New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-05
TRIBUTES TO w. W. PHELPS
HONORED BY THE CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE

SPEECHES IN HIS MEMORY AT THE FIRST MEET
ING SINCE Ills DEATH.
William Walter Phelps was honorary menu
Der OF the Chamber OF Commerce. As the regular
monthly meeting which was held yesterday was
the first held since his death. the business OF 'he
Chamber suspended, and Charles stewart
Smith offered this resolution which was unani-
mous.y adopted:
Whereas II has pleased A;mghiy Goa ,j TO re-
move by death the Hon William walter Phelps
whereas The public career Of Mr. Phelps has
been marked by distinguished services 10 , thg
country both a Member OF Congress an" M''''S'''
Whereas His many private ana social f yiriuss
both at home and abroad ana MS aa,ly VAIN th mas
exempiied the life of Christian gentleman 'h''e
Resolved That this Chamber place on record it, its
sterling character of late friend and associate
and commend his example as eminently worthy OF
Imitation.
Mr.. Smith spoke in part follows:
Mr.. President: During the century and quarter
OF It's existence the Chamber OF CommerGe h has
placed upon Its roll of honorary membership ou'
twenty nine members; 1t has been our usual Gus.
g, to elect es Sn members iron in Of
appreciation OF distinguished services remorper ~
ntere s' Sinc S1 our last meeting We have
death Of William Walter Phelps, who was elected e
as an honorary member OF this ChamOer III repru
Mr. Phelps was born in this city August "a lS's
he was member OF an od Puritan iai'li3 ,o MiI
times. and Impressed upon their !ostgrty its sturdy
integrity and restless energy Mr. Phelps thou l
spicuous in a body which included such men as
Blaine, Garfield Reed and Mckinney
AS Minister to Berlin he first secured the rea ms
sion of American salted meats To the european
markets after long prohibition. ana ior thiS nm
portant service was made an honorary memnSr 4I
this Chamber His mission to GeTmany' que 10 I,iS
diplomatic ability and fine social tact was elnl
nently successful. He early secured not only me
regard of his countrymen who observed ms 9EoU Ca
ship Of the court, and especially that OF Prince Bis
As friend in the intimacy of social life he was
prince among his fellows, liberal ana generous 10
fault Returning from Berlin last year at the mo-
panic of that period were the most severe NJ ~
haused his bank account help his friends in dis
more adequate TO the occasion $500
He had ready and brilliant wit, which he eNerI
never heard him make an unkind personal remark
and believe that he had arrived in MS later ycai 5
pleasure in the prosperity even OF those VINO ndu
done him wrong For us he passed away an 100
soon but he ready 10 60 ana ms memory is
without stain.
Alexander L. Orr the president. said in part:
William Walter Phelps VAS college pred, am ny
profession a lawyer. hut he was also ideninlel WIN
tions of our city. ana a director IN several OF
those railroad systems that have done so Inuch low
his active. busy life. remarkable for purity OF chal-
acter and oarnestness Of purpose ne continuously
nence. In his earlier career he was made Justice
of the Sixth District Court OF this city by the tne
to the Congress of the United States In 1851 ne
was appointed Minister to Vienna by Presldent
Garfield and again in 1889 Minister To- b e ~
was Judge of the Court of Errors ana Appears Of
the State of NewJersey 1t is source OF d deep
to US all that from the human STANDPOINT
shall see his face no more
j. Harsen Rhoades and Nathan Straus also eulo-
gized Mr. Phelps