Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-13

lLeIu Ol f6uG COubuu6b plOU uUubu.
About $50 month is expended for post
age. The keeping of horse and wagon
to bring exhibits from the depots en-
| tails an expense of SIG month. Gas,
| telephone, printing, stationery and
miscellaneous expenses cost about $40
more. 1t can Justly be claimed that the
business affairs of the chamber are
wisely and economically administered.
Every bill, including bills of contract,
goes first before an auditing committee
| from which it is referred to the board
of directors.
In conclusion, your secretary asks to
be allowed the privilege of extending
his thanks to the members who have
80 kindly assisted and encouraged him
! in his labors. Nothing has occurred
during the period of his incumbency to
in anywise disturb the harmonious rela-
tions in which it was his good fortune to
work. When entered upon the labors
| OF the Office I could hardly claim more
of the members of the board. had
been associated with Mr.. Wells in the
citrus fair work, but otherwise was
known to the various members only as
newspaper man. Yet | was made
from the very first to appreciate that l
enjoved their fullest confidence and
that nothing less than my best efforts
were expected. 1t gives me pride to be
able now to report that have steadily
during this period put my undivided in
terest and energy into this work and to
be able also to feel that my efforts have
not entirely failed to bring forth good
results.
Frank Virgins, superintendent of the
permanent exhibit, reported that the
room is now in as fourishing condi-
tion as it has ever been, and many i'm
provements have been made during the
year. Substantial additions to the dis
play have been made by San Bernar-
dino. San Diego, Santa Barbara and
Ventura counties. The estimated at
tendance during the last six months, as
taken from the register, shows some
thing like $4,000 persons, whose ad-
dresses embrace localities in every state
and territory in the Union, every prov
ince in Canada and all the principal
cities of Europe, besides China, Japan,
Hawai-, Old Mexico, and South and
Central America. Twenty-eight thous-
and pieces of printed matter on the re-
sources of Southern California were dis
tributed. In six months the exhibit
room has supplied 284 cases of exhibits
to Chicago and indianapolis and thirty
six cases to the state board of trade.
The incidental expenses of the room
and shipping will not average over So
per week. Mr.. Virgins, however, sug-
gests that an amount OF So or $40 be set
aside per month for the purpose of sup
plying any deficiencies in the county
display. The report was adopted.
The committee on ways and means
made highly satisfactory report on the
result of last year g work.
The special committee appointed at
the meeting of the chamber of commerce
December I'd, to report on the matter of
the establishing of Los Angeles as port
of entry, and of Santa Barbara, Ventura,
Hueneme, Santa Monica and Redondo
as ports of delivery, consisting of Eugene
German, Max Meyberg and F. W.
Braun, reported that they had cores.
ponded with j. f. Evans, special agent
of the United States treasury depart
ment in San Francisco. Mr.. Evans sent
them the draft of bill in accordance
with the purpose mentioned.
In the letter enclosing the bill Mr..
Evans discusses it's provisions as fol-
lows:
Section l changes the name of the
district and port from Wilmington to
that of Los Angeles; creates San Pedro
SUPPORT of entry and delivery, and
confers special powers upon the deputy to
appraise merchandise, which leaves the
collector the right of appeal in matters
of classification to the general board of
appraisers at New York. 1t also changes
the residence of the collector to Los
Angeles.
As you are aware, under the improved
condition of commerce at San Pedro, the
port of Wilmington has practically be-
come obsolete, although the official mail
is addressed to that place, situated fully
three miles from the point where the
customs business is now required to be
transacted.
There is public reason, and peculiar
fitness, it seems to me, in changing the
name of the district to that of the lead
ing metropolis of Southern California.
Section 2 makes provision for the ap-
pointment OF officers, to be clothed with
proper authority, when the public in
terests require, at the several ports of
delivery, to meet the future growth OF
business.
Section extends all the privileges, as
you will observe, of the immediate
transportation act to Los Angeles,
whether arriving by rail or water, and
limits them to that city.
The other and concluding section
abolishes the port of Wilmington and
repeals the laws in conflict with the
bill.
1t will be observed that the act of
June 16, 1882, recognizing the districts
of the state, is an amendment to certain
provisions of the revised statutes, and
that bill amending that amendment
would necessarily cause a recitation of
cumbersome matter.
Without commenting further upon
the features of the enclosed bill, I be-
lieve if passed it will serve the purposes
intended, and is elastic enough to meet
the wants Of your district for many
years to come.
The following resolution was passed
under the recommendation of the COM
mittee:
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
chamber of commerce of Los Angeles,
that copy of the bill submitted at this
meeting by the special committee ap-
pointed on the subject of the establish
ment OF Los Angeles as a port of entry
be sent to Leland Stanford and G. N.
FELTON,, senators from the state of Cali
fornia, and to Hon. w. W. Bowers, rep
resentative of the sixth district, and
that they be urged to do all in their