The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-01-20
National Board of Trade

| National Board of Trade, Captain II. G..
Taylor, United States Navy, read a
paper on the progress of work on the
Nicaragusn Canal and the important
commercial results to follow its con-
lstraction. Captain Taylor says thst
the requirements of commerceLmak axe il
certain that there will be transit for
ships between the Atlantic and PACING
Oceans. American engineers are now
on the ground, re- surveViDg the route
and making final location of the liHe
OF the canal q
J. Nj. Miller. manager Of the StOning
ton Steamboat line, followed. He said
thst the international commerce for
western States, seeking an exit through
the Mississippi, is ready for the market
of South Anne. lea. The minerals, grain
and lumber of the Pacific States and
Territories await new and shorter
channels to ca tern markets. What
may be the development of the
trade of Central America, the
future must show; but to-day, the ton.
mage exists to yield to the Isthmian
Canal. IL per cent. on a capital of $780,
600 600 Mr.. Miller argued the superb
GRITTY of the Nicarag ia route, and de-
clared that England and Germany stand
ready to avail themselves of the'oppor-
tunity, should it offer, to control this
route.
No action was taken upon the sub
ject.
Postal telegraphy was taken up.
swers to the questions he had sent to
QnrIOR q
of the London Chambers o. Com
merce. Mr.. Murray, in substance,
said the purchase and operation OF
telegraphs by the British government
were successful as far as the service was
concerned, but not financially to the
postottice.. The quickness, certainty
and secrecy of service was improved
| under the postoffice management. TIE
increase OF employ in the postal
service had not been productive of
| political evils. The inducement to get
up new inventions in telegraphy was
| not so great under the government
| system, as if the system was in private
| hands. The recent reduction in tolls
have been OF great benefit to the public
| the number OF messages sent having
increased SO per cent, but the revenue
| has increased only per cent. The
almost universal popular sentiment is
| against a return to private manage
ment wires.
| Mr.. ThGrber, in speaking, said the
| British government had paid for large
| additions ia the plant out of the current
| receipts. and If the telegr8phs had not
each year paid the interest on
! bonds issued for their purchase, if they
| had been credited with these betterments
| and with free service OF the government
| depar tment, they would have been able
to show credit sufficient to pay the in
terest on the bonds, and if-they were
Ycredited with the increase of services
given the public beyond what private
teiegraphs were taken over, it woulI
show an enormous balance on the Gre
| dit side
Erastus Wyman. of New York, spok e
In opposition to government control,
claiming the British reports showed q
steady deficit, and to meet it the whole
population was called upon, and that
few could use the service; that the SER
vice was bad. being tardy and uncertain,
with no redress for gross negligence.
Ii the British telegraph system, in a
circumscribed area, showed 81, 800 600
year. the deficit in the I'm ted States.
with its great area, the me system
would show deficit of $4,000, 900. II
the United States adopted the system.
it would Increase the employees 100. 900,
and those employees would feel bound
to work in the interest of their i'm
mediate employers.
The resolution was adopted, assert
ing that tht usefulness OF the
postotiice department should be
extended in the direction of tele-
graphic communication and Congress
was urged to fayorabiy consider
the question as early as possible.
The executive council was directed to
memorabilia Congress to provide for re-
ciprocity with Canada.
The question of the abolition or the
reduction of the internal revenue tax
occupied large share of attention. II
also resolved that recent events have
shown the danger TO the business in |
terests OF the country, from govern. !
ment continuing in time OF peace, the |
excessive taxation which was necessary !
IN the time OF war. The large surplus |
In the Treasury ties up the circulating |
medium which is the life of commerce. |
exposes people to still greater taxation
IN the shape of high rates of interest.
acts as menace to industry, dwarfs
business enterprises, gives the Treasury
power over commerce which was never
contemplated, and is constant temp
tatlon to extravaganza in the admins
tration of government.
RESOLVED, That the bu mess of all parties.
protectionisss or freetraders, should
unite In demanding an early action BY Con.
gress, to reduce the present enormous
revenues in the 1reasury by means which
WILL least emharrass existing industries.
Resotped, That while it is desirable to re-
luce internal taxes. 1t is not desirable to 4
s9oish the internal revenue system as a
whole.
The resolution embodying the pro-
position to recommend total repeal OF
internal reYenue taxes failed