The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-23
CHAMBER STILL FIGHTING.
The Secretary Of The Treasury Asked
TO Suspend the Order Of Removal,
STATEMENT MADE TO COMMISSIONER.
A Conclusive Argument from Business
Point of yiew--The Merits oil the
Case to he Presented Fully TO
Secretary Gage.

The Times having Iec'hbS
a number OF illusions TO the threatened
removal OF the Office OF the collector OF
Internal Revenue from Richmond to
Petersburg and TO the action OF the
Richmond Chamber OF Commerce IN the
premises the subjoined statement sub
mitted 10 the Commissioner on Saturday
last bv Hon. John Lamb and Mr.. W.
O. Skeleton will give a history Of the pro-
ceedings of the Chamber. the Tobacco
Trade. and the Wholesale Grocers ana
LIQUOR Trade in connection with this
matter and the reasons prompting their
action.
Though this statement was supplement
ed by earnest and vigorous protests from
Messrs. Lamb and SHELTON. and though
the question had previously had the
earnest attention Of Mr. Leon Waller
stein chairman Of the Chambers Com
mittee NOW absent from the city,, Mr..
Cazencau Mcleod. secretary OF the To-
bacco Exchange and Mr.. i. ID. Bever-
idpe. president OF the Richmond Whole
sale Groccrs' Association and Merchants
and Manufacturers who met Colonel
Brady In his FIRST interview az the Cham
Der. IL is reported that the commissioner
has ordered the removal Of the Office 10
Petersburg.
The occasion seeming 20 the Chamber
10 fully Justify such course, the Hon
orable Secretary Of the Treasury Lyman
]. Gage, has been requested by the
Chamber TO intervene and suspend any
order Of removal until the merits Of the
case can be fully presented TO him. Should
he grant this request the active and Wig
orous cooperation Of all business insti-
tutions i'm the city will be asked TO en-
dorse the position of the Chamber and
unite i'm an appeal to the Secretary TO
prohibit change so contrary to good
public policy: viz: that an Office OF this
dignity and Importance shall be moved
about TO suit the convenience and pleas
ure of each successive incumbent and
moved from the location at which its
business is principally transacted.
THE STATEMENT.
The statement submitted 20 w. S. FO
man. Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Washington. y. G., is as follows:
Having been informed on yesterday by
Colonel James u. Brady that the question
Of the location of the main Office OF this
district will be submitted for your de-
cision on Saturday the 2oth instant, I'm
the interest of the Revenue Service, as
well as on behalf Of large and important
business interests al Richmond we have
the honor TO bring 10 your attention the
objections TO the removal of the Office Of
the Collector Of Internal Revenue for
the Second District Of Virginia from It's
present location I'm the city Of Richmond
TO the city of Petersburg.
tfEhgrflK gffgr Qurrfnfu1Qmf al
Colonel James -. Brady collector, Zee
ports appeared IN the newspapers 10 the
effect that the removal OF this Office from
Richmond 10 Petersburg was contom-
plated.
THE Richmond Chamber Of Commerce
having communicated with Colonel Brady,
II was learned from him that such re-
moval was under consideration. Through
further correspondence "a conference was
arranged for and held August 6. 1897. at
this chamber between Colonel Brady,
and representatives, OF the chamber, the
tobacco trade, and the liquor trade OF
Richmond touching this subject.
After a full discussion ~ was agreed
that the matter be referred to the Com
missioner Of Revenue at Washington i'm
his Office on August n. 1897. and that re-
personalities of both Richmond and Pet
ersburg should appear before the Com
missioner and present the respective
claims OF those two cities i'm respect 10
the question al issue. Colonel Brady
agreed TO arrange with the Commissioners
for the conference on the date mentioned,
and that he would be present himself, 90
present his views; after which he would
leave the matter IN tie hands OF the
Commissioner and be guided by his tthe
Commissioners opinion as 10 the proper
location Of the Office
In accordance with this arrangement
a representative from Richmond on tho
date named above visited the office Of the
Commissioner Of Revenue. and on that
occasion met Mr.. George w. Wilson, Act
ing Commissioner and Colonel James ID.
Bardy, but no representative from Pet
ersburg were present, and the representa-
tive from Richmond was informed. after
having submitted his argument, that tho
case could not be formally considered, as
no application for the removal of tho
Office from Richmond had been made.
Under these circumstances our represent
tative secured a promise from Colonel
Brady that should he decide at any fu-
ture time 20 make application for such
removal one weeks notice would be
given the Richmond Chamber before said
application was made.