Evening star., 1898-12-15
FAvORS RECIPROCITY
Action Taken by the National Board
of Trade.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS DISCUSSED
Collection of Crop Statistics by the
Government Bureaus.
FINAL ESSfON TODAY

FINAL SESSION TODAY
The third days session of the National
Board OF Trade was called to order this
morning promptly at 1o O'Clock in the ban
qTet hall of the Shoreham Hotel.
The first question that came before the
board this morning was the report of the
COMMITTEES on reciprocity ami export trade
presented by Mr. w. V. Eberso.e of Gin
cinnati The resolutions embodied in the
report. and which were adopsed. call atten-
tiOn to the gratifying increase in the export
trade of this country, especially in manu-
factured products, and recommended that
reciprocal treaties should be negotiated IS
pecjaiy with the countries of the American
continent. 1t was also resolved that in the
opinion of the board the commercial, manu-
featuring and industrial property of the
country VIII be greatly promo ted by the
nearest practical approach to the establish
ment of complete reciprocal trade relations
between the United States, the dominion of
Canada and the colony of Newfoundland.
Postal Affairs.
From the committee on postal affairs. Mr..
Giddings of New York presented a report
which recommended that Congress careful
ly look into The tier of the rates paid To
railroads by the government for carrying
Inc mans, Win IIe We" Ol REVISING Suti
rates on 4 bas.- that will be equitable to
the government and TO the railroads. 1t
was hoped that tn.s would pave the way for
1-cent letter postage. or at least to have in
the near future I-cent local letter postage.
The report was adopted
From the same committee resolution
was adopted favorIng the enactment of the
Loud bill. or some sImllar legislation,
amending the postai laws re4atIve to sec
Ond-cIass matter. ana aIso d resolution IA
NaFiu2 n at her of
treaty Tor the adoption OF an internauon-
al postage stamp, and for the reorg MIA
uon of our present parcel post system,
whereby much lower rates Can be offered
for the tranSmisSIOn OF parcels of mer-
chandIse.
Savings Banks.
The committee reported a resolution IA
yoring the establishing Of a system Of
postal savings banks.
A4r. Patterson of Philadelphia and Mr..
ThurbeT Of New York bo.h opposed that
idea.
The pr, siding officer stated that the ex-
ecutive committee had decided that the
next meeting Of the board will be held in
TINS city January u. l.5O.
When the vote Was taken at the close of
Inc discussion the resolution was lost.
In a few words Mir. Buchanan, the pre-
siding officer, expressed his thanks for the
consideration SHOWN to him by the members
Oi the board during the present session
He also spoke of the harmony displayed,
and commented the efficiency of the secrz-
taTy.
\ motion to adjourn was then adopted,
and at 1-3O the JwtntynInth annual meet
ing Of ;ne National Board of Trade came
10 an end.
Afternoon Session Yesterday.
At the afternoon session yesterday the
report OF the committee to winch had been
referred the various resolutions relative to
the Nicaragua canal. faVoring the speedy
construction of the canai by the United
States. was adopted. The report stated
1t is believed that the Cardeuas- Menocai
concession is vald and binding and that
under i the United States can wisely, safe
y and Immediately contract for and COM
mence the construction of this oceanic
waterway. As d matter of policy ana Wis
dom. therefore, 1t II believed judiciOuS
TO proceed with the work Immediately un-
der ex:sunS conditions and without the
waste of more time in diplomatic moves
but to meet the exlgencleS ot the future as
they may arise
Committee. consisting of G. Waldo
smith, New York; hugh Craig. Caiifor-
ma. b A Eckndrt, Chicago and Daniel
W Taylor. Winning ton. Del, appoint
en 10 Frrsenf me resolutions emDody.ng the
report To the Interstate and foreign COM
Invrca committees Of Congress. Tne reso-
-utions Re as follows:
That the Nicaragua cana. is an imDer-
atIFe economic Iac-vr III the transportation
Of the world. AMI unIess Us con5tructiga :
immediately undertahen under the jurtsdic
ton Of the Un5JeI States. il viii doubtless
be done by foreign powers, TO the great in
jury Of our American republic.
That the national board of trade re-
speettulIy urges upon Congress immediate
ana DEFINITE acton 20 secure the cunst-uc-
tion and control by the JniIed states gov
ernment OF the Nicaragua canal"
amending Interstate Commerce Law.
The report OF the committee on transpor-
tatlon was presented and adopted. 1t was
recommended that the interstate commerce
law be amended or that the findings Of the
committee BE- made enforceable unless. up
or appeal to the courts. they are found to
be unjust OF unidwfJ-; that absolute pub
Lefty of all rates. rules anu regulations he
enforced, with severe money penalties for
using any Otner rates. &c: that carriers be
allowed TO make agreements for the es-
ttDlisAHent Of taIr, stable and lawfully
published rates and that they shall he ii ed
with The commission and be subject To- its
approval.
The chairman Of the board was author
lied TO appoint a committee of seven to
confer with committees or members of
congress or representatives. Of other COM
rlerc!al bodies for the PURPOSE of framing
amendments 10 The .aw TO he submitted TO
Congress The resolutions further urge
thdt greater uniformity IN the classified ION
OF freight Is necessary, aLd unless the
railroad companies take action within a
reasonable time, that The Interstate com
nl-rce commission be empowered to forrnu-
Iate such c.aoSiiIcd JiOn- Also that Congress
be asked 10 enact Jaws applying TO express
companies and declaring them common
carriers.
In connection with this report a resolu-
ton offered by MI. Patterson was tdopt-
ed APPROVING The recommendations ugon
the subject Of The Interstate commerce law
IN the message Of the President 10 Con
Sress. and IN the report of the Secretary
cf The Treasury. and urging that they be
embodied in law.
FaSors Gold Standard
The committee on banking and currency
reported resolution favoring the gold
standard. which was adopted without dis
cussion- This committee consisted of Wal
ter Hil chairman. ST. Louis W. r. Rice
Boston: T. V. Smal!ey. Chicago: s. A. Rob
lnson. New York: Silas NJ. Giddings. New
York; g Il. Murray. Cincinnati: Dennison
r Smith, Toledo. and l.. W. Bodman. Chi
cago.
The resolution offered by the committee
was as follows: