Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-28
Cheer Marks U. S. Chamber PorIey;
Delegates Optimistic on Future
by BETTY MILES
star stan Writer

BY BETTY MILES
star stan Writer
Recession7
Some have heard Of II. some
have felt II, but II hasn't hurt
the mood Of representatives OF
the business community from
all over the country who. are
In town this week.
Optimism Is the keynte A.
mong delegates 10 the 46th
annual meeting OF the Chamber
Of Commerce Of the United
States.
At least. so q sampling Of
delegate opinion at q reception
held by the board Of directors
yesterday in the Chambers
building at 1915 II street would
indicate.
Most OF the delegates Ques-
toned felt fine about business
back home right now, and
were equally buoyant about the
future. Some have felt an eco
nomic pinch. but even these
were bullish about business
prospects.
Asked about business con-
ditions today. and prospects
for the future, this is what
they said:
Larry Owen. manager Of the
Chamber Of Commerce, Rapid
City, s. D.: Business has been
good, and employment up.
There are more people In Jobs
and fewer looking for them. We
have diversification. We have
agriculture-our agriculture is
devoted to livestock-and that
has been good the past year.
We also have a Strategic Air
Command base. manufacturing
and milling. AS to the future,
I think II depends on the veloc-
ity with which money is spent.
OF course. II bad economic
areas in the country stay that
way. we're not isolationist. it
will affect U.S."
Holman ID. Pettibone, chair
man Of the board Of the Chi
cage Title and Trust Co.,
Chicago, H.: There's no re-
ceSsion. I'd call 1t an overdue
adjustment. and ! think it's a
healthy one. Conditions in
Chicago reflect the diversified
ton Of business there. Some
are down - for instance, the
steel business. Some are a wee
bit better. Merchandising is
down a bit. Real estate and
housing have been of, but
they are improving with spring.
I think in the next quarter
well see spotty changes"
Walter r. Carey, president,
Automobile Carriers, Flint,
Mich: For every bad day we
have today it's going to be
twice as good year from now.
What We need most is a sus-
pension Of the excise tax. /
think in the future there will
be changes in the design of
cars. They'll be really brand
new automobiles every year. The
situation is not good now but
I'm real optimistic. We're not
discouraged. An automobile is
not a luxury anymore. It's a
necessity. Buying snowballs,
and I think suspension of the
excise tax would start 1t of.
Labor peace would help. too,
because 1t would make people
less cautious"
Rufus S. Bedford, executive
secretary Of the Chamber Of
Commerce, BartlesviIle. Okla:
Business conditions are very
good. We have a high per
capita income. Bartlesville is
the headquarters of the Phillips
Petroleum Co.. and Cities Serv-
ice also is located there. We
also have a zinc smelter, and a
manufacturer Of electrical
centrifugal pumps. Our diver
sity keeps our income up. I
believe auto sales have been
affected. but retail stores re-
port as good sales as last year.
and some better. This has been
a funny recession. People got
scared. 1t can't last long.
There's no reason why 1t should
last. ! think people are getting
less afraid now. The United
States has Sputniks in the
air. and there is a lot more
money now that people can
borrow. Before there was
scarcity Of money"
Jack Thaw. executive Sec
rotary Of the Sullivan County
IN. " Chamber Of Commerce:
We're in the tourist country
(Catskill Mountains and &C
cording to the reservations 1t
looks like a good summer. Re-
servations are above normal.
Already rs per cent of the
space in cabins and hotels is
gone. I think it's going TO be
an excellent summer. I can't
understand 1t. 1t shows that
people have money and are
spending it,"
Keith Kafer. manager Of the
Chamber Of Commerce, Iowa
City, Iowa: Business for the
first quarter was better this
year than last year. We have
one Of the most stabilized COM
munities in the country. 1t
seems to have the right amount
OF balance: we have the Uni
versity of Iowa. agriculture, a
small amount of manufacture
ing, including Proctor and
Gamble and Weco Products
plants. / think the outlook for