The evening times., 1897-01-27
VIEWS OF BUSINESS MEN
Finance, the Consular System,
and Bankruptcy Considered.
THE BOARD OF TRADE TODAY
The Spoils System In the Govern
ment Service Condemned in Re-
ports From Committees-U Uniform
Laws for Foreign Corporations.
A Monetary Commission.


slow liz getting together this morning, ow-
ingin part, probably, to the cold and clouds.
1t was ten min utes after 1 y O'Clock wien
ex. Gov Stanard called the meeting to or.
der, and only half the membership was then
present Ex-Gov. Pattison, was among those
most promptly in attendance.
The reading of yesterdays minutes was
dispensed with. Business went forward
with a ten-nIinute limit to speeches.
Hon. Jonathan A. Lane, OF the Boston Mer-
chants Association, read the report of the
committee on the Consular service OF the
United States. Referring TO tie proposal
for an inspection OF the service, he said
Representative Hit gave his hearty sup
port, and, with the cooperation OF Senators
Frye and Hale, secured an appropriation OF
$40, 900 for this work. The result of the
Inspection was shown by the annual report
OF Secretary 0lney, just Issued 1t had un-
doubtedly been beneficial to the Interests
OF business. Mr.. Lane read letters from Mr..
Olney, showing that because OF the inspec
tion now in progress by Robert s. Chiffon,
chief OF the consular bureau, an unworthy
consul was dismissed in Mexico, several
offices were abandoned, valuable changes
and reforms were effected or begun in
Canada and Great Britain. Mr.. Chiffon is
now going into Oriental countries.
The report commended heartily the step
toward the abandonment OF the spoils
system, and suggested that competitive
examinations ought to be established for
offices already put upon the merit basis 1t
also asked that the higher places-above
50 800 a year-be filled by men chosen for
their fitness for the service.
1t was pointed out that while the
changes made In this administration in the
line OF civil service reform are not binding
upon the incoming government, yet Major
McKinley's personal attitude to the reform
is such that it is believed he will rot only
hold the progress made, but carry the good
work much further.
Mr.. Lane also read the bill introduced by
Mr.. Mccall in the House at the last ses-
sion providing for a complete reorganization
of the consular service. Also the proposal
to establish Department Of Commerce. TO
control and, direct foreign business rela-
tions was set forth and Endorsed.
He closed with commendatiOn for Presi
dent Cleveland, Secretary Olney, and As
sistant Secretary Curtis.
Mr. Mahlon n. Kline, of the Philadelphia
Trades League. for the kindred committee
named yesterday moved thatthe report be
accepted. aud the matterTeferred to a com
mittce, OF which Mr. Lane should be chair
man and it was so ordered
Mr. Edward II. Haskell. Of the Boston
Paper Trade Association, reported upon the
question OF uniform legislation in regard
to the treatment of foreign corporations
by the laws OF several of the States He
said that there were two ways suggested
OF dealing with the problem. One was to
make a test case on the constitutionahty
of such laws $ doubted by Justices HARLAN
and Lowell. The other was totry to secure
legislation on the subject that would be
uniform for all the States and secure the
benefit of common law a least to foreign
corporations The subject had been put
before the law association OF the country.
The topics of Bonds on Government
Contracts and Arbitration and Concilia
tion' and The classification OF Clerks in
First and Second-Class Postoffices" were
postponed for future consideration.
Nj Blanchard Randall, OF Baltimore read
n report from the committee on banking
laws 1t was the unanimous opinion OF the
members that there must be established q
consistent and deliberately planned finan-
cial system. He presented plan briefly as
follows:
First, that gold coin shall remain the
standard money; second, that steps should
be taken to retire all United States notes IN
such a way as not TO disturb b. sineSs rela-
tions; that national banks be allowed 10
issue currency TO their par value of their
bonds, and the tax on the circulation be re-
duced; that currency be issued 10y banks,
based on assets, under such national sd
pervision and restriction as will make IL
safe, elastic and Tedeemable in gold at
hank OF issue and at the city Gf New 4 ork:
third, that such banks Of issue. with a
capital of $50 900 or more. be established
in towns and villa ges OF less than 5000
population.
M. g. r Douslnan of Chicago presented
thc plan for a monetary commission,
printed III the program as the second part
OF the report.
An extended discussion ensued, which
Mrs. Parsons, Smith, Mem enanin, Pat
terson, Miller, McCarroll, Wright, Gano,
Poppleton, waldo Smith, DenisoR Smith,
Rice. and Rumsey took part. Mr. Nc
that it absolutely abandoned bimetalism.
The report was defended as the unanimous
report OF the committee and it was
adopted.
Mr.. Denison Smith said he had a speech
to make upon the subject. Ii the board
would allow the secretary to print such
parts as seemed worth it he would deSist;
if not he humorously threatened to in
flict it upon the meeting. he was per-
mitted to print.
Mr. Dousman's s reportfor monetary COM
mission was adopted with the proyiso tnat
il Congress should not see fit to establish a
commission, then the National Board of
Trade favors the private commission pro-
posed by the indianapolis monetary con-
ference The secretary was directed to in
form the proper official of the Indianapo-
lis conference OF this action.
Mr. Charles B. Murray, of Cincinnati. read
a report on the Joined subjects "A Common
Money Unit and International Coin"
The committee favored, instead of new
common money unit, the change of the
coins of the United States, of Great Britain
and OF Germany TO correspond to the COM
mon unit of France, Spain and other coun-
tries. This is coin containing twenty
five grains of gold nine-tenths fine, equal in
value to the French five francs. The pas
sage of the bill before Congress for an in
ternational coin was recommended. The
report was adopted.
Secretary Tucker read a telegram from
President Fraley, acknowledging his re-
election.
Mr.. Lane reported ON Uniform Insolvent
=
Torrey bill was likely in a short time to
y>ooo,oa n 10 xu Tho commit o0p-