Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-28
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Important Monthly Mseting-LiveIy
Proceedings.


Commerce was held yesterday afternoon,
the occasion being the regular monthly
meeting. will be seen that the sub
jects of such general interest mentioned
10 yesterdays LEDGER occupied the at
tention Of the meeting. Colonel 4. A.
Nelson, the President, and Colonel l. j.
Dupre, Secretary, we're in their respec-
tive places.
A communication was read from Col
onel M. j. Wicks, President of the Mem
phis ond Charleston railroad, calling the
attention of merchants and others 10 tbs
great reduction of freights on his line to
al points east of Corinth, so low now, it
is believed, as to defy competition with
any other line or city. Received aud
filed.
The following was read:
TCopy of resolution passed in the
Board of Trade of the city of Newark,
December Is, 1869.
Resolred, That the Board Of Trade re-
quest our Representative in Congress to
introduce bill ia the House for the
establishment by the United States Gov
eminent of lines of telegraph in all the
States aud Territories, to be employed by
the Government in combination with the
Postoffice Department.
Attest: r. SWORDS, S:c'y.
Referred to committee of three
Messrs. Mahan, Pickett and Pettigrew.
A communication from the Secretary
of the late River Convention, held at St.
Louis, requesting the payment OF $500
the pro rata assessed on Memphis for ex-
penses of the Convention-was referred
through Mayor Lsfiwich, present, to the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen for pay
ment.
The President intimated that an &C.
count for five hundred dollars had been
presented to him by the Southwestern
Publishing Company, being the balance
due for printing the report of the pro-
ceedings of the late Commercial CoBven-
ton held in this city. The committee
who had charge of the printing had been
appointed by the citizens, and the Cham
Der of Commerce had nothing to do with
it in any form. The members of the
Chamber had been told by the committee
in question that there would be surplls
of seven hundred dollars after paying ell
expenses, which the Chamber expected
tn get, but they had never got it,
[Laughter.] Instead Of getting the
money an account was now presented for
five hundred dollars to pay the balance
tor printing the report of the proceedings
of the convention. Mr.. Cherry was at
that time President of the Cham Der, and
be could correct him Mr.. Nelson) If he
had not fully explained the matter.
Mr.. Cherry--You have explained 1t
quite correctly.
No action was taken on the account.
On motion of Hon. Henry G. Smith, the
President was authorized to appoint
delegates to the Worlds Fair in Russia,
to 90 at their own expense.
On motion of Captain A. 7. Lacey,
the President was instructed to appoint
a delegate to the Marine Convention, to
be held at St. Louis, January 10.
Captain J. T. Stratton novel that the
Board of Cotton Brokers be allowed to
hold meetings in the hall of the Chamber
of Commerce, provided they are men,
bers of the Chamber. Carried.
Captain Pettigrew offered the follow
ing:
Resolved, That q committee of three
be appointed by the President of this
Chamber to petition the Congress of the
United States of America to 80 amend
the internal revenue laws, passed July
20, 1868, as TO allow the establishment of
bonded warehouses, for the storage in
bond of tobacco, stuff and cigars, in all
inland cities containing population Of
forty thousand inhabitants, or more,
thereby extending to them the same ad
Yantages now enjoyed BY cities located
at ports of entry, and that said committee
be instructed to correspond with the
Cham Der of Commerce and Board of
Trade of other inland cities of forty
thousand inhabitants and upward, asking
their cooperation in this matter.
He STATED that under the present ope-
ration of the revenue laws, the mer-
chants of Memphis we're placed at
great disadvantage, when compared With
those of New York and other large cities
that mad been selected as ports of entry.
In the cities he had referred to the tax
on tobacco, snuff and cigars was not re-
naired to be paid until the goods were
sold. while in memphis the tax had to be
paid before the goods were even moved
from the fastofy, Aud no eontended
that if the revenue laws were amended
in accordance with his resolution, the
merchants Of Memphis would be placed
on the same footing as those of New
York.
The resolution was adopted, and the
chair appointed as such committee
Messrs. Pettigrew, ]. B Robinson aud c.
J. Phillips.
The Little Rock railroad business was
introduced by Mr.. VIM. r. Moore, who
alluded to the unfortunate imbroglio
which suspends work on the road. and
said he thought the Chamber OF Com
merce should give some expression on
the subject. After mach discussion, par
ticipated in by Judge Il. G.. Smith,
Messrs. Cherry, F. M. Maban, Lacey,
and others, the following by Col. Jno. B.
Robinson was adopted:
Resolved, That the Chamber appoint
a committee of five members of this
Chamber to investigate the matters of
controversy between the new and old
Board of Directors of the Memphis and
Little Rock railroad, now in the courts
of the State of Arkansas, and to take
such measures as they may think best,
and that will look to the speedy settle
ment Of the controversy now existing, |
and, if possible, to bring about settle-
ment of all the difficulties that now |
exist and report 10 this Chamber, and to
be authorized to call q meeting of the |
Chamber and report the result OF their
efforts.
The President appointed the following
gentlemen as the committee: Judge Fl.
6. Smith, Messrs. W. N. Harrington, g
w. Cover, ]. Y. Rawlings and W. A.
Goodwyn. The meeting adjourned.