The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-21

held at their rooms last evening, the President
Woodbury. s. Dana, Esq, in the chair. The
following gentlemen were elected members of
the Board: Frank E. Allen, Frank Fowler,
Wesley H. Judkins, D. W. Kinsel. The fol-
lowing were proposed for membership: Messrs.
W. II. Mlliken, JOS. 81. Blabon, o. B. Gibbs,
o. A. Staples, Tewksbury L. Sweat, Alpheus
8. Emery and Jacob s. Winslow, and laid
over till next meeting according to custom.
Mr.. Dana said it was intended TO hear this
evening from our delegates to the National
Board of Trade, but any business that was to
come before the meeting he would suggest
should first be attended to-
Mr.. J. L. Farmer proposed the following
resolutions in consequence of the important
business before Congress relating to Commerce.
Mr.. Rich moved they be referred to a commit
tee. Mr.. Farmer objected. Mr.. Waterhouse
seconded the motion of Mr.. Rich that the reso-
lutions be referred to committee, for he con-
sidered them averse to the shipbuilding inter-
ests of the State. Mr.. Farmer said sooner
than have the resolutions referred to a COM
mittee who would bury them cut of sight, he
should prefer to withdraw them. The resolu-
tions were as follows:
Resolved That this Board approve of the Bill be-
fore Congress tor the relief ct interests
by the proposed remission of duties, taxation &c.,
on materials used in the construction OF vessels and
steamers.
Resolued, That while aiding the ship building inter-
ests Congress should 60 further and aid the men Tho
are under the load and carry the navigation interests
OF the country upon their shoulders ship owners
who have been entirely ignored-and induce them to
use their capital and brains to enlarge our tonnage
agaia and restore our flag to the ocean again. thus
giving employment to our idle captains mates, sea-
makers, blacksmiths, merchants, iron-workers gro
GERS provision and outfit dealers, brokers' commits
sion merchants, &C., along our whole seaboard, and
maintain their families by the requiring and run
Mug tonnage under our flag.
Resolved That in order to accomplish this impor-
tant result which will be elt in every department OF
trade 1t is the opinion OF this Board that Congress
should repeal our Navigation laws far at least as
our foreign commerce Is concerned, to allow the
shp-owner free trade in ships, and give him
10 the cheapest market to procure his working TOOLS
ships and steamers; to enable him to compete for
trade on the ocean on terms of equ Atty capital
cost, and ability to navigate as against ships and
STEAMERS Of other nations in foreign ports, believing
this to be the only prompt and method to enlarge
our foreign ocean tonnage and float our flag again
upon the ocean.
After deb ate the first resolution was adopted
and the others rejected.
Mr.. j. B. Brown, as delegate to the National
Board of Trade of the United States, then ad-
dressed the meeting. He said the Convention
in Cincinnati in 1868 was one composed of
men of great ability, and the subjects brought
forward were discussed with great zeal. At
that time politicians were trying to prove to
the people that the national debt would not be
paid, and he was pleased with the spirit
evinced by the members that the debt should
be paid at all hazards. The subject before the
meeting tonight, the merchants and ship
building interest, was another important sub
ject Mr.. Hinkns earned many friends on
both sides for the fairness with which he spoke.
Mr.. Brown said he spoke himself as we'll as he
could on the shpbuilding interests, and these
members from all parts of the country seemed
to feel that our shpbuilding interests should
be protected, but still they felt they should
have the right to buy their ships where they
pleased, subject to a duty like any other arti
Gle of merchandise Mr.. Lynch didn't believe
then he could get Congress to carry bill such
the one now framed. At Richmond the sub
jects under discussion were treated with great
candor and no personal interests were permit
ted to enter the discussions. The subject of
finance was treated very ably by Mr.. Ropes of
Boston. Mr.. Brown was surprised that the
delegation from New York should be against
resumption of specie payments Immediately.
Mr.. Chittenden of that delegation thought it
would be disastrous to the country. The ship
canal around Niagara Falls was opposed by
those in favor of the Erie canal. Mr.. Brown
considered this matter of the greatest import
ance to the State Of Maine, and the Board
would have unanimously reported in its favor
if the members had not thought at this time it
would be unwise to urge it upon goverpme mt.
The Convention in Cincinnati was represented
by IS constituencies, or 35 Boards of Trade
and he hoped that our Board of Trade would
continue to keep up its relations with the Ma
tional Board. The last meeting was held at
Baltimore, and all matters to be brought up at
the next meeting were then talked over. Ev-
erything that the Portland Board may want to
have brought before the National Board they
must make known to the Secretary before the
next meeting. He spoke very forcibly in favor
of social meetings of the Board of Trade: said
he wanted to see something of the kind in
Portland. Everywhere he had been the
Boards OF Trade had them and called them
Com mercal Clubs. At Richmond, Baltimore,
Cincinnati, their Boards of Trale felt called
upon to take their friends to their Commercial
Clubs. In Boston the club meets the last Sat-
urday of every month, has dinner and a
pleasant social time. In Baltimore it is very
pleasant. The members get together, old and
young, read the papers, eat their oysters, talk
and have a real good time, and form better ac-
quaintlnce and pleasant friendships, get bound
up in each other, learn important business
facts and increase their usefulness. He thought
Young men in Portland need not be frightened
if the meeting was called a Club. He should
like to see his young friends get together once
month and have good time.
Mr.. H. j. Libby said he could agree with al
Mr.. Brown said, and had been much pleased
with the zeal with which he had urged our in
terests. He believed in the Niagara canal and
ne peileved in the usefulness of the Boards
and more so than ever since he had visited the
National Board He thought something of a
social meeting like those Mr.. Brown smoke OF
might be gotten up.
Messrs. Dana, Brown and Anderson sover-
ally followed in favor of social club.
An Episcopal Bishop for the State of No,,
Hampshire will be elected at Dover on Wei
nesday We understand that those who wopId
like to attend from this city can have an on.