Evening journal., 1897-02-04


the Nicaragua Canal Bnl--The House
Settles the Cornett-swanson Contest,
Giving the Seat to the Lattor.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-There has heen
formed in Chicago as result of the efforts
Of a number Of that city's most prominent
business men the National Business
loague. The plan Of the organization con-
templates in scope vast league, whose in
fluence would be powerful II success at
tends the movement. 1t Is intended to OF.
ganize branches in all the larger CONNER
cial and industrial centers to cooperate
with the main body of the league. whose
headquarters at present are in Chicago.
Circulars to effect the formation Of these
coordinate bodies already have been is
sued The object of the league is to learn
what federal legislation will best aid the
business interests Of the country at large
and then TO use the influence Of the league
TO bring to the attention of congress meas
ures in line with business prosperity and
urge their passage in the interest Of COM
merce and industry The league Is to ne
thoroughly nonpartisan and fionpoltical
The officers, citizens of Chicago are ns
follows:
President, Ferdinand W. Peck; vice
president, Erskine NJ Phelps; treasurer,
Elbridge G. Keith; secretary, Clifford A.
Gilbert; attorney, John ". Ella.
Ferdinand W. Peck, the president, and
John W. Ella, the general attorney Of the
National Business league, are here 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. NIcssrs
~ II H.
with several members of the committee,
including Chairman Dingley, Mr.. A. J.
Hopkins and General GrOsvenor. with ref
erence to the work now being done by tho
committee In this manner they informed
themselves Of tho stage the schedules are
now in. Chairman Dingley, as well as 9TH
er members of the committee, received
them most cordially and expressed him-
self as much pleased with the organiza-
tion and os expecting a great deal of good
TO come from this work and gave assur-
once of his disposition to welcome the
leagues cooperation.
To Furnish Facts and Figures.
An arrangement was made with the
committee by which the league viii fur
nish them statements Of facts and statis-
tics from time to time and with its views
% w ioNotAbAAo arising III AlD lldhAu8 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 league by the members Of the
committee upon which It would be well
for the league to prepare and furnish state
monts. Mr.. Peck and Mr.. Ella also had an
interview with Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury Hamlin and arranged with him
TO obtain statistics and statements from
the bureau of statistics bearing upon such
points as they should desire ut 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 advisability of
having the bill for the appointment of a
tariff commission passed, providing that
export commissioners be appointed, to
whom all bills contemplating changes il
tafJiLschedules hereafter should be refer
redfof tngestiget laV aud to cehgTess, ,be-
fore action vas tasieD by5he lattef BODY
The object of this is stated to be TO prevent
after the passage OF the tariff bill now in
preparation the damage to business which
alwifys follows from general revision of
the tariff. 1t is understood that Mr. FeclS
and Mr.. Ella will recDmmend to the league
that its influence be brought to bear in
this connection.