The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-19

W. A. MAY
Reelected President of the Board of
Trade Last Night
d. B. Atherton, secretary. Mr. Dickson
has served twenty consecutive years
as treasurer.
New members We're elected as follows:
w. A. Rice, j. NJ. Harris, Stephen
Jones, l.. j. Thurman, w. j. Davis, c.
l.. Merriman and c. NJ. Florey.
The following report presented by the
manufacturers committee, through it's
chairman, Luther Keller, and indicating
the location here of a new industry,
was adopted
Your manufacturers committee begs to
report that we have investigated the
Hughes & Megahan Shoe company, of
Willamsport who are desirous of moving
their plant to this city We find that they
are practical men in their line of busi-
ness, that they have an extensive line of
customers and we are of the opinion that
under proper management the success of
the plant would be assured.
They propose to organize with capital
stock of $4,000, to dispose of two-thirds of
it at par, $25,0OO, of which will be pre-
ferred per cent. stock and $4,000 COM
the preferred has already been placed.
The $4,000 common already subscribed is
made up of $4,000 machinery and stock,
and $1,000 subscribed by capitalists of this
city. They propose to rent suitable
building.
The committee on legislation and
taxes reported in favor of a bill, No
2447, for the creation of a department
of commerce and manufactures, ad-
versely on the proposed bill for the
regulation of the civil service and rec
commended that the secretary be in
structed to inform the legislators from
this region of the boards action and to
urge them to use every effort to secure
the passage of the former bill and to
use the same effort to defeat the latter
bill when it shall come before the house
and senate for action.
THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.
Secretary Atherton announced that
his yearly report was ready, but he
asked that its reading be deferred un-
til the next meeting, which would be
held in the new building, as the report
| had been prepared with the probability
of a reading in the new quarters. His
| request was granted.
1t was stated later in the meeting
| that possession would be taken of the
new rooms this week. In reference to
| the banquet on the night of Jan. 20, the
announcement was made that there
would be no charge for members tick
| cts, but that guests tickets would cost
| $5 each.
A. w. Dickson elected particular at
| tention in his request for enlighten-
| ment on the status of a local telephone
| franchise project, which he was in
| formed had been halted, held up.
| He deemed it a matter for board of
! trade investigation, and for one of his
reasons charged that the present SER
vice was inadequate, inefficient and un-
| satisfactory to a great degree. If, un-
| der such conditions, Scranton capital
! lists had the enterprise to attempt the
| organization of a new company and
| seek a franchise but had been blocked
in their effort, he thought the board
should know the reason why.
| Mr.. Dickson moved that the matter
| be referred to the committee on legis-
| lation and taxes. He negatived Presi-
| dent Mays suggestion that a special
committee be appointed. Mr.. Paine
chairman of the regular committee, re-
marked upon the difficulty in arousing
the interest of the committee, and Mr.
| Dickson finally consented to refer tC
| the new committee on legislation and
taxes that would be announced by the
president at the next meeting.
| a communication from the Eastor
board of trade relative to the necessity
of action by Eastern Pennsylvania
boards of trade on unfair freight ates
was referred to the committee on trans
portation.
The project of forming a Good Roads
| league, FASTENED by the recent Visit
here of General Roy Stone, of the de.
| partment of agriculture, was men,
toned by Secretary Atherton. He stat
| ed that the nucleus of the league would
| be formed of committees of three from
| the Engineers club, the Scranton Bi'
| cycle club the board OF trade, the
| farmers of the eastern part of tn,
county and the farmers of the western
| part. On his motion, President MAY
was requested to appoint board o
| trade committee. He named Albert M
| Kramer, Walter Henwood and Secre
tary Atherton.
ARBITRATION TREATY.
A letter from William E. Dodge, o.
New York city, chairman of the nation
al arbitration committee, was read ask
ing that the states representatives II
the national senate be asked to ratify
the arbitration treaty now pending be
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain. The letter intimated that certain
efforts to have these diplomatic negotia
tions nullifed We're unchrstian and {
blow to modern thought.
There was an evidence that the re
quest would receive favorable action
until Mr. Dickson in a brief but arden
speech opposed such action. He said /
would be an insult to the wisdom anC
integrity of the senate elected by tn,
people to have indicated by trade bodies
what their action should be. Scranton
and its board of trade had in the pas