Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-04
BUSINESS LEAGUE.
Chicago Scheme to Assist the
Tariff Constructors,
THE PURPOSE OF IT'S oR1e1HAroRs,

Peek aoa Els - the Capital % Explaan III.
sane-A Powerful Combi,sslon ee Mt.
nsss Hen Proposed which snail Er.rs
IN Influence for sesble Basansss Cona,.
ta@s-sasaR Grovsrs Moving % Con.
grsss for That Promised Bousty.
Washington, Feb. 4-Last week
there was formed in ChicaRo a. q re-
suit Of the efforts Of q number Of that
city's most prominent business men
the National Business League" The
plan OF the organization contemplates
In scope q vast league whose infiu-
ence would be powerful IL success at
tends the movement. 1t Is intended to
organize branches in all the larger COM
mercial and industrial centers to CO.
operate 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 issued. The object
Of the league is to learn what federal
legislation will best will aid the busi-
ness interests of the country at large
and then to use the influence Of the
league to bring to the attention of con-
gress measures in line with business
prosperity, and urge their passage in
the interests Of commerce and indus
try. The league is to be thoroughly
non-partisan and non-political.
List Of the League Omcers.
The officers. citizens Of Chicago. are
rs follows: President. Ferd w. Peck;
vice president, Erskine; M. Phelps;
treasurer, Elbridge g. Keith; secretary,
Clifford A. Gilbert: attorney, John w.
Ella. Ferdinand w. Peck, the president,
and John w. Ella, the general attorney,
were here yesterday to start the work
Of the league at Washington. The sub
ject of the tariff bill now being pre-
pared by the house ways and means
committee was first taken up. Peck
and Ella had extended interviews with
several members Of the committee, in
Guiding Chairman Dingley, A. ]. Hop
kins and General Grosvenor. with refer
ence to the work now being done by
the committee.
VIII Help the Committee Do Its Work.
In this manner they informed them
selves Of the stage the schedules are
now in. Chairman Dingley, as well as
other members of the committee, re-
ceived them most cordially. and ex-
pressed themselves much pleased with
the organization, and as expecting a
great deal Of good to come from this
work and gave assurance Of their dis
position to welcome the leagues CO.
operation. An arrangement was made
with the committee by which the league
Will furnish them statements of facts
and statistics from time to time and
with its views as to questions arising
in the making up Of the schedules. Sew
eral points upon which considerable
work is to be done and problems to
be solved in the making Of the tariff
schedules were suggested to these rep
resentatives of the league by the men,
bers of the committee, upon which it
would be well for the league to prepare
and furnish statements.
TALKED OF A TARIFF CONFUSION.
And Also Of . 'eDepartmsnt Of Commerce
and Industry"
Peck and Ella also had an interview
with Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
ury Hamlin 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 treas
ury department of its willingness to
further the work. They also discussed
with those with whom they conferred
the advisability Of having a bill for the
appointment OF tariff commission
passed. providing that expert commits
sfoners be appointed to whom all bills
contemplating changes in tariff sched-
ules hereafter should be referred for in
vestigation and report to congress be-
fore action was taken by the latter
body.
The object Of this is stated to be to
after the passage Of the tariff
bill now In preparation. the damage to
business which always follows from
general revision of the tariff. 1t is I'M
derstood that Peck and Ella will rec
to the league that it's influence
be brought to bear in this connection.
They also discussed with Senators Frye.
Cullom and other members of congress
and officials Of the treasury department
the bill to establish a new department
OF the government to be called the
Department Of Commerce and Indus
try" and the appointment of q new
cabinet ofdcer to represent this depart
ment. This measure will be recon-
mended to the executive committee of
the league for favorable action.
II Is believed that this department
would be in the line Of forwarding gen.
erai business prosperity. and it is con-
templated that a bureau of statistics
would form a part Of this Department.
work covering commercial, foreign and
domestic, and the general industries
ana labor of the country. from which
they hope very much better statements
OF results can be obtained than from
any OF the present departments.
These gentlemen will recommend to
the league action in favor of passing
the bills creating this department and
the tariff commission at the special SEES
sion to be called, SO that the new cabi-
net officer may be appointed within the
next few months. They were assured
by several members of congress that
neither Of the above measures would
delay the passage Of the tariff hin at
that session. Members generally ex-
pressed themselves in favor of the bills.