New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-11
Chamber Of Commerce.

4 special meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce was held last evening.
After the call to order ths secretary read
the request for the meeting. signed BY
Messrs- Coyle. York. Slay back. Moultou
and Fosdick.
Mr.. Fosdick stated the seques. ior the
meeting was caused by the action of the
Senate OF the United States in passing a
bill placing a military dictator in control Of
the mouth of the Mississippi river.
President Cglesby stated the Chamber
had taken some action relative TO tha. nat
ter about a year ago.
| The secretary, Mr.. Burweli. read the re.
port of the meeting Of last April. in which
the report of the committee on distinctions
at the mouth Of the river, and a yesoIu.
ton relative 70 them. had been adopted
Mr. Fosdick said hs was willing to grant
/ that the Chamber had taken such action
! last year, but it was hot Of such kind as
would bind session Of 1874. This was a
legislative body. and had reorgan;sei this
year. The action OF last April does not
prevent members iycm expressing their
opinions on the subject now. He read the
bill nov before Congress. and desired to
| offer series of resolutions expressing the
opinions Of shipowners and agents os the
city regarding it. The association was
composed OF representatives Of shipping
houses Of New Orleans. An article had
appeared last Sunday rdicuiine them, but
that was no argument against them. The
interests OK the shipping coming TO
this por: were not t. b. affected
that way. If the argument used was good.
then the principals Of these agents should
know what was their interest. Tho effect
Of the bill before Congress would be to put
a military dictator at the mouth Of the
river. with power 70 ssy to the master ct
ship. "fou shall only so in Che mouth OF
the river when choose" In the hands of
a corrupt individual there is material tor
an immense fortune. Time is money. and
many . sssse! would pay him $1,000 or
$500 to get into the river. Another reason
for opposing the bill! would be that there
would be combination in New Orleans to
prevent certain vessels from entering. For
these reasons he opposed the bill. He did
not want guardian over his affairs, nor a
man TO say when his Sesse! should come
in or stay ont. The article Of Sunday says
there are no shipowners in New Orleans
He read list of about dozen. lie had
been . member CT :he Chamber 70: twenty.
eight years, and owed it an apology for no:
attending more to the meetings; but he
hoped it would express ;ts disapprova! of
the bill now before Congress. Wha: would
be the result if such a measure were intro
duced regarding New York Why. such q
storm of indignation would ensue that the
member advocatius:: would ts forced to
yaoate his seat.
Mr.. FOsdick submitted series o: resc,r.
tions declaratcry OF mis- opinions as ex.
pressed in his address.
Judge Kennard said Ls had heard OF the
resolution, for the frs. time as they were
read. lie had given considerable attention
to the bill now before Congress, and had
watched its course. I: seemed to him i'm.
proper for tho Chamber TO express the
opinion Of i: tina, Mr.. Fosdick desired. Tue
original bill Introduced hy Senator West
had met with considerable opposition at
frs.. on other grounds than those suggested
by Mr.. Fos,!ck. hal been referred TO the
appropriate committee. which had reported
the bill! as now passed by the Senate. 1t is
not proper for this Chamber to cri,icise the
action of Congress a: this stage. When the
blk has assumed more d. finite shape, when
al! objections made TO it in Congress have
been satisfactorily dsposei Of, when the
bill has BECOME a law. then i. will ba time
to do this. Il the bill is Objectionable. the
opposition !. Congress will chow that. If !!
it is unconstitutional the courts will afford /;
a remedy against it. There Ia. been com. !
peteht coiamittee hero 20 investigate this !
very matter Of obstruction. ii: the !
mouth OF the river. The greater !
part of its s;me was devoted !
to hearing testimony Oh that point The I
ship agents had an opportunity to be heard |
before it. They CANA TO the conclusion
tha. a hyperion controlling power wa. neces'
sary. They resolved to pm: step to the |;
abuses iha: exis: there BY tho operations
OF the tow boa. company. Tha. is the plain
English Of it. and this Chamber should not
denounce or even criticiss the action of
Congrs III tie matter. 1: is beneath the
dignity OF this body. which for gears and
years has been enGeavoring to accomplish
the purpose of the bill. to call TO account
The action OF Congress. which ha. supreme
sway over such matters They know what
hey are about. The whole country ex poets
them t. pus d stop TO the abuses which
eopardize the prosperity of our people,
md they intend 20 do il. Any action on
he part of the Chamber would be prema-
rre, and hamper Congress in its efforts to
emove the distractions to commerce.
Judge Howe. in order to tes. the senee Of
he Chamber, moved to lay the resolutions
N the table: but that discussion might not
70 checked, withdrew the motion.
MP. Fosdck. in answer TO Judge Ken
ard, said be did not consider the action
The measure did not affect the |
'hole country. but only New Orleans. 1t
vas q species o: specIal legislation He
nIght stand entirely alone iu opposing it.
ut he believed it was ag ainst the interest !
New Orleans. He was cory the Tow
oat Association was brought into the dis
ussion, but was ready to meet the issue on
hat point. That association did not OBJ
truct commerce. II it did. Bath. Maine,
Ihich sent one-third of the commerce
this port, would send down
er own tow wboats. That argument had |
cen used in the papers as a lever on Con
ress. The bill established military die ;
~ IT, | ;,