The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-04
THE BUSINESS LEAGUE.
Its Representatives at Work with
National Lawmakers.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.
They Urge the Establishment of O Depart
ment Of Commerce and Industry, with
q Cabinet Office, and the appointment
Of Tariff Commission.

a Cabinet Office, and the Appointment
of Tariff Commission.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.--Last week there
was formed in Chicago as result Of the
efforts of number of that city's most
prominent business men, the National
Business league. The plan Of the organ.
ization contemplates In scope vast
league, whose influence will be powerful
II success attends the movements. 1t is
intended to organize branches in all the
larger commercial and industrial centers
to cooperate with the main body of the
league, whose headquarters at present are
In Chicago. The object of the lehgue is to
learn what federal legislation will best
aid the interests Of the country at large
and then to use the influence Of the league
to bring to bring to the attention Of con.
gress measures In line with business
prosperity and urge their passage In the
interest Of commerce and industry.
The league is to be thoroughly non-par.
tisan and non-political The officers, citi-
zens of Chicago, are as follows: President,
Fred w. Peck; vice president Erskine NJ
Phelps; treasurer, Elbrldge G. Keith;
secretary, Clifford A. Gilbert; attorney,
John w. Ella.
ferdlnand w. Feck, the president. ana
John w. Eha, the general attorney OF tne
National Business league, arrived here
yesterday to start the work of the league
at Washington. The subject of the tariff
bill now being prepared by the house ways
and means committee was first taken up
Messrs. Peck and Ela had extended Inter-
views with several mempers OF the com
mittee, including Chairman Dingley, Mr
A. w. Hopkins ana General Grosyenor,
with reference to the work now being done
by the COMMITTEES. An arrangements was
made by which the league Will furnish
the committee with statements OF facts
and statistics from time to tlme and with
its views as to questions arising in the
making up of the schedules.
Several points upon which considerable
work is to be done and problems to be
solved in the making of the tariff sched-
ules were suggested to these representa-
tives Of the leagu by the members of the
commi ttee, upon which it would be we'll
for the league to prepare and furnish
st atements.
Mr. Peck and Mr. Ella also had an inter
view with Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Hamlln, and arranged with him
to obtain statistics and statements from
the bureau of statistics bearing upon such
points as they should desire at any time.
They were assured at the treasury depart
ment of their willingness to further the
work. They also discussed with those
with whom they conferred the advisable
ity of having bill for the appointment of
u tariff commission passed, providing that
expert commissioners be appointed, to
whom all bills contemplating changes in
tariff schedules hereafter should be re-
ferred for investigation and report to con-
gress before action was taken by the latter
body. The object of this is stated to be to
prevent, after the passage of the tariff bill
now in preparation, the damage to busi-
ness which always follows from general
revision of the tariff 1t Is understood that
Mr. Peck and Mr. Ella will recommend to
the league that its influence be brought to
bear In this connection.
They also dlscus ssed with Senators Frye,
Cullom and other members of congress
and officials of the treasury department