Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-10
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

An interesting NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ioi
Relief of Ireland, River Improvement.
Bankrupt Law. Electoral Law, Reduced
Duty on Railroad Iron, Etc.-Propnsed
SCHOOL, of Forestry-Sswdust, Sheer
Blooms and Mendota Slough.
st the meeting of the Chamber of Com
marco, yesterday forenoon, President Sibley
presented memorial to Congress, asking
that liberal appropriation be made from
the National treasury for relief of the desti-
tute people of Ireland, and that the Presi-
dent of tho United States be authorized to
employ steamship to receive and transport
TO Ireland the contributions of the charitably
disposed citizens of the United States. The
resolution was unanimously adopted.
Resolutions of tho st. Louis Merchants
Exchange, urging adequate appropriations
for improvement of navigation of the Mis-
sissippi river, were presented, concurred IN
and directed to be transmitted to the Mime
sofa delegation in Congress.
OCEAN STEAMSHIP LINES.
A memorial from the st. Louis exchange
for United States mail service by American
vessels between New Orleans and Rio ia
metro, was read and referred to the commit
tee or transportation.
The mercantile committee reported in ia
vcr Of the national bankrupt law proposed
b. inc Boston board of trade. Mr.. lugersou
stated that the committee had fully exam
ined tie proposed law and thoroughly en-
dorsed it. The report was adopted.
Gen. c. C. Andrews was elected director
OF the chamber TO I'LL the vacancy occasIoned
by Horace Thompson's death) and accepted
the position with brief thanks.
A memorial by the board OF trade Of Bos-
ton, asking Congress to promptly provide
for Tho settlement of electoral disputes, was
read and agreed 10.
\ resolution was adopted directing tire
appointment of a committee OF three to IN
quire INTO the expediency of memorializing
Congress fer grant of lands to endow
school of forestry at st. Paul, and If the
same is found expedient to report 2 memo
rial and bill accordingly; and G. c. Andrews,
L. B. Hodges and W. L. Marshall were ap-
pointed such committee.
The special committee on sawdust and
nill-drift distractions Of river navigation,
reported that bill for abating the nuisance
had been introduced in both houses of Con
eress, with fair prospects of being passed,
although tie saw mill men are preparing to
fight it vigorously.
Mr.. Wilson reported that gates will be
put up at the street crossings Of the st. Paul
Z Manitoba road this week, and was ia
strpcted to report further next Monday.
STEEL, IRON AND PAPER.
The projected Sault Ste Marie railway
being mentioned, Hon. James Smith, Jr.,
remarking that il IS useless to talk about new
railroads with iron and steel at their present
prices moved that the committee on leSisia-
zion be instructed to memorabilia Congress
for reduction of the tariff on rails. The
motion was adopted, and the committee has
since prepared the following memorial:
To the Senate and House of Representatives %
the United States in Congress Assembled.
Your memorialists, the chamber of CON-
merce' of the city of s.. Paul, respectfully
represent that the present exorbitant price OF
steel and iron rails, the result as we are in
formed and believe of combination of the iron
masters of the country rendered feasible by the
present high tariff these articles, by which
they have raised the price of steel and lrn rails
so as to prevent additional railroad construc-
tion demands, we believe, the leg islative inter
position of Congress.
That the price fixed by this combination fol-
these articles far exceeds the reasonable cost OF
their manufacture and fair profit thereon.
That in the infancy of our manufacturing
establishments, n reasonable protective tariff
seemed necessary, but now, with our improved
machinery. abundant supply of iron ore and
other articles used in the manufacture of rails
skilled labor, etc, no such protection is neces
sary.
Mar lrnaJc and thn tons uS al ors c,
necessary 10 the settlement and development
of this State and elsewhere are projected, and
but for the combination aforesaid, would be
completed during the coming season.
These enterprises are now paralysed, and I'M
less an effectual remedy can be applied by Con
gress, at the present session by repeal or reduc-
ton of the present prohibitory tariff, must be
abandoned.
We most urgently request that such legisla.
ton may be enacted as will protect the agricul-
tural and commercial interests of the country
in the premises.
The fact that such combinations exist or are
possible as those latel! made to raise the price
of iron, paper, and other articles so necessary
to the business interests of the whole country
aught of itself to induce proper remedial legis-
lation.
Wherefore your memorialists pray that the
matters aforesaid may receive speedy and IA
vorable action by Congress.
And yonr memorialists will ever pray, etc.
February 9th, A. ID. 1880.
THE sAULT RAILROAD PROJECT.
President Sibley was made chairman OF
the committee appointed on the above pro-
jsct at last meeting, and the committed was
instructed to call meeting with the Mime.
apol!s committee, for memorializing the
legislatures of Wisconsin and Michigan in
behalf of the project.
Mr.. MoClung offered q series of resclu
items setting forth the recommendation f s
board of engineers convened by Congress al
st. Louis in 1877 that sheer booms be PLACED
TO pass RATS by bridge piers OF the Missis
sippi, and urging Congress aud the secretary
of war to cause that recommendation TO b,
carried out. Also, declaring that the slough
at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mis-
sissippi is an injury to navigation, but coult
be filled at small expense, and asking tina
Maj. Allen, IF the engineer corps, be re
quested to report upon closing that gap be
tween the two rivers.
Adjourned.
Queens Evidence"
Tho Graves combination opened at thu
Opera house last evening to a rather small