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Show ( WASHINGTON TSS ) - . - HEARD tfoTTmTTfl SMALL MLed BUSINESS ggfgjP Killing the Golden Goose I By this time, it is quite well publicized that the auto industry, indus-try, symbolized as Detroit, has been, and is, in trouble. While there are many reasons, rea-sons, both real and fancied, for this situation, undoubtedly a major factor has been interference inter-ference by government in the operation of the industry. This is not to be construed to mean that the industry itself has been without fault, but these faults have not been overcome by government Intervention. In-tervention. There are few, if any, politicians, who could build an engine yet either dir ectly, or indirectly, they are not loathe to put an arm on those who can build engines with labor regulations, safety edicts, and all manner of rules and regulations which do nothing noth-ing but run costs beyond the capacity of people to pay. It can be asked why small independent business should be concerned over this situation. A major fact is that there are some 50,000 firms who supply the auto industry, and a substantial sub-stantial share of these firms are small or Independent And this does not take into account the thousands of independent inde-pendent auto dealers. Senator Robert Griffin of Michigan claims "government mandated gimmicks and gadgets gadg-ets have boosted prices on new cars by $700." He tlso claims that unless stopped, by 1977 that figure will go to 1300. Some of the edicts imposed on car manufacturers defy all logic. For example, a proposed law requires radios installed at the factory, must not only be able to receive AM stations, but FM stations as well, which would add to the cost Independent business people tell the National Federation of Independent Business of many foolish edicts forced on them by government, but proposed law on radios ranks well among the most insane interference with an industry. It is estimated that one out of every seven jobs in the country stems to some extent from the auto. And yet there are government govern-ment officials who would further fur-ther depress the industry and jobs it provides by imposing a new high tax on gasoline. Of course, the rationale for this move is to curtail the dollar dol-lar outflow for foreign oil. But there appears to be a lack of balance involved here. While it is true the price of oil works a hardship on the economy, what kind of a hardship hard-ship would be imposed on the economy if one out of every seven workers were thrown out of work? Despite the alleged alleg-ed faults of the auto industry, it cannot be said that government govern-ment meddling In the affairs of the Industry has created Improvement I T National Federation of Independent Business f |