Evening star., 1941-12-04
Roosevelt GREETING
Is Read al Session
OF Law Officers
Cox, o. {. IA. Counsel,
Tells Of Progress in
Defense Setup

Outlining in comprehensive de-
tail the emergency organization OF
the Government for national de-
fense, Oscar 6. Cox of the once ct
Emergency Management declared
today that the whole machinery was
moving forward with one main OBJ
jective, the defeat of Hitler and the
other aggreSsors
Mr.. Cox was the first OF series
of Federal offlcials who explained
the operations OF strategic Govern
ment agencies before the opening
session of the National Institute of
Municipal Law Officers at the May
flower Hotel
Roosevelt Letter Read.
President Roosevelt, in letter
read to the conference shortly after
il opened, greeted the city legal ad-
visers and commended them on their
gathering Al this time. The Presi-
dents letter, read by William C.
Chanler of New York City, president
Of the institute, said:
The institute meets at a time Of
great crisis in our national life, when
new problems will present them
selves constantly in connection with
the carrying out Of our program Of
national defense.
The splendid experience your
members have gained in the past
few years will be OF real help in
ironing out the legal obstacles which
are bound to arise
Y have full confidence in the
ability Of your members to meet
every issue squarely, and ! hope the
forthcoming gathering will be Of
great help 10 all who participate"
Problems Complex.
Mr.. Cox, who is general counsel
Of o. r. M. said the defense ornani-
cations were complex because the
problems they have TO meet are
complex.
The organization also changes to
meet new and different problems as
they arise in the fast moving world
picture" he said. If one focal point
were TO be chosen 10 describe the
function OF the intricate Federal
organization for defense, 1t would be
the defeat Of Hitler and the other
aeereSsors. To aid this main ob1ec-
tive, the organization is now eeared
II may not be perfect. but 1t has the
will, the support Of the public and
the capacity 10 toredoOm the fate OF
the Axis"
President Chanler Of the institute,
declaring that the world TODAY was
In ''lawless state, state OF
ararchy." said that democracy itself
faced hazard Municipal govern
ment should take the situation 10
heart, he said because city govern
ment as such represented the very
foundation Of democracy.
Calls for Pledge.
He called on the law officials to
pledge to the President and the
American people that we stand
ready TO defend our liberty with our
lives, our property and our sacred
honor"
David Ginsbers, general counsel OF
the once OF Price Administration
characterized the price bill passed
last Friday by the House as com
modify price control bill only, and
not an anti imitation bill" He said
it was as thoroughly considered as
any measure recently before Con-
gress
Will Study Many Problems.
The three-day conference, at
tended by corporation counsels from
cities in most Of the States, planned
to take up many problems, such as
the rights Of municipal employees to
bargain collectively with cities and
to sign labor union contracts, the
effect Of the national defense pro-
gram on municipalities, the lack Of
suficient home rule" powers to al
low freedom in action to expedite
municipal affairs, and many other
problems of a similar nature.
Among the speakers listed during
the conference are Undersecretary