The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-09
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.,
Regular Monthly Meeting - Important Ques
tons Under Consideration-The Bankrupt
and Revenue Laws-Memorial and Reso-
lutions To Be Presented to Congress
Report Of the Special Committee on
Collisions at Sea and the Use Of
Electric and Other Lights"

Colh0o09 AZ sea ana tu0 Uso OF
Electric and Other Lights"
The regular monthly meeting OF the Chamber Of
Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, at their
rooms on william street, Vice President Samuel D..
BabcOck in the chair.
Following the approval Of the minutes OF recent
meetings. regular and special, Mr.. William j. Nc
Alpine, on nomination OF the Executive Commit
tee, was elected an honorary member OF the
Chamber.
The resignation of Mr.. A. A. Low as chairman OF
the Executive Committee was submitted and laid
on the table.
The Executive Committee submitted the resigna-
tiOn OF Mr.. Charles A. Macy trustee OF the insti-
tuition for the Savings OF Merchants Clerks, and on
recommendation 1t was accepted and Mr.. Charles
Lanier unanimously elected to I'LL the vacancy.
THE committee also reported the decease OF Mr..
John Armstrong, a trustee Otthe same institution,
appointed by the Chamber. and nominated Mr..
James N. Constable to I'LL the vacancy. Mr.. Con-
stable was unanimously elected.
The committee submitted letter from Mr.. Ben
jamin b. Sherman, President OF the New York
the objects OF the association, which was referred
to Committee No. for consideration.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
Mr.. ELLIOTT C. CowDIN, Of the Executive Com
mittce, submitted the following memorial for the
consideration OF the Chamber
To THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOSE OF REPRE-
The Chamber of Commerce Of the State of New York
70 y1r honorable RSaes in
would be highly detrimental to the pest Interests bust
these interests viii be best pfcmoisa BY amending
" lis total repeal c That they regard as among
sars q creaitos BOTH in and
amount 70 pS. debtor into bankruptcy than is nsess
safeguards than are furnished be provided for Sc
Il tSs & G d SF
s a fe cs
in its now so preudicial 10 both debtors
SPEECH OF ELLIOTT G. ccwDN.
In support OF this memorial Mr. Cowdin said that
covert and very energetic efforts are going on to
procure the repeal Of the Bankrupt law. The recent
nasty action Of the House OF Representatives does
not, In his judgment, reflect the enlightened
opinion Of the country. IL seems to be sudden
orshoot OF that impatient spirit which would re-
form a system by destroying It, For long period
the foremost nations OF Europe have maintained a
bankrupt system. which, though often amended,
has never been abolished. Two primary proposi.
tons should be held-nrst, q uniform nationai
bankrupt law and not q variety OF State
insoivent laws meets the exigency; sec
part Of the settled policy OF the country.
There are equally good reasons for having per-
permanent system Of imitation in regard to the
/ time at which suits can be brought. Mir. Cowdin
closed very argumentatlve speech IN these
WOrds:-
injurious to the trade and industry Of the nation, and
81 to san BE- S @
g rss sy
urging its modification, but against the absolute repeal
Mr. RIrGorEs desired To amend the memorial
with The introduction of "and also safeguards Tor
bona .fde purchasers from the bankrupt" which
was accepted 10y MIR. COwdtn, when the memorial
was unanimously adopted by the Chamber
! THE REVENUE LAWS.
Mr.. JONATHAN STURGES, on the part OF Committee
| No. A. submitted the following in relation TO the
| subject OF the Revenue laws:-
whom the
rss $ ana
ya.i one and the COMMITTEES have ielt mai not &C.
a s preparing IN Act for a he evyaS
Be im@ease and PROBABLY its praeaca elects ot but
oO hs cha@be aae In ny
ocal against the abuses which have sprung
s Of s @
terminate the to these abuses and render
We have seen the United States with every facility for
y @ q sas oa
icus Of poor and svaricions Officers in its own employ.
the at
and e Ts s snSt
wn the o Of every qr In TN the
s,sry IN tine sGs o.
the oath the importer ought with
these Information and appliances
ns to the Question: What duty . to be paid this
s s ~ ae m an aas he
knows whether he sells at pro or loss whether he
every demand Of the United States BE- branded dc.
domcile invaded, his books arbitrarily seized anc his
property confscated such an operation OF the law
lar as your COMMITTEES has been able to learn IS there
When goods are about to be connscatsd under these
@ or ne the
aSss II BY
hs sSs
OF l9ers VINO are aided by minute ana
uncertain meaning, and decisions upon which are con-
The Somttee therefore content themselves at present
with reporting that reforms should be demanded by the
recommend their Adoption
laws under which the CUSTOMS duties are now Collected
complex. cumbrous and difficult understand, and,
Tay
books and papers they too commonly serve as trap tor
honest importers and an encouragement to corruption,
That these evils are 50 great and are exert
that spectully ask Of Congress in the Of the
commerce OF the country, at once to do with oil
awards to informers and all penalties and condscaons
for the benefit OF salaried officers OF the to take
from such officers all arbitrary seizure of books
and and to enforce the sacfedness private
Responsiveness when entrusted the nations keeping in
| the mails
Resolved, That the difficulty of under standing COM
| pick system of customs and the facilities for fraud
afforded BY them are which imperatively
pound duties and the substitution for them of simple
specific dniies Wherever possible
Resolved, That committee Of three be appointed to
present these resolutions Congress in the OF the
Chamber, and to take such other they
deem proper to secure reformatory legislation these
| subjects.
SPEECH OF JACKSON s. SCHULTZ.
The report OF the committee being accepted, Mr..
JACKSON ), SCHULTZ spoke ut length in favor OF
| the passage OF the resolutions. He said that he
was willing witness before the community and
| the country Of what he knew and had seem The
last year had revealed the fact either that there
was great depravity among the merchants Of the
country or that the revenue Of1lclals had been
particularly dtligent ana faithful. He instanced
the great and rreparable injury done BY the