The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-05

| violation Of an act OF Congress. ,-,s
TIe hoard of directors of this Association
.as,ructed 10 take such further action ma
| :. Joonns necessary 90 secure the redress de-
80 and 10 report 10 all the local assoeia-
tons of this central body the result OF their
efforts.
Mr.. Shropshire offered the following
amendment. which was unanimously adopted:
And that each trade centre memorable its
representative in Congress TO act IN concert
80 correct this monopoly. which IS contrary
| (, the spirit Of the general Government.
The voice of this convention. composed as
it was Of nearly two hundred business men,
rep esenting directly eighteen trade centres
of che South and West. and combined CAPT.
tai Of 800. 100000 is entitled to great con-
sideration. Especially is it entitled to con-
sideration from the Government when II ad-
dresses it respectful message concerning
the vast interests il represents. IL IS proper
to say at the outset that this was non
partisan body of citizens, composed OF he-
pubhcans and Democrats alike. brought
together by common business IN
terest These business men say 10
you, Mr. Wanamaker. that the uurestrict-
ed growth and development OF that
port Newport News is a matter OF vital I'M
portance TO these great sections Of our coun-
try. O.. the West and South. They also
tell YOU that the United States and Brazil
Steamship Company. an applicant for Gov
eminent aid under the bill passed in March.
/ 1891. ito promote commerce." IS engaged IN
an avowed act Of discrimination against that
port. They further declare it as their conyic-
ton that tho award of the contract to that
line while engaged in discrimination against
the port of Newport News would be "a 0reof
injustice 10 the Nouh and West and q direct
violation Of an act of Congress-
In the discussion Of these Newport News
resolutions on the floor of the convention the
great city of st. Louis, with twenty delegates
headed by such distinguished merchants as
Messrs. jacob Furth and J.. q. Scudder, took
the lead. They declared the development OF
Newport News 10 be a matter Of national I'M
portance. rs being the shortest route from the
great centres of tho Mississippi Valley to the
sea and with existing rail connections the
quickest and cheapest route by which
the coffee OF the Brazils could
reach the largest body Of consumers
in this country-and urged that such
q port should receive the fostering care
Of the Government under the provisions OF
the bill TO promote commerce. nsupport OF
this view Mr.. G. =. Huntingdon speech. made
March 10th at Newport News, was quoted. in
which he declared that Newport News should
have been the great entrepot of American COM
merce. because of its magnificent and COM
modious harbor, neither cold in winter nor
hot in summer" and because it was the CEN
ire of the great Atlantic Coast Line and
finally they urge you, Mr. Wanamaker, to
refuse t. make this Government a party to a
conspiracy between New J ork coffee import
ers and the United States and Brazil Mail
Steamship Company TO discriminate against
this important port.
Representatives of New Orleans. Memphis,
Nashville, Knoxville Atlanta, Macon and
other cities followed with speeches in the
same line. Ia the course of the discussion
it was stated that last November the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad Company. put on
a line Of steamers from Newport News 10
Europe: that the business of the West. as
if only waiting for a chance TO move along
this natural route, almost Immediately out
grew the facilities Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Company for handling 1t at Newport
News. and that now one million of dollars
of Terminal improvements at that point were
under contract. These improvements en-
braced new piers, additional trackage and
everything necessary for the easy, safe and
economical handling Of the business, and
they will be finished on the 18th Of April.
1t was further stated that few days before.
1000 cars Of freight were at Newport News
being loaded into steamers for foreign ports
We cite thus fully these speeches made in the
convention to show that it was a thoughtful
deiberatiye body that it acted with full
knowledge Of the subject as that subject af-
fected the vast interests 1t represented, and
with full knowledge of how those vast inter
ests we're vitality concerned in the free ingress
OF coffee to Newport News. The resolutions
which we respectfully commend Mr. Mana-
maker TO consider most seriously when he is
determining upon the award of the subsidy
provided for by the act Of Congress, were
unanimously adopted.
Ii any body of men could be authorized TO
speak with authority for the vast area of ter
ritory, and for the vast interests represented
in that body, the utterances of the represen-
tatives in the Memphis Convention should re-
ceive implicit heed They represented IN the
highest sense of the word. the great West and
South. the regions whose labor and produc-
tons make up the balance of trade in favor of
this country IN its exchanges with the world
aud which finally determine the character
and amount of imports rs being their
great consumers. Those men knew the
| policy or impolcy Of any act intended TO
| promote commerce. and they have spoken
/ fortifying their position with an array of
facts and arguments that ought not to be dis
regarded by the Postmaster @ eneral when ne
makes his award Indeed the Postmaster
/ General has already declared that ho Will not
award the subsidy to any line OF steamers
that does not give Newport News better
service than she enjoyed prior to the passage
Of the act, and the support of mis- position by
/ so large and influential body as tho Mem
| phis Convention must be TO confirm his reso-
/ luton.
The Anti Gambling Law.
Mr.. John Bell Rigser, clerk Of tho House Of
/ Delegates, Yesterday received communion
tior, from (otfrfnp,vaplfIl'c afforrn. ia tI.f-