The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-07
State BOARD OF TRADE
A Few Members Talk About
Country Roads, Cheap
Fares and Ballot
Reform.

The storm yesterday prevented large
the recently organized State Board Of
Trade held at the Board OF Trade rooms
in this city. At three O'Clock there were
present Edward T. Brooks and George C.
Brown, of the Elizabeth Board of Trade;
Francis K. McCully, William Melon and
j. ii. Robinson, OF Paterson Board OF
Trade; George G. McEwan and c. e.
Mcdowell, OF the Newark Builders and
sill, e. NJ. Doane aud William G. Cndlipp,
OF the Jersey City Board of Trade.
Letters have been received from nearly
all the Boards of Trade in the State ex-
pressing their willingness to heartily CO.
operate with the State Board organiza-
tion.
POSITIONS DECLINED.
Allen L. Bassett, of Newark, who was
elected presiden of the new Board. sent
O letter OF declination. Local industrial
interests monopolize Mr.. Bassett's time
DR.. l.. /. Gordon. elected treasurer, also
declined. DIR. Brown, who was chair
man pro tenn. at yesterdays meeting. was
elected IN Mr.. Bassett's stead. and the
matter of electing a secretary was laid
over till next meeting. In the meantime
Mr.. r. M. Doane will perform the duties
of that Office. Mr.. Stelle, of Trenton,
will likely be selected.
Treasurer Francis McCully reported $25
as collections tor dues, with S17.75 still on
hand.
Mr. McEwan suggested a change of
name for the organization, He said the
various exchanges of the State would be
more likely to join under some compre-
hensive name That embraced all organiza-
State Board OF Trade and Exchanges" !"
McDowells motion to amend the consti-
tuition by changing the name was laid
over till next meeting.
SUGGESTED REFORMS.
Mr.. Nelson, of Paterson, thought the
Board should take up the subjects of
postal telegraph and government parcel
post and use its influence to bring about
the establishment OF these proposed inn
provements by the national government.
The latter, he said, had proved of great
benefit to English merchants, and the
only trouble The Postmaster General
would have in instituting it in this coun-
try was the alliance between the railroad
and express companies. The State Board,
he also claimed, should use its influence
in taking away from petty district officials
the improvement of the State roads and
place the matter entirely in the hands of
the county officials
The mean condition OF the majority of
country roads III this State was due
mainly to the system OF allowing farmers
10 repair roads as payment of taxes, and
in most instances neither the roads were
repaired nor were the taxes paid. The
matter of securing cheaper railroad fares
should also engage the attention OF the
Board. SO far a5 he was concerned he
had no complaint TO make. The Penn
sylyanla Railroad Disseminated in FAVOR
OF Patterson, but gentlemen from other
parts Of the State might have something
TO say IN the premises: NJ.
Chairman Brown of, Elizabeth, said the
Elizabeth Board of Trade took that matter
UP, and secured reduction in railroad
fares that saved the city $50, 600 in three
years, and the railroad COM pany prOfited
by the reduction also.
Mr.. Nelson said the Board of Freehold
ers OF Passaic waited some time ago upon
the Erie and the Delaware LackaWanna
and Western Railroad Companies and
secured reduction in the price of the
mileage tickets to $40 per year, payable in
installments with interest. 1t had proved
great accommodation to the poor man
Mr. Mcdowell, OF the Newark Builders
and Traders Exchange, made some in
teresting remarks in the same connection.
Montclair had doubled Bloomfield's popu-
lau0n, he said, mainly by looking futO
this matter. He cited the suburbs of
Boston and New York as examples of
rapid growth of towns that profit by
cheap fares.
MI. NELSON BalQ FdSSalc county QAQ
spent $4,000 in macadeniizing twenty or
thirty miles of roads leading into Pater-
son. Paterson merchants could send
heavy laden wagons ten miles into the
country without having to foot expenses
of break down.
Mr.. j. H. Robinson, of Paterson,
thought the Board should endeavor to
secure law compelling the State to ap-
prOprlate one or two hundred Thousand
dollars for the improvement OF county
roads.
BALLOT REFORM.
Mr.. William Cudiipp broached the mat
ter of senatorial Representations. Itshould
be increased. The same gentleman intro
duced this resolution also:-
Resolved, That the New Jersey Board of Trade
respectfully petition the Legislature of New
Jersey that they will, as possible. pass q
thorough Ballot Reform bill which shall provide
for secret ballot furnished officially, and that
all election officers be appointed by proper
judicial officers with regard TO qualification
rather than their partisan relation.
The resolution was adopted.
Another resolution was adopted petit
tioning for legislation that will tax all
railroad properties on the same basis as
that of individuals.
Postal TelegraphY, Parcel Post, and
Improvement OF Highways were settled
upon Tor subjects Of discussion by the
Board at the next meeting OF the Board,
which will probably be held on the first
Thursday in June in Newark.