backslide
These searchings for a panacea are
Independent of administration con-
sideration of the problem at this time
although all are based upon hopes of
formulating plan which could enlist
Government support.
Senators Meet With Douglas.
One of the most important of such
conferences was held on Friday when
10 Senators in conservative claSsifica-
ton met with Louis Douglas, former
budget director, to reach virtual agree
ment on some of the things considered
most essential to preventing another
exhausting depression
Revision of business taxes, budget
balancing and foreign trade stimulants
were generally felt to be most neces-
sary.
On the same night five other SEN
ators. more than a dozen members Of
the House, several Government econ
omists and several representatives cf
organized labor met at the Cosmos
Club to discuss the same problem.
Although no group conclusions were
reached, several present at this meet
ing took quite different view from
that favored at the earlier delibera-
tions as support was voiced for re-
newed Government spending and in
dustry was severely criticised for mo-
nopslistic practices. In this instance,
recent indications of relaxed Govern
ment vigilance ever business practices
were referred to with disfavor.
Private Programs Urged.
Other conferences similar to these
two are understood to have been ar
ranged for the coming fortnight. Co.
incident with these discussions, con-
sideration also is being solicited for
privately devised programs of in
dustry labor Government co-opera-
ton.
Among the latter is a plan for en-
couraging voluntary agreements of
industrial government, worked out by
Edna M. collars, formerly of the
N. r. A.. and submitted in duplicate
to each member of the House.
In brief. the collars plan calls for
Government encouragement and en-
abling legislation which would result
in formation of binding industrial
agreements, arrived at voluntarily In
itial agreements, it is suggested, would
concern themselves principally with
wage and hour standards, with protec-
ton of rights of labor to organize and
bargain collectively.
The plan provides for a Federal me-
diation board and calls for legislation
giving the Federal courts jurisdiction
over appeal from such a board The
voluntary agreements would be given
legally binding effect
Another plan, submitted to con-
gressional leaders by B. L. Crandall
1879 I street, would extend the func-
tions Of the Reconstruction Finance
Corp. by authorizing greater freedom
for loans to reputable business enter
prises on strict condition that ex-
panded operations and increased en-
ployment of workers are contem.
plated. Loans to business and grants
for relief within the same area woulc
be kept within a fixed relationship te
each other.
While the two propositions citec
have the support Of individuals only
group plans also are being debated b,
various organizations During thu
coming week, for instance, the yearly
Congress of American Industry will
meet in New York to attempt to de.
termine a comprehensive policy fol
stimulation of business