Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-30
RICHaoxD CusToM-HOusE.
Action Of the Chamber Of Commerce
on Proposed Hostile Legislatfos.

a special meeting on tne DOaIu VI III
reciors Of the Chamber OF Commerce We,
held Yesterday evening. Present; X. r.
Blankenship. president; George A. Ainshe:
first yiee-presideni; r. a. Dunlop, second
yice.president; George l.. Christian. y. L.
Cotirell. :. II. Halves, Robert 5. Bosher'
John :. Elicit, Henry BodeEer, W. NJ
Archer. and j. II. Wbittv.
President BlankeBsaip stated that The
meeting was called 10 oonsidertbe Interests
Of Richmond With reference 10 bill when
has been introduced in Congress proposing
10 abolish The Richmond custOm-bOuse, or
rather 10 merge IL into the yorktown dis
tricl. After due consideration ana dls-
cussion the following preamble and resolu'
lions were adopted:
Where's MIR. Breckenridge, OF Arkansas.
Of the request q the Assistant secretary OF
the Treasury. has introduced bill in the
House Of Representatives proposing 70
abolish certain cudom-houses Z" because
they arc not seli-susiaining -; aud whereas,
in evident misrepresentation OF the facts,
The city Of Richmond l. included In the
list. the design being % have but two Gus
tom-houSes in Virginia-One AZ Yorktown
and the other NJ Norfolk and Portsmouth;
BfSolred. That the Hon. George ID.
Wise. The representative OF this district ~
Congress. he earnestly requested 10 see The
honorable Secretary Of the Treasury. or hls
assistant. and the Hon. Mr.. Breckenridge
and The proper committee, or committees
and rcpres1ht 10 them the following facts:
/. Tn1 the collector Of customs at Rich
nond not only discharges all OF the usual
duties pertaining 10 that office. but acts a.
the custodian Of the bullding-a building
which now holds the United States circuit
and district courts and the offices OF The
United states district attorney, The acting
assistant surgeon United States marine
hospital service, and the United States in.
terna-ievCnue collectors, Second district.
and the city pO-t-Otiicc; and under con-
gTesional Appropriation the building i
now being nearly doubled in size, so thai
il the Office Of collector Of customs be
abolished al that his services cost. and
moro. would have TO be paid 10 q custodian
Of the building.
.. After an examination OF the facts We
insist that the custoD-hou>e here IS SeU-
sustaining.
The following figures will show what
were the receipts and what The expenses
truly chargeablc 10 the custOm-h0u,e Tor
the two year, past-yiz.:
Receipts Of 1921. $3.50 ~
Expenses ...... ..-.......-..... ''fV1 Vo
Excess for this year.........s S1l 4d
Receipts Of 1881. ................cs.3J5 -
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. o,4Vl -
Excess for this year. ,98 30
3. While we entertain no doubt that.
Judged by the strictcst business rules, the
custom.house here i seif.sustaininE, II !.
were not 80 the Government would be do
INC Us Injustice by looking al this fact only.
Some ofhCr things should be considered,
for instance, in the wear $50 about 1Up
steamers entered and cleared from this port.
and greater number Of vessels come INTO
fbi. mort that are not required 10 enter and
clear. but have 10 bear the inspection OF an
officer in examining their paper.
Tie prosperity Of our trade, especially
tlat OF tobacco, from which the United
states Government derives such q large
revenue. j. largely dependent upon Thu
shipping business; and II must be rcmcm-
Tered. TOO. that Richmond j. one OF the
largest ports " expectation OF American
manufactures on the south Atlantic coast
the -four interest alone amounting % nil-
lions OF dollars. 80 situated are we geo
graphically with reference 10 Yorktown
aud Newport News that 20 require our
customs business 20 be transacted al either
place would be imposing great hardship
upon this community Richmond and Man
chester Of $4,000 people.
II ere are a great many other reasons
why tie Custom-hOu-e should not De- con
sohdaicd with any other. II would bc
| tedious 20 state them here. hut should the
| CpportUnity De presented us "" VIII Tee
clad 10 bring them before the proper par
! iies. either in writing or 10y committee,
| feeling well assured that Richmond l. m
| pr0pcrlv listed. and that an investigation
vii Cad>C tDc DVNCi niu. az &c rec tht'' -
| cording 10 al its laws, conditions, and pre-
cedeuts. we are entitled 70 have The col
lcctor Of The port located here.
ON motion OF Mr. Archer II was also
ReSoiued. That the Grain and Cotton
! Exchange. and the Tobacco EXchange. ana
/ the Commerc1al- club Exchange each be re-
| qucsied to take such action in this c0nnec-
! ton a. will express their views.
! In this connection Mr.. Blankenship read
the following letter, and the Board then
adjourned
! House OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF 1. :,
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 3, 1885. }
Il. T. BlanLepSkip, Esq.,:
Dear Sir,-Your favor OF the 2jth instant
10 hand. have been in consultation viii
! MIR. Breckinridge, Of Arkansas, upon The
! subject mentioned in your letter. and WI
| do all in my power 10 prevent favorable
! rcpo,t upon the bill named by you. MT
| Breckinridge expressed himself as willing
! Ia listen 10 arguments, and has arranged ioi
| auotber conference. ] am inclined q TIE
opipion thai he will WELD 50 far a. Rich
mond !, concerned. Yours truly.
GEORGE -. WISE.