The record-union., 1896-02-20
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.


We were unable at the time to treat
as fully Of the proceedings at the an
nual meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce in such detail as desired, and had
to be content with considering the work
of the body in a general way The
Records Union" foresaw when it ad-
vocated and urged the formation of
such a body early last summer the field
that there was for it, and the beneficial
influence 1t could exert If organized
upon broad and conservative lines, as
was happily done.
1t is now to be said that in it's brief
existence the Chamber of Commerce
has more than fulfilled expectation.
Its work has been excellent, its officers
efficient and progressive and its mem
bership public-spirited. The reports
submitted at the recent annual meet
ing were very gratifying, and foreshad-
owed even better work for the future.
In another year we may reasonably
expect the chamber to have attained
d pOSIllOA VI SllCH ul1uSI1tldl C1AdIdCleA
as will command for it respect through
out the country.
The membership at the annual cleo
tion expressed it's confidence in the
ing practically the same directors who
served in the short term, and this was
wise and fully justified. It was an
expression of confidence in the present
differing of the chamber that should
greatly encourage them, and doubtless
does. The directory holds a meeting
this evening which will be the real
beginning of the new work year. 1t
is to be hoped that it will reflect the
confidence of the membership by re-
tanning the Secretary, James I. Felter,
to whom the city is so largely indebted
for the existence of the organization. 1t
is safe to say that but for him the
chamber might not yet have been or
ganized. He had the courage and pub
lie spirit to give the matter his per-
sonal attention and devote to it long
and arduous labor and solicited most
largely the membership the chamber
now has When the press Of the city
was urging the formation of the body
he was the one man who went to work
and realized the hope.
With the experienced President al
ready chosen, Joseph Steffens, a Board
of Directors of practical and repre-
sentative men, the committees devoted
to specific work and well organized,
and the Secretary who has proved his
devotion and efficiency. there is no rea-
son why the chamber in the new year
shall not be the instrument of great
good for the city and for Central and
Northern California.
It will. of course, take more than a
year, probably two or three, before the
chamber will fully attain the position
and gather the strength that will make
it a commanding influence in the State.
When it shall have reached that point.
as it will if its true purposes are kept
in view and selfish interests are sub
ordinated to the common good, the
chamber should have large treasury,
be in position to direct the erection
of a building for its own uses and to
command the services or a Manager in
addition to the clerical force and exec
utive officers it now has, much as the
successful chamber at Los Angeles has
officered and equipped itself.
But all this will come with growth,
and the duty of the people is to promote
that growth rapidly The roll of mem
bership should be enlarged to three or
four hundred. For the institution is
not a mere commercial body; it is or
ganized on such a broad basis that it
invites all citizens having the good of
California and the interests Of Sacra-