Imperial Valley press., 1944-05-11
ERIC A. JOHNSTON SEES
FAR AHEAD AND CLEARLY

Every business man, ana every man
and woman in employment, should know
and study the concise, comprehensive
and logical program for reconversion
after the war as proposed to Congress
by Eric A. Johnston, president of the
United States Chamber of Commerce.
Likewise it would be wise for all interest
ed in this nations industrial future to
keep an eye on this young man Of the
multtudlnous plans set out for the post
war period, his has the ring of fairness
adequacy and feasibility. 1t fits into The
immediate period after the war: it pro-
vldes pattern far into the future. SIM
ply put, his program is grounded i'm
complete confidence in the system of
free enterprise" 1t is not new. save that
it is modelled to meet a changing world
but not remodeled to meet every Whim of
visionaries and crack-pots 1t stays close
to fundamentals. 1t is hberalized to
pace the expansion Of world business and
enterprise.
Not because he is head Of the Chamber
does his program command the respect
of all clearthinllng people He is an
independent thinker. He accomplisheS
things through his boundless energy and
broad understanding of all aspects of
trade and business, of enterprise itself.
that he heads this national organization.
And incidentally, he has revived and
made of this more or less moribund body
a live, vlrile agency in the countryS
business and industrial affairs. For this
he was honOred last week by reelection
rs its president.
In his appeal to Congress to lose no
time in mapping out and putting into
operation his recovery program John
ston summed it up in ten points, worded
in his proverbially snappy, clear manner.
: They are:
Establishment of government policies
favorable to business.
Enactment of laws setting policies for
reconversion.
Immediate legislation for prompt and
equitable settlement of war contracts.
Early establishment of policies gov
erning disposition of surplus war plants
and supplies.
Maintenance of some war controls for
temporary period after the war to
check inflatiOnary tendencies and assure
fair distribution of raw materials and
consumer goods, but their elimination as
soon as possible.
Modification of Oppressive laws and
administrative regulations to provide and
adequate flow of investment capital to
sustain an expanding economy.
Congress should encourage a return
to state and local financing of public
works and should take steps to straight
Ell the financial independence of states
and communities.
Federal and state governments should
correlate their expenditures for public
Improvements with private capital eX-
penditures TO insure the maximum prac-
ticable stability in construction work.
Business through individual companies
and activities Of local, state and national
organizations is doing its part to pro-
mote postwar employment.
The special house committee on post
war economic policy might" examine
present laws and their administration
to determine what factors are acting as
a brake on iob-creation in our war econ
omy.
Nothing revolutionary or visionary
here. The views for a successful country
outlined by successful citizen.
Stressing his whole program. John
ston calls for speed
He knows this nation IS many laps
behind some European powers in post
war programs.
VIII he be called upon to help put his
program into action?