The Portland daily press., 1872-11-13

BOARD OF TrApn.-The regular meeting Of
the Board of Trade was holden yesterday after
| noon. After reading the minutes of the last
meeting the Board proceeded to ballot for new
members III. w. Hart, George A. Whitney,
Francis Fessenden VIM. H. Fessenden, Fred
erick Fox, w. w. Latham, Daniel Brown,
Albion Keith and James E. Prindle were elect
| ed members.
The President of the Board in behalf of a
committee appointed at previous meeting to
confer with the Harbor Commissioners in rela-
| ton to the condition of the harbor, reported
| that the harbor was in danger of being checked
by the amount of sand dumped into it by unau-
thoriZed persons. Several cases were reported
in which the sand ballast of ships has been
| thrown directly into the channel Ii would appear
| that the Harbor Commissioners have not suff1
| cient authority to prevent this.
Prof Pierce is TO visit the city soon for the
| purpose of investigating the condition of the
| harbor and it was recommended that the atten-
| ton of the authorities be called to his report.
A brief discussion arose, participated in by
Messrs Washburn, Haskell Jose, Palmer and
Others which resulted in the passage of the fol-
That the President of this Board and Gen
Anderson be a committee to confer with the
Harbor Commissions and report at further
meeting.
1t was then suggested that as the powers of
the Harbor Commissioners were limited, it
might be better to take some further action.
Accordingly the following motion was made by
Mr.. Palmer;
That this committee take into consideration
and report to the Board upon the propriety of
the City of Portland asking the Legislature for
an extenson Of the power of the Harbor Com
missioners, authorizing said Commissioners to
employ and pay an engineer and such other aid
IN oversight CT encroachments in our harbor.
Also TO establish salary for said Commission
ers not exceeding $500 year.
The motion had passage.
The delegates to the National Board of Trade
then reported to the meeting. Mr.. T. G. Her
sey gave very interesting account of the pro-
ceedngs of the National Board He stated
that the subject of reciprocity received favora-
BILE attention, though it was evident from the
expressed opinions of the delegates from the
Dominion Board that there was decrease of
interest in the malter. A reciprocity treaty
should be negotiated at the earliest day poss-
Bile. Even now it is too late to get renewal of
enO dpIoSdteu Treaty, DeCduSe u rcVOltUiOu mas
taken place in the Canadian trade. Mr.. Hersey
also referred to compulsory pilstge and other
local charges, saying that the sentiment of the
Board was against them. The matter of ship
subsidy was also brought up, but the feelings of
the National Board was strongly against it.
An invitation was extended to the Board to
hold their next seesson in Portland, but it was
subsequently withdrawn in favor of Chicago, at
which city the session will be holden
Gen. Anderson was the next speaker. The
General said it had often occurred to him if it
would not be better, ON the scove of economy
at least, for the Portland Board to withdraw
from the membership of the National Board.
But his visit as delegate had changed all that. |
He found that the interests of Portland were
discussed as thoroughly as at home. Indeed
the interests of Portland were identical with
the interests of the country. He found the
Board opposed, simply as an assemblage of
business men, and not as a body Of partizans,to
the prevalent tendency to intrust the control of
the telegraph and other institutions to the gem
eral government. The speaker thought it best
that the same delegates should be sent to the
National Board year after year, because they
were familiar with the routine of business,
understood the calibre of the men whom they
met, and could speak with more freedom and
effect before familiar faces The influence of
the National Board upon Congress is increasing
year by year. Its opinions upon matters per-
tanning to the great interests ofthe country have
great weight. If Portland wishes for proper
consideration of her interests by the National
Legislature she must have recourse to the Ma
u Ill. fAI-.
cred at each meeting of that Board is published
in advance. Let our local Board call meetings
and discuss these subjects and thoroughly post
itself upon them, then our influence will be
felt.
Mr. G. Fl. Haskell, the third delegate, indors-
ed the remarks Of Messrs Hersey and Auder-
son, and made fervent appeal for the abroga-
tlon of the head money on alien passengers, as
it was an unnecessary tax upon the future bone
and sinew of the country Boston had abrogat-
ed it, and now four lines of foreign steamships
run to that port
A lively discussion then arose upon the mat
ter Of head money, in which Messrs. Kimball
Haskell, Palmer and others took part. Mr.
Kimball brought up the point that Portland, by
taking head money, subjected herself to the
uanSer VI having tne Immigrants, VINO might
become paupers, thrown upon her for support
He also strongly advocated reciprocity.
The discussion culmin ated in a motion by
Mr.. Haskell, that committee of three be ap-
pointed to make report at a meeting to be /
holden Friday, the 18th inst. at 230 p m :, in
reference to abrogating head money. The COM
mittee consisted of Messrs. Haskell, Kimball,
and Morris
The Board then adjourned.