New-York tribune., 1882-04-07
BINKRUPTCT AND THE T1RIFE
MI. EOBBINS's REPORT IN FAVOR OF THE SENATE
BANKRUPTCY BILL REJECTED-MR. HEWITPS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSIONS.
MI. EoBBINss REPORT IN FAVOR OF THE SENATE
BANKRUPTCY BILL REJECTED-MR. HEwIrPs
TARIFF PROPOSITION.
II was evident from the unusually large number
of members of the Chamber OF Commerce present at
the monthly meeting yesterday that something I'M
usual was TO occur; but ii was not until much of
the business had been transacted that the report OF
u. c. Robbins on bankruptcy, the substance Of
which 1nE TRIBUNE printed yesterday, was
presented. Mr. Robbins criticised the Board OF
Trade and Transportation in bis remarks, and he
was severely rcbukcd by +. b. Ihurber and john r.
Henry for his al lusiOn 10 notable failure III 1875
Nr. Robbins asserted that the firm claimed u nave
an active capital OF T7OOUUO, ncludiug a speclai
capital of -, 900. that the general capital had
always been fictitious, and that the special capital
consisted of an unused check which had
that no funds had ever been provided TO meet It.
lie asked that the report be accepted and printed.
+. /. COnhng was the first to take exception 70
the report. 1t was surprise t. hn, nc SAID mat
the subject should be frequently pres snted to the
Chamber, and he objected to the Chamber
9eprovpg erc he hFfRo ony d n4 Tear app'CHyG "so
Mr. Robbins assured him that he wished the report
to he accepted, not approved. MI lmrbcr OBJ
ectcd 70 IT. acceptance 10 It's being deferred for
consideration. lle criticised the part of the report
referring to the notable failure, adding that the
statements were not true and that Mr. Robbins had
frequently called attention to TINS SUBJECT, DelHg
evidently determined to keep the man down
Mr. Robbins denied that he ever referred to this
particular before, ana SAID That all cases of
bankruptcy mentioned in previous reports were
hypothetical. lie admitted that the case now
mentioned was an actual one, and that 1t
concerned - prominent gentleman in the
Board of Trade and Transportation. who
having sworn to check OF Sl23,OOO
with no funds to meet It, still remains member OF
that Board" At this remark all eyes were iurned
10 John r. Henry, to whose firm, which failed IN
ISIS, the alluslOn was made.
Gardner X. Colby objected to the report being re-
ceiycd, as it did not come from the committee but
from Alr. Robbins, and was entirely out OF order
james NJ Constable, member of the committee
hot NJ i'm "a nf fhtr
port but he could not approve 1t.
Mr. Thurber charged that MIR, Robhins's memory
was at fault when ne said that ne had
ports. II was, he said, remarkable statement for
Mr. Robbins TO make that the courts under the
Lowell bill would DC no better than "a rOgues asy-
um, and then to say that 1t was a bill carefully
prepared after much labor. lie could not reconcile
the two statements.
John r. Henry said that he knew from several let
tcrs signed by Nr. Robbins, and from expressions Of
h so0 l@ le smoke tS OF Tho acabe M Hc'Ga fau4 rrrGf It
Interested, and Mr. Robbins had made every effort
to crush rival house. Mr.. Henry was called to
order by one of the members, whereupon several
demanded that MIR. Henry be permitted TO defend
himself. Mr.. Henry then went on, saying that as
tins ease had been cited, and a. 1t bore also Oh tho
what the check had TO do with the hypothetical
case In October. 1865 a special partner was ad
mltted 10 his firm, who put In 3I25,OOO in cash.
4 few years after"ard other partners were
taken in and III the customary way of
transferring interest the special partner
gave II check to transfer his interest
from the old to the now firm. lie charged Mr. Rob
bins with Intentionally mlsqu0ting and mlSstating
the facts in frequent Instances:
Mr. Ihurber moved that the report be not re-
ccVcd. that the committee be discharged. and that
the Chamber reafirn It's former approval of the
Lowell bill. lie wits told that not being member
OF the committee hc could not move for Its dis
charge and then Mr.. Constable made the motion 10
discharge the committee and il was carried. The
Chamber declined to accept the report, and reat-
trrpa ifa al Of
Gustav Schwab presented resolutions from the
Committee on Foreign Commerce and Revenue
Laws, urging Congress 10 take speedy and favorable
action on the resolutions OF Congressman Hewitt
in regard 10 tariff Reform lie spoke OF the rosoiu-
tous emD0dying the only safe Just aud practical
reform in the tarIit and declared that Mr. lcWits
Congress since The present tarlt went into effect The
resolutions wero 10 the effect that the proposition
OF Air Hewitt would lead To a speedy and satlsiac-
tory solution Of the neutrality-suspicious. tarl reform,
and that II The most simple and safe Tea just
ment of duties on imports. u. e. Robbins support
ed the resolutions.
Charles ;. Smith said d" think Mr. Schwab has
stirred up a big hornets nest IN presenting these
resolutions. am not prepared Ia take free trade
suga-cO.tod ~ It l. there. Mr. oWltts prOpO,lOnls
frcc-tradc almost absolutely" lie was not an favor
of commission. the membership of which should be
confined 10 lawyers or congressman, but lac believed
IN a commission or eNperB which should include
merchants. Such commission would throw light
upon the subject, and he wanted light he moved
that the subject De ald over for Consideration at
special meeting. The matter was deferred until u
special meeting Oh April 10.
Royal Phelps, chairman Of the Washington Ne
moral Committee. reported that the COMMITTEES had
virtually completed It's labors. j. q. a. Ward the
sculptor, had agreed 10 furnish the monument for
S.}3 900 OF which about $4,000 had been sub
scriDed. Richard NJ. Hunt, the architect had sub
mittod LIS dr" ings for pedestal u the Secretary
OF the treasury The monument viii be ready 10 be
unveiled on November -. Daniel Drake Smith
called attention 10 the recent death of Francis ;.
Lathrop, "A member of the Chamber for many years
and resolutions were adopted IN recognition OF
Judge Lathrop's reputation Tor ability, intelligence
and uscfu ness ia official aud private lie Is Is.
Sherman. Howard Potter and William l.. Dodge. jr.
were appointed tO nominate officers for the ensuing
year. A committee was also appointed to make
arrangements tor the ono hundred and fourteenth