Evening star., 1938-01-16
Chambers
Business
COnmercel
Survey Of
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

OF Commerce OF the United States has
set itself to the task Of helping to in
form Stete and local governments Of the
upward trend In tax burdens and Offering
to cooperate constructively with them
through Its local chamber members, In
finding remedy for the situation.
Although the fiscal situation with
nearly all State and local government,
continued to improve during 1887, as eW-
denced by the number Of governments
reporting surpluses, and by the appear
ance Of relatively few new default situa-
tions, tax burdens have reached record
proportions. Since it Is believed that the
increase will probably continue through
1888, with a possibility Of the total tax
bill being approximately IS per cent
higher than in 1895, this national body IL
concerned with checking the advance by
eliminating useless and unnecessary tax
alton.
The total volume OF taxes in 1885 was
about 10.4 billion dollars-39 billion Fed
eral and 6.5 billion Of State and local
taxes. On the basis of reasonable esti-
mates, the total volume Of taxes for 1887
may reach as high as 118 billion dollars
IS billion Federal and SO billion State
and local. and that the 1888 tax bill may
reach 1875 billion dollars, is the cham.
ber's tentative opinion.
~
Since the Federal Government Is tax.
Ing steps to revise its tax laws with the
object Of eliminating inequities and dis
criminatory features, the chamber is Of
the opinion that there is equal need for
State and local governments to take ac-
tion along the same line and that such
action should no longer be delayed
The hope of the chamber is to be help
full through its affiliated organizations
numbering more than 1,500-in giving
advice, when requested, and to impart
suggestions leading to the formation by
tax units OF more adequate as we'll as
more economical budgets-budgets that
include items essential to State and COM
munity welfare and the exclusion OF
functions that serve only the few. The
Chamber is not opposed to taxes, but it
does take the position that the tax dollar
should be as wisely spent and as eco.
nomically handled as the dollar of the
individual or the business enterprise.
Neither does this national organization
contend that all tax units fail to get
value for tax money expended. 1t does
see many opportunities where tax bur-
dens may be made lighter. and on this
basis the organization is not alone in its
endeavors and hopes.
The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States is not Federal agency.
1t is an independent institution that
seeks to give expression to the business
point of view in the Nations business life
io1,, Inv All
- pose in day when practically every
other segment OF our society Is highly
organized and articulate. Primarily Of
business character in its support and out
look, 1t does not even seek to advance
the interests OF business exclusively.
The chamber exists because there was
and is definite national need for it. It
was organized in 1912 with William How.
ard Taft, then President of the United
States, as one of its sponsors, to provide
central voice for business In Washing
ton-an agency that can reflect to the
National Government the considered
opinions of American business men and
their organizations upon national prob
lens 1t has grown with the years and
is today larger, stronger, better stated
and more widely representative.
long been vital question with the Con.
gress as well as with administrations.
The chambers primary purpose is to
find out what 600, 900 basic members and
their organizations think about current
national issues. It then becomes its duty
to make clear to the Congress- to the
Executive, and to the various administra-
tive branches of the Government the
attitude and desires of business men
upon issues that are national in charac.
ter, timely in Importance and general in
application to business and industry, in
cluding agriculture.
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The national chambers success is at
tributed largely to its method of work.
ing. Hasty action is never taken. Direc-
tors and officers, representative though
they are Of varied businesses in all parts
OF the country. do not determine its poll
cies. This is done by vote OF the organi-
zation membership. The deliberate and
democratic way in which its decisions are
reached is in itself assurance that they
rest upon the carefully canvassed opin-
ions held by business communities
throughout the country.
Each department is headed by a man
ager of experience in his field. Advisory
to each service department Is q COM
mittee OF not fewer than seven or NOR
than fifteen members Effort Is made to
balance each committee by including In
its membership the directors elected t.
represent the department and by select
ing those who will represent different
points of view upon questions coming be-
fore the department for consideration.
The departmental committees advise
concerning the program of activities Of
their respective departments and report
their recommendations to board Of
directors
To degree these advisory committees
take the place of q number Of special
committees, but they do not preclude
special committees in department. For
example, the transportation and commu-
nication department includes, among
other activities, railroads, ocean trans
portation, inland waterways, electric
railways, highways and water transpor-
tation, telephone and telegraph. radio,
aeronautics, and electrical communica-
tions and postal facilities. The depart
mental committee cannot devote suffi-
cient time to each one of these subjects,
SO committees on such subjects as postal
service, aeronauticS highways and motor
transport, inland water transportation,
competing forms Of transportation, city
passenger transportation, and railroads,
have been created as special committees
in that department when required by
the timeliness and urgency Of the par
ticular subjects