The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-26
WANTS OF INDUSTRIES
REPORTS SUBMITTED TO MANUFAC..
TURERs' ASSOCIATION.
Annual Address of President Search
National Legislation.

convention of the National Association of
Manufacturers began in the Masonic Tenn
pie, this city, to-day. About 250 prominent
merchants from all parts of the country
were present at the morning session, at
which Theodore Search, of Philadelphia,
presided. The convention will close with a
banquet on Thursday, at which President
Mckinley will speak.
In his annual report President Search de-
clared that during the past twelve months
the Industries of the United States had
progressed from long-continueG dizziness
and stagnation, into pronounced activity.
He claimed that the National Association of
Manufacturers had a large share in the
credit for this expansion of trade. He de-
clared that one of the greatest problems
still to be settled was the shipping ques-
ticn, and advocated liberal policy on the
part of the government to encourage Amer
lean ship building. Mr.. Search referred to
the benefits which would accrue to the
United States by the completion of the
Nicaragua canal. He advocated the crea-
ton of q federal department of commerce
and industry, and the enactment of recip-
rocal trade treaties. He highly commended
the system of establishing sample ware
houses in foreign countries. Mr.. Search
strongly advocated the divorce of the con-
sular service from political influences. The
proposed national bankruptcy law, now be-
fore Congress, had, Mr.. Search said, the
strong support of his association. He depre-
Gated the increasing tendency on the part
of state legislatures to impose special taxes
on foreign corporations. He recommended
renewed agitation to secure untaxed alcohol
for the arts Mr.. Search called attention to
the necessity of speedy measures on the
part of American manufacturers who
wished to be represented at the Paris eX-
position of 1900.
The report of Mr. T. H. Martin, of At
lanta, Ga, commissioner of the association
to Mexico was then read. Mr.. Martin
stated that he was courteously received by
President Diaz, and was confident that a
proposition TO establish a sample ware
house of American goods in the city of
Mexico would be promptly accepted by the
Mexican government. Mr. Martin states
that if the United States would continue the
present ratio of gain in trade with Mexico
for the next three years it could easily con-
troll the trade of that country thereafter,
but the present was a crucial period, in
which European competition was doing its
utmost to win. He recommended that the
association request the State Department to
undertake negotiations for a reciprocity
treaty with Mexico
The report of the committee on weights
and measures recommended the adoption
of the metric system OF weights and meas
ures as the legal system of the United
States, to come into force Jan. 1. 1901.
The report of the committee on commerce
and industry, read by its chairman, Charles
A. Schieren. ex-mayor of Brooklyn, dealt
almost exclusively with the work done
towards promoting the creation of the ma
tional department of commerce and indus
try, and the necessity for the existence OF
such an institution. The committee on
transportation recommended that the inter-
state-commerce law be amended to include
cation; to invest the Interstate-commerce
Commission with such power as will prevent
unjust discrimination and extortion in
transportation charges; to repeal the fifth
clause of the present act and to substitute
an amendment that will provide that rate
agreements. whether they provide for divi-
sion of earnings or not, shall be enforceable
through the commission and the courts, and
the adoption of the anti-scalping bill.
After luncheon on board the steamship st.
Louis Secretary f. p. Wilson, of Cincin-
natl submitted his annual report. This
showed a gain CT GA members during the
past year The report of Treasurer Robert
LaidlaW. of Cine innati, showed total re-
ceipts of $39, 767. d disbursements $37 191, leav-
ing a. balance for the year of SOD The re-
ports of the committee on weights and
measures created considerable discussion,
and was referred to the committee on reso-
lutions This brought the business for the
day to close and adjournment was taken
until tomorrow.
Between eight hundred and nine hundred
delegates We're entertained tonight by the
members OF tine local Drancn OF the dSSOcld-
ton at Bohemian smoker at the Waldorf
Astoria Hotel which is estimated to have
cost $4,000. The affair was held in the old
ballroom. The room was decorated with
delicate flowers, potted plants and ferns. AS
the guests passed through the reception
rooms to the ballroom they passed by
plush-ned box, eight feet long and two feet
deep. This filled to overlooking with
the finest brands of cigars, bunch of
which was handed to each guest. About
the ballroom at regular distances were
small tables The smoker was absolutely
informal The guest seated himself at Il
table. ordered anything he desired from the
Waldorf menu and smoked his cigar as he
talked to his friend, or turned toward the
stage. at one end of the room, where dur
ing the evening half hundred theatrical
performers appeared before the guests.