The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-01

close Of the presidential campaign in No
vember. would restore confidence and put
an end to the business depression that has
hung like pail over the land for several
years. Our hopes may have been rallied
II the election had settled anything beyond
the restoration of another political party
to power with the demand of it's sup
porters for a revision OF the tariff agita-
ton, which instead of restoring is more
apt to destroy confidence, to increase
rather than relieve the business paralysis.
1T would be fortunate for the whole
country If both the tariff and the money
question could be eliminated from politics
and settled upon business principles. Pro-
lection might be fair if it could be equit-
ably distributed, but there never can be
any Justice in protecting manufactures un-
I'll protection can really be a source of ben
efit to the producers of our only real
wealth; otherwise one Is burdened for the
benefit of the other. In matters of cur
rency there can be no satisfactory settle
ment reached until the government has re-
tired from the banking business and left
its conduct to the enterprise of the people
as 1t was before the war, surrounded by
proper safeguards for the prevention of
abuses. All other schemes are temporiz-
ing, only protracting and intensifying bus
mess embarrassment and public distrust
No other financial fabric on earth could
have survived the strain put upon ours
by the tariff and currency agitation and
only our seeming eXhaustless resources
have averted universal bankruptcy There
is a limit, however, TO this tension as wei
as the patience of the public, and IL might
be well for our legislators to take heed
of the impending peril unless relief comes
soon.
1.-The Savannah Bureau of Freight and
Transportation you have contributed so
literally to establish and maintain has
signally demonstrated its value to indus
tries closely allied to and conserved by us
in numerous minor and several very i'm
portant differences with transportation
companies. The commissioner has been
able in the past year TO obtain reduc-
ton of 10 per cent. in rates on spirits ana
rosin from interior points and of
1878 per cent. on empty spirit
barrels to interior points, and IS
now engaged in preparing to press
the Justice of a complaint of great signid-
canoe to the naval stores industry by
seeking to break down barriers at River
Junction, Fla. reared by the Louisville
and Nashville railroad to divert naval
stores from Savannah to Pensacola,
Fla, to shut us out The complaint will
be passed upon by the interstate COM
merce commission on Monday. April g. in
their special session at Savannah and
the commissioner feels reasonably sure of
OF the United States supreme court gives
added confidence to this expectation
In concluding his report President Purse
speaks of the services rendered the COM
munity by the board of trade, by inter-
esting itself in all matters pertaining to
the public welfare and the prosperity of
the port and the weight which such adj
vocacy carries, with resulting benefits.
Obligations are acknowledged to the Of
fcers and members for their support in
all his efforts to advance the interests of
the board and of the community. In con
clusion Capt. Purse speaks of the six
years of service which he has rendered
the board, and insists that the time has
come when his mantle should fall upon
other shoulders.
Among other reports submitted was that
of the committee on marine by Chairman
c. G.. Dahl, of which the following is an
extract
we are informed that complaints have
been made by several ship masters about
our quarantine system and charges made,
all without avail, and our neighboring
ports are for this season preferred by ship
owners.
Another matter of which shipping peo-
pie are continually having complaints is
the dilapidated condition of the wharves
on the Savannah river front and 1t is a
known fact that if there had been proper
facilities for moOring vessels half of the
disasters during the September cyclone
could have been averted,"
This report met with immediate mani
festatiens of approval. A motion that
the president appoint a committee of seven
to attend the public meeting of the san
itary board, called for the purpose of dis
cussing quarantine, on the night of April
20, was heartily seconded and unanimous
" adopted.
President Purse appointed the following
committee: c. G.. Dahl. chairman; John
r. Young, F. F. Jones, James Earle Jr.,
S. p. Shotter, c. w Howard. H. Weibert
Mr. w. B. Farr was reelected inspector
of hay and grain.
The annual election of directors for the
ensuing years will take place Wednesday
next.