Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-17
New Chamber of Commerce Head
Hopes for Huge u. S. Budget Cut


Washingtonian to be elected
president of the United States
Chamber of Commerce, is still
working at his first job.
Forty-two years ago he went
to work at the Woodward &
Lothrop department store as a
salesman. He is now senior vice
president and director.
There have been numerous
efforts to lure him away from
Eleventh and F streets NV. He
never gave them a thought.
His election. reported by The
Star in late edition Friday
was announced formally at a
press conference yesterday at
the chambers big building. He
takes Office April 80, succeeding
John S. Coleman. president of
the Burroughs Corp. of Detroit
His philosophy of business and
Government naturally comedies
with that of the organization he
has been chosen to head. The
chamber has an underlying
membership of 2.5 million bust
nessmen in all parts of the
country.
Discussion turned quickly to
prospects for cuts in Federal
spending. OF the pending $71.S
billion budget of the administra-
ton he said:
Hopes for Huge Budget Cut
"Conservatively, So billion can
be cut out, and that figure can
probably be raised to IS billion. -
The chamber. he said, should
accelerate its efforts to curtail
the spending plans of the admin
istration. He added his personal
opinion is that it is the respon-
sibility of Congress to cut the
budget.
The chambers directors an
nounced' they had authorized the
organization to work for a cut
of 1881 million in farm pro-
gram expenditures, and of se01
million in the foreign aid pro-
gram.
Asked about proposals to raise
postal rates. Mr.. Talbot laid he
believes in the pay-as-you go
policy. He also gave complete
support to the chambers posi-
ton in opposition to Federal aid
for schools.
Mr.. Talbot believes that busi-
ness will be good this year
better than last year, but not
with the percentage of increase
1856 showed over the year before.
Tight Money" Not Alarming
He said he had not seen 1.-THE
horrible effects of tight money
some profess to have seen. He
added that there may be some
relief coming He explained he
had no specific information on
this but that he believes the
Federal Reserve Boards actions
have come pretty close to serv-
ing their purpose" He FASTENED
to add that he does not disap-
prove the boards course.
Mr.. Talbot. who lives in Ar
lington. described himself as "a
Harry Byrd Democrat from Vir-
ginia." He said of Senator Byrd,
He is a great personal friend,
and I admire him greatly" Mr..
Talbot said he had voted for Mr..
Eisenhower in the last two cleo
tions.
In response to question he
said he recognized that the Fed
eral payroll is of prime impor-
tance 10 the Washington areas
business and industry. But he
said that as an American citizen
he recognizes the necessity of re-
ducing Federal spending.
He also said he believes there
are reasonable prospects for con-
gressional action this year on
giving Washington the vote. But
he said he would not try to use
his office in the interest OF any
single jurisdiction.
Father Country Doctor
He was born February 10. 1896,
on a 35-acre farm at the north
end of Fairfax County. \ ad-
Joined Falls Church and about
half of the acreage is now the
site of houses.
His father, DR.. Thomas Mel
vile Talbot, who died at 81,
practiced medicine in that COM
munity for more than IS years.
But like all doctors who farm
land. he never made a nickel"
from the farm, Mr.. Talbot said
Mr.. Talbott's mother was born
In England. but was brought to
this country at the age of one.
Her father was a Congregation
alist minister who lectured
throughout the country on the
then Chatauqua circuit.
Young Talbot went to West