Evening star., 1952-05-01
u. ). Chamber 10 Poll
1900 Member Units
On UNIT Enactment
By Froneis P. DoueIos

By Froneis P. Douglas
- The United States Chamber of
Commerce today was preparing to
take a vote of its 5000 constituent
organizations on the question of
universal military training.
The national chamber yeSter-
day repealed its declaration of
last year that UNIT should be en-.
acted at the earliest possible date.
In the referendum to be taken, It
was announced, member organiza-
tionS will express their choice be-
tween selective service as now ad-
ministered and a permanent
UNIT.
Temporarily, at least, Selective
service was given an Endorsement
over UNIT. Members adopted a
statement which said:
"At this time Selective Service
Is the best and most economical
method of supplementing volun-
tary entry into the armed forces. "
50 Policies Approved.
Chamber members adopted
about SO policy statements in all
in the final day of their 4Oth an
nual convention. Among those
approved were ones in which the
organization:
1. Favored repeal of price and
wage controls and reliance on in
direct controls to curb imitation.
p. Condemned President Tru-
mans seizure of the steel industry
las violating every. citizens right
to private ownership of property .
Most Of the statements were voted
on in one package But for en-
phasis the steel seizure statement
was called up separately and
adopted unaniInoHslV.
=. - > 8. Recommended d constitu-
tional amendment to limit the
taxing power of Congress. Leg
islatures of more than 20 States
have asked for a constitutional
convention to act on an amend
ment putting a ceiling of Is per
cent on Federal taxation on in
dividual incomes: The chamber
set no percentage and also urged
that such an amendment be mi
tiated by Congress after public
hearings.
~, Lee Elected President.
One of the final actions of the
annual meeting was the election
of Laurence F. Lee of Jacksonville
Fla, as president. He is presi-
dent of the Peninsular Life IN
surance Co. of Jacksonville anc
of the Occidental Life Insurance
Co. of Raleigh. N. C.
He has served on President
-Trunan's Loyalty Review Board
and on the Dollar Gap" Commit
tee headed by Gordon Gray. He
succeeds D. A. Hulcy Of Dallas as
president. Mr.. Hulcy was elected
board chairman.
Glen johnson, president of the
Roanoke CVa.) Public Warehouse
was chosen as a vice president
representing the southeastern
sdivision of the businessmen's or
sanitation. He served in that
tposition before World War II ami
has been chairman of the Policy
Committee. .... :
Ellsworth C. Alvord Of thu
Washington law firm Of Afford &
Alvord. was reelected treasurer.
The conventions final event
consisted of two dinners, one al
the Mayflower. the other at thf
Hotel Statler. One hotel was moi
large enough for all the diners :
Would Define Powers. /,
Howard L. Barkdull, president
of the American Bar Association
was the speaker at the Mayf1ower
He disclosed that, in view of the
seizure of the steel mills, the
associations Board of Governors
will consider a proposal for a
constitutional amendment defin-
ing the powers, general and i'm
piled, of the President.
The governing board will meet
in Washington three weeks hence
A. L. M. Virgins, chairman
of the board of the Atlantic Coasl
Line Railroad. also touched or
the steel seizure in addressing the
dinner at the Statler. He said
the American people have beer
shocked by the Presidents as.
sumption of power in violation o1
constitutional guarantees of prop
erty rights.
In recommending. that reliance
be placed on indirect controls te
keep down imitation, the chamber
said controls on specific products
such as the curbs on installmen'
buying of automobiles and house
hold appliances, should be re-
moved.
"Rent control" said the cham
ber, being a form of price con
troll, should also be terminated.
The members also Approved
recommendation that the Wag
Sterilization Board be prohibite'
from settling non-economic issue
in labor disputes. These would in
clude the union shop and Sucl