The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-20

thus forming n complete history of that sad
event and its attendant ceremonies. Per-
sons wishing copies of it to preserve, or to
send to their friends, can procure them
ut our counter.
Annual Meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce of Richmond
held its annual meeting at O'Clock yester-
day evening, David j. Burr (president) in
the chair.
On motion, the reading of the minutes Of
the last meeting was dispensed with.
The Board of Directors submitted the fol-
lowing report:
REPORT OF BOARD.
"In compliance with the Constitution,
your Board of Directors now present an
outline of their proceedings during the
past year, with general statement Of the
condition of affairs at It's close.
This fourth year In the history Of our orr
panisation optncd utid3r circumstances ex-
tremely unpropitious for its future. The
Chamber was very considerably in debt,
and the original list of membership had
been materially reduced. The action of the
last annual meeting increasing the yearly
subscription FROM five to ten dollars, we are
happy TO report, enables us to give diff
ferent accout of the present state of affairs.
Upon. reference to the report of the Trea-
surer, herewith presented, there appears
list of members reaches 2u9, and there is
iliore interest and spirit evinced in pursuit
OF the objects of the association.
We feel 1t important to repeat here that
| everything depends upon individual parti-
cipation in this pursuit. Your board must
rely Upon this mainly in the investigation
OF matters which concern the different
branches OF trade. II each member will
bring formally to the notice uf the
board whatever interteres in his own eXpe-
rience with the successful prosecution rf
any departments of business, he may then
count cpOn an endeuvor upon the part of
the appropriate committee and the board
, to remedy the grievance. There are many
such impediments from time to time com.
planned of, arising from State and municipal
legislation, from the regulations and rates
vi railroad and steamship lines and other
sources, some Of which may rc removed
with comparative ease, others require hard
work and great perseverance,.
For many long years we have been con-
tending for q system OF taxation which, if
it does not encourage, shall ut least not dis
criminatc against rarital infested IN Dlsl-
rcSa e,i.bio, lncnts. At length this princi-
pie. vital to communities like ours. and so
plainly Just and polite in itself, is fixed be-
yond dispute or evasion, in The strongest
language, by the present Constitution, No
State statutes or city ordinances can now
stand the test Of thn cO.:rts. unless they
recognize the fact that all capital en-
plnyed in business operations OF any kind
must he assessed d7ad tdTed like other pro
pcrty.' When this principle is fully carried
out. we yay expect to see Il larger introduce
ton of capital and greater progress and
growth in the various commercial commune
ties Of the state.
] For twenty wears OF iii0t6 we have been
alse urgt'g Il repeal Of the antiquated uSuiy
laws. At last, by the same perseverance,
that boon also is granted by the new Con-
StitutiOn almost in the terms of our fire.
Qllcnt petitions, and tho anticipated result
has been realized. instead Of mai ing.nionc
! dcarcr. ii has become 1slorc plentiful and
! cheaper. and upon undoubted securities
can he had when wanted ut rates generally
prevalent in commercial centres:
| Other instances might be addlccd Of the
! final success OF continuous efforts to smooth
! the pathway of trade. We mention these
! to encourage the perseverance we recon-.
mend, although i'll many others we have
made little headway, or have been altogether
! unsuccessful.
| From the many subjects that have occu-
pied the deliberations of your board, there
is space here only for Il short reference to
) the most important. The valuable reports
Of some of the standing committees. which
! enter into the full discussion of these, are
! worthy Of 2 careful perliSal.
| The Committee on Inland Trade, who
have had frequent and perpleNing questions
to consider relative to the tariffs and regu-
| lations Of the lines Of Improvement in their
| bearing upon the trade Of the city, have
made a recent valuable report, which cam
not he condensed here to do it justice, and
! is offered as an appendix to this report.
/ In this connection there seems to be two
objects which should always be had in
| view-viZ. : to keep our city upon the main
! thorou9htarc of freight and travel, and to
claim that she shall he treated as a termi-
nus. and not az a way station, in the franz
Ing of tariff and regulations. A city which
affords market for 10000 hogsheads of to-
| bacco and 100000 bushels of grain, with
such extensive manufactures as the report
of the Committee on Manufactures eX-
hibtS, at the head Of navigation on Il large
river, and which has been largely instru-
mental in the creation Of these roads lead
! ing to the interior, is certainly entitled to
! this consideration. And sound policy in
the management of these roads will dictate
! such rules and rates rs tend to add to the
| trade and manufactures of Richmond ; for
| every such addition is but another feeder
on which the roads may rely with certainty
| for increased revenues to themselves.
| 1t is gratifying to refer to the efforts made
! to obtain Government aid in improving
the river as partially successful and likely
! to result III in adequate appropriation.
| The Council of the city have also wisely
| appropriated to the same end. An unob-
structel river channel, which shall afford
abundant water for vessels drawing sixteen
feet, will probably be an accomplished fact
within Il year or two, ahording greatly ln-
creased facilities to commence, and high
way adequate to the wants OF the great
stream of trade which we all hope to sec
pouring TO and from the Ohio after the
same lapse of time.
Renewed attempts have been made in
conjunction with other associations
throughout the country to obtain a reduc-
ton OF the tobacco tax. The reduction
made two years ago from ~ cents 10 %
cents, under the system recommended by
the Tobacco Convention at Washington,
has resulted in such remarkable increase OF
the revenue from this man ufacture that
some concession to the views OF that Con-
ycntiuu, which advised Il uniform tax OF l6
cents, might have been expected ptt so
far, in vain. Nor has any uct been yet
passed according to domestic merchandise
in bond the same protection against damage
or destruction by fire or water as the eA-
listing revenue laws afford to foreign mer-
chandiSc.
Those who have read the very able and
practical speech of Judge Johnston, our
Senator in Congress, circulated in pamphlet
form last summer, and the report from o
special committee Of this body last June,
,1;l MT need anu refnrenca here TO the