Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-25
Was Said for the Trolley at the
Board of Trade.
IMPORTANT PHASES OF IMMIGRATION,
Matters Discussed at the Session
Held Today.
A CALL ON THE PRESIDENT.

Hdtional DoarQ or trade, but at the begin
ming Of the third days session OF that body
at the Shoreham this morning the trolley
was characterized as destructive Of life and
q menace to property interests, and these
opinions were apparently Endorsed by the
intelligent members of this body. No &C
ton was taken. but the remarks OF Mr.
Tucker Of Philadelphia, who, with other
members Of the board. inspected this morn
ing the underground street railway system
on U street. were listened to with close at
tention, and his motion thanking the rep
fesentatives of the system for this "edu-
cational'' visit was promptly adopted.
Mr.. Tucker stated that number OF the
members Of the board had accepted the in
vttation from Mr.. Albert @. Wheeler to in
spect the underground electric railway sys-
over the road this morning. The visit he
said. had opened the eyes of all to the
practicability Of applying in our cities a
system OF underground wires which would
take the place Of the Objectionable and
harassing overhead wires that do SO much
to disfgure our cities and interfere with the
operations Of the fire department
Also destroys nfe," interjected Mr.. a.
Waldo Smith of New York and Mr. Tucker
at once accepted the suggestion. He moved
that q vote Of thanks be extended to Mr.
wheeier Tor giving the board the profit of
the visit. which was an educational one.
Inc resolution was adopted.
On Immigration.
The chair appointed a committee consist
ing or Messrs. Lane, Field Raymond, Smith
Francis. Logan and Goodale to have charge
OF matters relating to the Improvement in
consular service. The special committee
appointed to consider the various resolu-
tion relating to immigration through Mr..
Stone of Chicago reported the following
resolution:
That the National Board Of Trade here
by recommends the strict enforcement of
the immigration laws Of the United States;
and further. that those laws be so amend
ed as to require from every immigrant de-
string to come to the United States a GER
tihcate from the authorities Of the town or
district where he or she has resided, that
he or she Is a person of good moral char
acter has never been convicted of crime,
has never been a public charge, and is of
Industrious habits and capable of taking
care Of himself or herself: such certificates
to be countersigned by the nearest United
States consul, and further hereby recon-
mends such notifications of the immigra-
ton Laws as will admit under agreement,
cally expert artisans as instructors. with
such safeguards and restrictions as will
preserve the spirit OF existing laws
Objection was raised to the latter clause
Of the resolution on the ground that an
agreement was virtually a contract. This
was admitted, but ii was claimed that even
q contract made to secure expert services
did not violate the contract law, for the
reason that this Law was intended to pro-
tect the laboring classes. 1t was necessary
1t was claimed. in manufactures. for ex-
ample. to secure the services of experts
who would act as instructors. Their en-
ployment in no way interfered with the
rights of the laboring classes.
However, strenuous objection was made
to this part Of the resolution: Opposition
was made to bringing into this country
any kind Of labor. Teachers, preachers
and skilled artisans were not wanted In
this country under contract, 1t was as
serted.
Mr.. Forward Of Chester Pa alluded to
the efforts made to import a preacher to
M the place Of Mr.. Beecher and the bring
Ing over by Mr.. Vanderbilt Of a $4,000 cook.
He thought that there was in this country
men Of ability in these lines and there was
no need to 90 to foreign countries.
1t was denied by Mr. Rice that any attack
was intended by this resolution on the Ia Dor
classes OF the country. He did not believe
that any one present held the opinion that
| the effect Of such a resolution IL enacted
| into law would injure the labor classes
Why should the position be taken that there
| II no one In the world that can teach US in
America anything.
Mr.. Forward said that these men were
objected to only when under contract
1t was argued that a contract made no
| difference. except that IL was instrumental
| in getting the benefit of the experience and
| skill of men who made possible the estab-
4
ment of the working classes.
Fear Of Contract Labor.
The fear was expressed that the privilege
| given by the words under agreement"
| would be abused. 1t was said that the
| ekiIled men would come here IL they were
| needed ard 80 OF professional men, but IL
| was said that this country had an abund-
anee Of such men. In other words there
was no necessity to go to Europe to make
| contracts for service. The men would come
| here.
Substitutes were offered and various
| amendments were proposed to get rid of
| the agreement" clause of the report. How
| ever, the resolution reported from the COM
| mittee and given above was finally adopted
| by a vote of "a to IL.
| This action disposed Of one OF the most
| important questions that has come before
| the board at the present session.
| number of amendments to she inter-
state commerce law were presented in the
| report of q committee of which Mr.. II. r.
Donsman is chairman. The report states
| that while thoroughly believing I'm the prin-
ciples underlying the interstate commerce
law, and that Its vigorous enforcement
| would be equally conducive to good business
morals and the financial health of the cor
| porstions subject to II. yet recognizing the
| fact that this law, dealing with a great sub
| tect in a new way, Is purely tentative, ar
must therefore be strengthened and improv-
| ed as time and trial show the need and
point out the way; therefore the following
| amendments are recommended: Making the
| corporation itself indictable and subject to
| exemplary fines for all violations of the law
| by its officers or agents; giving TO the ind
| ings of the commission the validity OF the
report Of q master in chancery; to enable
/ the commission to compel the attendance
| Of witnesses and the production Of testi-
| mony in all cases heard by them, or inves-
| legations made by them on their own mo-
| ton; repeating that feature OF the law
| which involves imprisonment as a punish
| ment for its violation: such a definition of
| the terms Of the law as may be necessary
| to bring within its provisions and restric-
lions all common carriers engaged In inter-
| state commerce; to enforce upon common
| carriers q strict accountability TO the owner
| or consignee for the prompt delivery of
property intrusted to the care of such COM
mon carriers for transportation by the i'm
| posing Of proper demurrage charge for
4 delay beyond a reasonable time in the
transportation Of such property; that the
| interstate commerce commission be direct
| ed to put into effect on January 1, 1886 a
| classification of freight which shall be uni
form throughout the United States &C.
companying the same with a form If COM
| mon law bill of lading for use in Interstate
.corimerce.
/ Trade With Canada.
On motion of Mr.. Erastus wiman a COM
| mittee consisting of Messrs. Gliding Lane.