Evening star., 1898-11-15
BOARD OF TRADE:
Business Session Held in Hall of
Masonic Temple.
PRESIDENT NOYEy ANNUAL REPORT
Election of Directors and Recep-
ton of Officers Reports.
RESOLUTIONS ESENTED

The annual meeting of the board of trade
was held last evening in the hall of Masonic
Temple and was attended by representa-
tive gathering of citizens. 1t was the busi-
ness session of the board, devoted to hear
ing the annual reports and to the election
of directors, and also to social intercourse.
AT other meetings held during the year
some topic of public interest is discussed,
but at these annual gatherings an oppor-
tunity is given to the members to review
the work of the year and to meet each
other in a social way.
In every respect the gathering last even
ing was one of the most notable in the his
tory OF the board. The attendance was
large. and the interest manifested in the
proceedings evinced a feeling of pride in
the organization.
The president of the board, Mr. Theodore
W. Noyes, presided, and the minutes of the
last meeting were read by Mr.. Arthur
y Neil, the acting secretary, who occupied
the place of Col George II. Harries, the
secretary, who Was present, but who on
account of the effects of sickness contract
ed IN the service in the war with Spain
has not yet resumed his duties.
Presidents Address,
The president read his annual report. as
follows:
The past years record of the board of
trade has been marked by activity and
achievement, and the review of what has
been accomplished cannot fail to crafty
every member of the board and to inspire
him to renewed and redoubled efforts for
the LEGAL welfare.
Internal Affairs.
The healthy growth of the board itself
through the accession of new members has
added over one hundred names to our list
net increase of over sixty to BE- credited
largely to the energy of Secretary Harrics
and membership committee Greater inter-
est in committee work has resulted from
systematic enlargement and Strengthening
of the committees in pursuance of the
Policy of assigning additional members
where they most desired to be and where
they would consequently labor most cf1cc-
lively. The committee membership has
been increased over two hundred since the
last annual meeting and now numbers :Hi,
with a few duplications) as against 1jS
talso with duplications) in the preceding
year. A new committee on mercantile in
terests has been created, at first a special
committee by the action of the executive
committee and later a standing committee
by the action of the beard of trade NV
desire has been and is that every member
VINO can give active attention to this work
and on that committee in whose public
iahors he is most interested. The number
o. and attendance upon the meetings of
committees, directors and tha board itself
have been unusually and gratfyingly large.
and the influence of the board locally and
with the representatives of the nation has
increased. In the number and Importance
of legislative propositions discussed and
definitely acted upon in public meetings of
the board and in the legislation small ard
great promoting the local welfare, and Sc
cured largely through the boards efforts
all the records have in the year now closing
been broken.
The most important local legislation Sc
cured during the year is summarized in the
following resolution of thanks, passed by
the board of directors at a meeting July g.
1898:
Whereas TIE board of trade through its
appropriate committees acting in accord
ance with the directions Of the said board.
has urged upon Congress at its present ses-
sion the passage of legislation amendatoIy
of the highway act, for the increase and
publication of the Districts water supply
Tor carrying into effect the comprehensive
system of sewage disposal for the main
tenance of the free public library for the
reclamation of the Anacostia flats and for
the development of manual training as part
OF the Districts educational system and the
erection of adequate manual training
schools: and,
Whereas Congress has responded wholly
o. in part to the arguments and appeals
of its District constituents on all these sub
jects and has radically and beneficially
amended the highway act, and has provided
for the completion of the aqueduct tunnel
and for preliminary Investigations pointing
toward filtration of the Potomac water
and has taken significant steps, involving
considerable expenditure, in the direction
of the comprehensive system of sewage dis
pCsal and has provided for the maintenance
of the free public library and has author
lied the surveys preliminary to the re-
q y m nf no fiat hDG
authorized the erection in Washington of a
large and creditable manual training school;
therefore,
BE it resolved, That the directors of the
beard of trade extend the hearty thanks
of the board and of the community to their
legislators who have so faithfully and
wisely performed the duties assigned to
them by the constitution, and especially to
the District committees of the two houses.
and to the subcommittee of the appropria-
tions committees in charge of the District
appropriation bill, whose patient and in
telligCnt labOrs for the promotion of he
capitals welfare are warmly and grl -cfully
appreciated
Value OF Harmonious Ce-Operation.
This record teaches the lesson of the
value of harmonious effort. of sinking petty
personal and sectional differences and
standing shoulder to shoulder in defense
and promotion of the general welfare. 700
often wranging among citizens themselves
or in the board itself has brought to a
standstiii important public projects.
The board of trade, representing in its
membership every section OF the District
and every local interest, and dealing on
broad, liberal lines with these subjects
which are of general concern, is a needed
unifying force in the life and progress of
the municipality. Citizens who wisely or
Sanize in the various sections of the Dis
trict for the advancement of sectional in
terests and the securing Of sectional i'm
provemcnts come together in the board of
trade. not to promote especially the well
fare of their particular section, or their
own individual fortunes, but TO co-oDarate
with other citizens in the advancement of
those measures which are for the common
good of all. The board, fulfilling this func-
ton. and consistently acting on this line of
policy, in close touch with the Commits
slorers, and acting. so far as the public in
tereSts permit in harmony with them. con-
ceding to the citizens associations in the
various sections the handling of matters
peculiarly sectional and local, and banding
togethe the public spirited from all the
associations and from the citizens geLer-
ally for the promotion of the general well
fare. will continue O a DCwpr for gOO,I