Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-19
ANSWER OF Mr.. TODD.
ANOTHER LETTER CONCERNING THE
sRAzlL STEAMSHIP CONTROVERSY.
H.. n,sc,ssc, nj Length the Reply Of thS
Chamber of Commerce Z" Ills
Former Communication.
RrcHwovp. VA. June 0. 1892.

The lnamher or OoWu'i'' $3.50
through its president, Colonel Johh i.
Purcell. published suitable reply 10
my letters on the Brazilian steamship
matter. 7 desire t. review some OF tue
statements thus auihoritatiyely promui-
,o,ed with the same candor OF expression
and the same good will to lis members
uersonelly which characterized my iortho'
criticism. Inasinuch rs / have, perhaps
unfortunately, taken tho unpopular sue
of tins question and the Odus agains' ilo
in the discussion ara apparently ~ one
man TO ten thousand, ! feel lustIheu IN
commenting somewhat freely on tne
oaic;el acts of gentlemen whom nold IN
tho highest personal esteem ana "hoh !.
would be far greater pleasure 20 doienu.
I will consider the several points III tile
order i'm which they ars enumerated III the
pamphlet. -.....,,, H., ms,
self whether our DELEGATION Wa' auVn'I-
lzod 70 make promises Tor tue sleahsh
company, Il - stated that Me-srs. lnouiHs
Rronch & Co. brought the matter 70 me
ottention of the chamber by letter dated
Anril q. 1891. REQUESTING the appointment
of n committee. 81 which Il was stated me
company rrop0 Ell making more frequent
saiiiurs and twO additional ports. Inns
proposition was coupled. however WIN
desire 10 ciicr into ~ cpifrd"' '~iW me 9"fF",
u,cui for 10, Vars nj h this roH az on u"H
stry'nlJ from H1n,poH hfdDf. III ~ Ho'
claimeh that this letter or us snD'tahco
was made known 10 the Poatinas IN
oral ar 70 the President. 5ly statement
that Il was not mentioned, therefore, S''ii"'
unas. sailed and admitted.
ASSURANCES 0y TIE WASHINGTON OFFICIALS
The pamphlct asserts that both. MT;
Wauamaker and the President declared
"they had never INDUCED the ldea Oh us
elimination against Newport News OF any
southern port, and the SUBSIDY snouIu ~
ONLY used for the general pro'hotl1u, ~ NJ.
announcement of commerce, anu az Az.
propose 10 make the sub iid.o5 locI or
sectional in their application. MS i lne
very accurate account of their utterances
furnished by the admirable report OF Zap
tain Waller. - which / referred the chnih-
nor in my letter. L. is also IA line with the
INTELLIGENT cDupreaene.Ou % tner own du-
ties and powers under the act OF congress
bv the natural operation % Whlcn IL ~"s
hoped the CONNER al rcia ions OF our '.y
country would be benehted anu Wy
facilities OF all ina icGD ms be eniafGeu.
| How diberont this language Is from that
ascribel T. them N the resolutions Oh thgs
| Richmond chamber. ia wlica II was shii
they had indicated the purpose Of ne az
enumeration 10 5.,0lnI-r ne general bdhspofid-
I'm frcilaiys Of the line 10 be extended 10
| the mort OF Newport News on q pditJ WIN
the prrt OF New York declaration
which asserted had NOT been made, Which
| In the nature OF the case could mr. Nav !
| been made, and which II contraaicteu
would have placed those high officials IN
an absurd and ridiculous ight before 'hc
country. u.to
In reply 10 my distinct charge that me
committee hal never made report To tne
| chamber nor fulfilled rs promise 10 VI,
| Napamaker neither allegation Is denied.
| On tho first point the pamphlet simply
states. Upon return Of the delegation MI.
| thomas L. Moore made verbal report 10
the chamber" Il Is true that ut a
meeting of the board held on me
| evening Of our return from MashliE-
| ton Nr Moore. who was. ike myself.
a private member Of the delegation,
| was called upon in the absence 81
the president and furnished brlet OUT
| line Of the two interviews. during WH-eh
| he said The mission OF the commlttee
| was one Of such importance that the com,
| mittee intended % submit formal report
| IN writing This was IN no sense, there
| fore. a report 20 the chamber, ana IL i o.
| meath the dignity of tbs discussion 20
| enter such q defence. Eituer inc auIhyis
| of the pamphlet are ignorant of the by
| laws of the association or have deliberately
| ignored them in alleging s1ch lusuhca'
| ton. Tho failure % make q report was an
| open and paipable violation OF Article
| XII. Of the bylaws. which IS as follows
| XII. whenever any matter is referred
| 70 a committee. either by the chamber OF
| the board. il shall be reported on nj the
next meeting ot tho body from Whlch 4
! was sent, unless some other tilne Ne H@Su
| tor the report. or unless II be found 10 pe
| impracticablc TO make report 10 sueu
next meeting or other time that may ne
| fixed on. All such reports from commit
| tees shall be in writing. signed Nv re
| chairman or acting chairman. ana shilI DC
| spread on the minutes OF the chamber Oh
| board, properly lndexed. and the Original
| and accompanying documents endorse
| and filod among the archives OF the chah'
| bcr.n
| On the second point the pamphlet re
| cites; " A few DAYS thereafter the Seer,
| tary wrote the AGENTS OF the line Tor ful
| particulars "a 10 the facilities OF the line.
| This letter was referred by the agents Z
| the superintendent. who sed the de-
| finite information. but neglected 10 give n
| Here the matter dropped. IL Is not pre-
| tended that Mr.. WanamGker's request wa
| ever complied with either by resolutions o.
| the chamber or by letter from Its president
| or secretary.
| TEE POSITION or THE STEAMSHIP COMPANY
| AGAIN DEFINED.
| The pamphlet states that Mr.. John +
| Branch, acting as representative OF th'
| line. wrote the chamber n letter of thanks
| on behalf OF the steamship company, add
| ing: The company will do ANYTHING II
| their power TO carry out the wishes OF th'
| government in putting on addltloha
| steamers, DrOrNifd ntf contract tOf cdfTyth'
| ne mail is qirel to hcm." The CORRECTNESS
of my posltion-viz.. that the Steamship
| company made its assurances on the den
mite basis Of the obtainment OF the SUD
| sidy-is therefore proven from the chan
| ber's own witnesses
| The three following sections relate e
| correspondence, etc. between the cone'
trade and Mr. WINS. the president OF tn
| steamship COMPANY, IN when IL Is clalnle'
obstacles were thrown in the way or cone'
importations. etc. OF these matters, o
course | have no information. IL Is
sufficient answer. however, TO say that l
| was proposed 20 bring Mr.. lvins 70 Ken
mond 10 face all accusations and 10 enaOl'
him 10 vindlcate his position, and NE oDe
UdS declined
| THE SECOND MISSION TO WASHINGTON.
The pamphlet declares next that. III view
Of the declarations made by MIR. lyins
his steamers might not resume th'
Newport News schedule and that his lin
would refuse coffee shipments from Sout
America 10 Newport News whether b.
steamers went there or not (presumabl
on the specific terms limited 10 July lstl
that the chamber would have been grossl,
negligent of its duties If IT had not takel
the precaution OF advising the Postmaster
| General of this turn of affairs" and II add
further this was done by the appoint
ment of q committee TO whom the chambe
could safely entrust SO important and deli
cate mission. but Mr.. Todd wa
not invited to accompany thu
| committee "a he was believed
might say known-Nor to be In sympathy
with these precautionary measures.
Doubtless the readers of these utterance
of President Purcell will suppose when h
says the chamber would have been grossl
} negligent of its duty, etc, that the cham
Der had arrived at this conclusion in gene
raj meeting, after careful considerable
and discussion of all the phases of this III
J portant matter; also, when the committe
,ras appointed to whom the cadmter coul
safely entrust this mission that 1t was 81
lected with all the formality and strict r,
| card IN tbe nronriaties demanded by IN