Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1953-12-25
Ohio Chamber Com.
Urges Liquidation Of
Govt. Competition

SSNI' ~OiIi PC itiiOll
COLUMBUS, O., Ohio busi-
ness will urge on Congress, con-
vening in January, the liquida-
ton Of government-owned enter
prises which compete with free
competitive industry, Ohio Cham
Der of Commerce President c. /.
Weaver announced Thursday. De-
cision to make a strong effort
along this line, as part of the
organization demand for reduc-
ed government spending, came at
a meeting of the Board held in
Columbus.
Mr.. Weaver said the Chambers
Board reviewed a survey pointing
out that American taxpayers fl
nance the countTy's biggest hold
ing company" of large and small
businesses which are administer
ed at Washington, most of them
consuming taxes, none of them
paying taxes, as do the private
businesses with which they COM
pete"
These businesses, according to
a recent study of the Council of
State Chambers of Commerce, of
which the Ohio Chamber is a
member, includes credit insur-
ance, electric power and distri-
button, atomic energy, and mis-
cellaneous.
As Americas largest holding
company, the Council study ex-
plains that the Federal govern
ments S30,500OOO00O investment
in business-type enterprises would
equal the equities of stockholders
IN the % largest and best-known
corporations.
The Ohio Chambers action sup
plements a position taken in June,
1853, by the Cleveland Chamber
of Commerce which advocated the
sale of Federally operated busi-
nesses as one means of reducing
the national debt and helping bal
ance the budget.
These similar actions by the
Ohio and Cleveland Chambers are
timely and should be welcomed
by the Congress-, said Mr.. Weav-
er. Several actions taken this
year by the Eisenhower Admin
istration and the Congress indi-
cate a reversal of the trend to-
ward socialism which marked the
preceding two decades.
These actions include the au-
thCrization of the sale of gov
ernlnent-owned synthetic rubber
plants, Congressional approval of
liquidation of the r. F. c., sale
Of the Inland Waterways Corp
Grafton transportation system, the
reaffirmation of states rights in
the 'tidelands', removal of Inter-
ior Department opposition to priv
ate development of the hydroelec-
trio potential in the Snake Riv-
er, House approval of priv.
ate development of Niagara River
power, and denial of funds for
a new IVA steam plant"
A number of the governments
enterprises make money while
others operate at a loss, accord
ing to the Council report. Income
from the profitable businesses, it
is estimated, total nearly S3,0OO,-
0O0,000, while losses are nearly
S400O,000,000, with a net loss of
$1,000 100000.
In contrast, the % private corp
orations cited above paid nearly
S5,000,000,000 in taxes in 1852,
exclusive of excise taxes collected
from customers; paid to stock
holders more than $2,OOO,OO0,OOO
, which was again taxed; and put
, back 81, ,500,000,000 into their bus
| inesses for improvement and ex-
pansiOn.
In analyzing types of business
in which the government is en-
! gagged, the Councils report stat
ed:
THE new Hoover Commission
: will find some of the governments
business activities in direct COM
D petition with taXpaying private
!, enterprises. These include much
of the Governments electric pow
er production and most of its
transmission manufacturing, con-
struction, printing and retailing
r activities of the armed services;
4 and possibly some of the lend
], ing and insurance programs. In
. Continued on Page Two)
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