Evening star., 1945-04-05
Legion Opens
Conferenceon
Postwar Jobs
Business Expert Takes
Issue With WLB
Official on Controls

More than go representatives Of
the Government, the armed forces,
business and labor today started air.
ing the production, taxation and
employment problems involved in
postwar goal of 55,000,000 jobs.
Brought together by the National
Employment Committee of the
American Legion, the participants
in the tWo-day meeting at the Stat
Ter Hotel were told by the chairman,
Lawrence J. Fenlon, that "if we do
nothing more than to serve notice
to veterans that their country is
concerned with their future, this
conference will not have been in
vain"
Mr.. Fenlon emphasized that no
one group or organization can assure
maximum postwar employment, but
he said that he hoped that a frank
interchange of ideas at the confer
ence would form the basis for future
cooperative efforts.
Verbal Exchange on Controls.
Tackling production first, the con-
ference heard sharp exchange be-
tween private manufacturer and
a Government spokesman. George
T Trundle, jr., president of the
Trundle Engineering Co. Of Cleve-
land and representative of the Asso-
citation of Consulting Management
Engineers, declared that industry
must be relieved of Government
| controls.
He said he believed that the Legion
goal Of 55,000,000 jobs could be at
| tanned, but it must be done within
six months after the end of the war
and that to do that we have to
have some men and materials now" :"
/ Gustav Peck of the War PRODUCE
ton Board retorted:
When you talk about Govern
ment getting off your backs, you
must remember that the war pro-
duction goal has to come first and
even after Germany surrenders
there will have to be waiting
period until the armed forces de-
eide what they need"
Claims Surpluses Exist.
But, we know there are sur
pluses of material and manpoWer, ,"
Mr. Trundle insisted Let us take
inventory to see if we can get a few
things started now"
{ On the score of producing enough
goods to maintain a high level of
employment, Ebert S. RaWls, men,
ber of the Legions Employment
lCommittee, said peacetlme market
equal to or approaching the insati-
able market of war must be created
He discounted the pentup demand
resulting from wartime restriction!
by pointing out that it was purely
temporary and was not sufficien
basis for a permanent economy O.
abundance
He proposed that instead of plead
| ing for job for each veteran
homeowners should be sold on tht
idea of putting new roof on thell
home which would provide more
jobs for veterans.
Taxation Is Discussed
Taxation also came in for 1t,
share of attention. Irwin H. Jones
member of the Legion Employment
Committee, declared the Legion fell
that while there must be Govern.
ment protection against monopC lis.
tic business practices, I'VE must, too
eliminate hampering regulation.
based on the erroneous principle
!, that production in large volume
large-scale financing, and large
, scale operations, are, in themselves
monopolies,'
He declared that maximum pro
J duction at the lowest possible cos
can only be developed if it is freec
, from Federal restrictions and illogi.
cal taxes that serve to discourage
| risk capital.
Selective Service Director Levi;
f B. Hershey. Secretary of Labor Per
, kins. Brig Gen. Frank T. Hines. ad.
. ministrator of veterans affairs. anc
other ranking Government official.
> are expected to express their view
on veterans problems and the Gov
ernment's part in maintaining max
, imum employment during the two
. day conference.
ARl RI n