Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-28
IN NO HURRY.
Members OF the National Board OF Trad,
Slow in Coming Together

SLOW In Coming Together.
But WHEN THEY DID MEET THEY GOT DOWN Tc
BUSINESS AND DISCUSSED MANY SUBJECTS WITT
MATTERS OF INTEREST
Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning the ma
tional board Of trade convened for the second
days session. At the beginning OF the session
there were quite q number of vacant chairs in
the meeting place, which is the
banquet hail of the Shoreham. But
the delegates came in one after the other
and by the time the secretary. Mr.. Hamilton A.
Hill. had completed the reading of the minutes
of yesterdays session the vacant chairs we're
pretty well occupied. While promptness is
supposed to be a characteristic Of business
men, yet these annual gatherings are
mondays that come to busy men,
and so they are inclined to linper over their
after-breakfast cigars before entering upon the
serious work of the day. When they get down
70 WORK, however, they dispatch business with
SIeat promptness, pausing only q sufficient
unie to allow free and full discussion.
Several matter of business were attended to
poiore entering upon the consideration of the
regular topics.
4. Inc committee to which had been referred
me iorrey bankrupt bill stated that they would
DC able TO report tomorrow morning.
ThETEsTINd MACHINE RESOLUTION REcoNsIDERED
A motion to reconsider the vote by which the
testing machine resolution was yesterday laid
on the table was adopted in order that the
SUBJECT might be postponed until the next an
nuai meeting. A delegate stated that the
subject was Of great Importance, especially
there was government test OF cement, while
IN this country there was only private tests
ne foreign article had. therefore, an advan-
tage, and the object of the resolution was to
secure some authoritative test. As the resolu-
tlon offered did not seem. in the opinion of the
BOARD, to meet the need it was thought that
!urther consideration might result in produc-
Ing more acceptable plan.
UNIFORM BILL OF LADrSo.
Inc hrst matter taken up was resolutions in
favor OF the passage of law by Congress Of q
uniform bill of ladinc,
MI Wilson of Cincinnati favored the resolu-
ions and MIR. Foster Higgins of New York said
tnat IL would require more than u mere resolu-
tion OF such body to. bring about legislation
c cnr' would impose any. liability on
had taught him that the power welded by the
common carriers of the country in matters
eHectlng their interests pending in Congress
was very great. To overcome that infiucn &c
would require good deal moro than a simple
1t was stated by Mr.. Wilson that a confer
ence was held last July between the national
transportation companies and the interstate
commerce commission, and as q result he
stated that the commission, in their annual re-
port TO Congress, took the position that
t hhey nad authority in this matter, and
tney also criticised the bill of ladIng
Pu1 out by the common carriers.
he regarded this as a step in the right direction
anu IL was the request of the transportation
companies that the principle should be in
corsed by this national board of trade. 1t was
would come without q conflict but thew in
tented 10 endeavor to induce Congress to re-
cognlze their rights in the matter.
NOT QUITE SO HOPELESS
II was stated by MIR. Tucker of Philadelphia
VINO said he had an intimate acquaintance with
ME-. flrth, who represented the transporting
companies. that he did not believe the case
was as hopeless as represented by Mr. Hip-
gins. he thought it would be q good idea
10 appoint committee to confer with
=; Mr. fiIth on this subject, and probably
~ would result In modification of the ideas
held by that gentleman. He believed that MIR
Lirtn was open to fair argument, and he
thought that tho merchants of this country
VINO mad been so long in favor OF a uniform
blii OF ladlng were able to presen. fair argu-
ments.
REPRESENTATIVE STORER'S VIEWS.
Representative Storer of Cincinnati aroused
applause by stating that no was a member of
the subcommittee of the House commerce COM
mittee, to which the bills relating to this SUBJ
Ject had been referred, and the committee had
deferred action upon these measures until the
national board of trade had met and taken
action. He believed that any resolution
adopted by the board would receive the atten-
ton OF the committee.
Mr.; Storer also stated that the President had
'oio MN that ne would be glad to receive the
members OF the board at o clock tomorrow.
This invitation was cordially accepted
1he subcommittee of which Mr.. Storer ia n
member was invited to attend the meetings of
the board and take part in the discussions.
Inc OH OF laoluS resolutions were adopted.
DEMURRAGE CHARGES.
The next matter taken up was a resolution
approved by the board of trade of Chicago
which. while recognizing the justice of the
charge imposed by the railroad companies for
the use OF their cars when not promptly un-
loaded. says that it is also due to the customers
that when the goods are not promntIv
delivered that the railroad sh ould be responsi-
ole TO their consignee for delay. 1t was pro-
vided that Congress examine this question with
the view OF having such amendments to the
interstate commerce act as will properly pro-
tect the rights OF the business community
In support of this resolution Mr.. Dousman
OF Chicago said that the object was while Civ
Ing the railroads their rights that the duties
should also be enforced. He said that the
clause relative to the rights of the railroads
was based on an old German law which also
contained a clause relative to their duties,
inns latter clause. however. unfortunately for
the shipper, had not been revived.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT.
In the opinion of Mr.. Stannard of St. Louis
there was no subject that would come before
the board Of more Importance than this one.
He pointed out some of the difficulties in the
way. He said thu railroad companies had not
the facilities for doing the business which
crowded upon them. 1t was difficult for the
companies 10 secure the necessary ground for
extra tracks and depots in the various cities of
the country. He spoke Of the increase in the
yield OF cereals and in the population. and said
that the railroad. companies would hail with
delight any plan which would enable them to
secure the facilities they need to handle the
increased commerce.
MIR. Miller of New Orleans also spoke in the
same vein and said that the railroads had real
diihculty to contend with in their efforts to do
the business OF twelve months IN five.
IL was maintained by Mr. Ballard of Louis
vile that railroads had no right to enter into
contracts to do volume OF business which
they hau not the facilities to handle. This was
one cause of the trouble.
REMEDY LAYS WITH THE SHIPPER.
Mr.. Bacon of Milwaukee maintained that the
remedy for delays in transporting goods lay in
the hands OF the shippers. The law gave them
the right to collect from the railroad pavmont
ID. inc hx,xi