The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-31

".
we are glad to know the Secretary did
not deem 1t wise to reduce the wages.
eEt on nave appointed n committee to
80 70 Washington and cooperate with
otner organizations In endeavoring to
get work for this yard. and If new war
vessels are to be built, that one OF them
pc Duiit here. Your committee on our
Harbor and its Approaches are watch
!ul and quick to act. whenever It's in
terests are affected
have to thank your Board Of Di-
rectors for the liberal support given me,
and you owe them thanks for the wise
ana good administration OF your assoc
citation and the liberal services given
to 1t.
The report Of your worthy Secretary
shows that the membership has in
creased, the attendance OF members in
creased and your rooms daily visited by
business men and friends from other
cities, and az full line of papers and
periodicals for reading are daily sup
Piled
Your excellent Treasurer is proud of
the report he has to make to you, show
ing every bill paid promptly. all the
furniture, fixtures, etc, paid for, and u
handsome sum due you and in the sink
ing FUND. and this at the end OF your
itth year. Your several committees will
now make their reports to you.
And now, gentlemen. having been
honored by you as your President since
the organization of your association.
and while have failed to measure up
to the high standard which the posi-
ton calls for. yet SO generous have you
peen III my support, so kind in forgivlng
ana forgetting my shortcomings, that
you have made my duties not only light
but real pleasure. and can truly say
that never has an unltind word been
SPOKEN ia
did not feel l could approach each and
all OF you as my friends. and this proud
recollection Will so with me TO the end
of my life. as q sweet memory of the
Fast. | now return to you the high
position, with which you have honored
me so long, the duties of which have
tried to perform faithfully. and though
often failing to accomplish what anoth-
er might have done yet can proudly
say, L return the honor entrusted to
me without stain, without blcmish
Respectfully declining IL reelection
and bespeaking for my successor the
same generous support given TO me at
all times; thanking you for the honors
given me, and still more for your friend
~. kind expressions to me, respect
fully submit this report"
The report of the Treasurer. Mr. W. n.
Barron. showed the organization to be
In excellent financial condition. with as
sets exceeding $4,000.
| Major G. Pickett, the Secretary. also
made an encouraging report, Informing
the association that Capt. ]. w Nc
Carrick had been requested to also act
for the Chamber Of Commerce on the
Committee TO visit WaShlnEt ton in behalf
of work for the Navy Yard
MIR. Walter Sharp read II communlcn-
ton. which was explained and referred
to the new Board OF Directors with pow
IN 0nf mi. ,nti ton,
follows:
! Norfolk. Va, December eth.
/ Colonel T.. N. Henry, President Of the
business Mems Association:
! Dear Sir-Feeling as do great pride
In the past success of the organization
over which you have so worthily pre-
sided, and earnestly desiring to see X
not only prosper in the future, but rise
higher In its work of usefulness. | ven
ture to make some practical suggestions
for It's guidance in the coming year.
l fear may weary many of my fei-
low members BY so continually dwelling
on the subject of mnnufa curing cstab-
lishments, as bearing on Norfolk's adj
vancemcnt. but ] am so much Impress
cd with its Importance, that | Will
risk their displcasure.
Starting out with the plain proDcs.-
ton that nothing Is so greatly needed
rs n number CT new manufacturing
plants. that will give employment to
our labor, especially to the women and
children who will aid the head OF the
family to win bread. the question natu-
rally arises how are we to get them
and who will do the preliminary work?
II was for this. together with many
other important undertakings. that the
Business Mems Association was organiZ-
ed. and while the object has been par
tally accomplished. it has not attained
that degree of success. which every true
member SO earnestly desired NV OBJ
serNation leads me TO believe tina; too
mucn reliance has been placed upon
the work of commit tees. involving an
expenditure Of time and effort not
Justified by the private business of the
committeeman. II is an axiom that
free labor is seldom Of any practical
value, and this is not an age OF self
sacri'ice hence IL would seem that a
renewed and determined effort should
be made by this association on more
practical lines which give herewith,
while inviting criticism, suggestions.
and amendments:
First. The Manufactures Committee
snail be empowered 10 employ n COM
Detent person either as clerk or n tenn
porary employc.
Second That they then be instructed
10 compile all Information relative to
existing factories in our midst: require
ments for others. whether we possess
= the same or not: The amount of capital
needed TO successfully conduct them:
the advantages Of location and trans
rortation; price of raw material. coal
etc, and the amount of labor ohtnino.
Bile. male ana female adults and in
fants and such other facts as will hear
on the subject.