New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-11
THE MERCHANTS PROTEST.

THEY JOIN HANDS WITH The fAhhEho'
| MASS MEETING AT COOPER INSTITUTE In FAVOR of
CHEAPER YREIGHTs BY RAIL AND CANAL -
SPEECHES by MAYOR HAyEHEYER, A. W. TkS'
NEY, y. d. MoULroN, JAMES W. HUSTLED bHAD-
FORD L. PRINCE, AND OTHERS.
The meeting in favor of cheap transportation IN
the hall of the Cooper Union last evening. was nos
az IMPRESSIVE in numbers nor weighty In compo-
stion "a might have been expected from the multi
tude of the chiefs of trade in this city whose names
were annexed to the call. In the respectable audi
ence which filed the forward rows Of seats, bot lett
hare spaces in the broad interior OF the ball. was
small representation of the considerable merchants
Of New-York sprinkled among heteroeene-
ous assemblage Of small shop-keepers, cierKs
laborinu men and not few boys. 1t was evident
that most of the principal members OF the mercan'
tile community while aroused to enough Interest," IN
the movement to give their names to summons iof
a gathering in its favor are not yet sutnciehsy oH
thusastc to encourage the effort by their presence
and energy OF action. The platform seats containeu
a few prominent men beside the officers OF the
meeting. among them Peter Cooper, State
Senator Foster, Israel L. Hatch OF but'
falo, Franklin Edison, Messrs. Williams d. Guon'
VIM. blanchard b. p. Baker, Alex Delmar. Stephen
Brush Jeremiah p Robinson. N. NJ. Caleb, JOS M
Lea, 4. f. Browning. Geo. q. Jones, and others a
little before o'clock the members Of the COMMITTEES
ON TRANSPORTATION of the United States Senate-ths
Hon. VIM. Window Of Minnesota, Chairman the
Hon John Sherman of Ohio, the Hon. H. G. Davis OF
West Virginia, Judge Norwood of Georgia, and the
Hon. Roscoe Conkling took seats on the platform
having come from their abors Oh investigator az
tho Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The speeches were received with attention, but the
applause was langud and for the most part confined
to the platform except during the reading OK the
resolutions and the occurrence of personalities IN
the utterances of some of the speakers. The slight
delay in opening the meeting provoked expressions
of impa,ence. The fact that some OF the speakers
could not be counted with certainty, and thai
the appearance of of them was altogether doubt
full till he stepped upon the platform Just before
his turn to speak caused some embarrassment IN tna
arrangements. Two of the expected speakers. Chas.
E. Hill and Gen. w. C. Kibbe were not present. Inc
subject Of the formers speech was to have Deen
"The facilities possessed by New-York City in the
handling of qoodsn that of the latters The capa-
civ of freight railways A large portion Of the
audience was so affected by the magnitude Oh tne
subjects considered and the mass OF details 10 u
taken into account to be forced to retire III gooo
season. The more earnest, however, were patien,
TO the end The managers of the meeting state tna'
their object was to test the force and extent OF
the feeling of impotence under excessive rates VI
transportation developed in this city. The evidence
of last evening was not altogether satisfactory but
the expectation was expressed that the movement
for cheap transportation will rapidly gather power
and earnestness here.
The speakers of the evening were Mayor have
never. A. w. Tennev, +. ID. Moulton, James W. nus
ted. Bradford L. Prince, and 5. ID. Moulton b. d.
Sherman called the meeting to order, and nonh
mated Mayor Havemeyer for President Inc reSoiu
tons were read at the close OF Mr. Ienney speech
At the close of s. ID. Moultons speech, which was
very short, Mr.. Thurber's resolution fayoring the
organization of a Cheap transportation Association
was adopted. and the Mayor named the officers.