Evening star., 1898-12-07
ANNUAL CONVENTION
Coming Session of the National Board
of Trade.
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
Amendments Proposed to the Inter-
state Commerce Law.
REFORM OF CURREN

r EFORM OF CURREN
The coming annual convention of the ma
uonal board of trade. which will begin in
this city Tuesday of next week, promises
| to be the most important of any that has
been held since the organization OF the
body. Mr.. William r. Tucker, the secre-
| tary, has prepared a program of the var
ious subjects to he considered, as recon-
mended by the many local trade organi-
cations throughout the country. The ques-
ton of pooling legislation will come in for
a large share Of the discussion. On this
matter the Chicago board of trade has sub
mitted "a preamble and resolution, which
sets forth that "by reason Of various deci-
sions of the United States Supreme Court
many of the most important provisions of
the interstate commerce law are noper-
atlve and fail to afford that relief to the
business interests of the country which the
law was enacted to secure; therefore the
national board Of trade recommends that
Congress Immediately enact such amend
ments to the interstate commerce law as
will give to the commerce of the Cnited
States equitable. stable and uniform rates
of freight, or failing to secure these that
III.
Cincinnati Seconds 1t.
The Cincinnati board OF trade and bureau
of information has submitted for consdera-
ton that decisions of the courts of the
United States have practically indicated
that the law Interstate commerce) as it
now stands fails to provide effective
methods for the enforcement of its prOvi-
sions." and that neglect of it's provisions
both by the public and by common carriers,
Las resulted in conditions, affecting public
transportation, which are SubVeTSiVe of
common law and common justice, and de
structive of commercial prosperity, there
fore the national board OF trade most earn
estly urges upon Congress the early adop-
ton of such amendments as will secure to
the public fair and uniformly maintained
rates and regulations, applied to trapspor
tation of persons and property, between the
states, by common carriers of all classes"
The New York board of trade and trans
portation recommends that the national
board of trade earnestly advocate legisa-
ton by Congress to amend the Interstate
commerce law to permit pooling by
railroads under the supervision and control
of the interstate commerce commission, 10
the end that unjust 1iscrimina tionS may be
prevented and stable rates be establishcI.''
The Boston Merchants Association urges
similar action, indorsing section > of Sen
ate bill 1919, introduced March 81, 1891.
The Cincinnati chamber of commerce de
clares that the interests of interstate COM
merce imperatively call for system Of
uniform classification of freights. and that
Congress should enac: at the earliest Gate
practicable measures now pendtn&y or of
similar intent locking to the Inauguration
of uniform freight classification. provided,
that if the agreement uDon such classifca-
ton shall be vested in the interstate COM
merce commission or other body that pro-
ceedinSs in cOnsummatiOn OF such work
shall be arranged TO be had iii conjunction
with officials or representatives Of the rail-
way system
The demand for such legislation is also
indorsed by the Boston chamber Of com
merce and the Philadelphia bo1rl of :radc.
Currency Reform.
The reform of the currency Is also to
receive much attention. The baltimore
board of trade urges that it is no. only
desirable. but absolutely necessary, that
our present currency system should be re-
adjusted upon the true principles Of finance
and economy, and appeals to the national
board Of trade to use It's influence and
best endeavors with the members of Com
gresS to induce them to enact such lcgiSa-
ton as will result in the maintenance Of
the present gold standard and in relieving
the government from the embarrassment of
providing the currency of the nation and
of redeeming the same upon demand in
gold
The New York board of trade and trans
portaton calls for similar action by Con-
Sr"ss and Commcnds the plan Of the Indian
apolis monetary convention. which is also
indorsed by the merchants exchange of
ST. Louis.
The Scranton board Of trade urges that
the national organization declare that the
interest Of American trade and commerce
in the far east and every consideration of
humanity and civil liberty rs Well as good
faith with the people who became our
friends and allies in the war with Spain de-
mand that or government retain perma-
nent possession of the PHILIPPINES Caroline
and 1;1Grppl Islands nd heir
at least until such government has been
established as shall guarantee TO the peo-
pies the same rights of civil and religious
liberty as are enjoyed by ourselves"
War Revenue.
The new war revenue law naturally is
suggested as a topic for fruitful discussion.
In regard TO the current taxes on exchange
| transfers the Chicago board Of trade de-
clarcs that the members of the CONNER
cial exchanges Of the country are taxed for
transactions. when identically the same
transactions in kind made outside of the
exchanges are not taXed,' and that mem
bers Of great trade organizations are COM
PEELED by the hcncfccnL operation of the
| forces of competition 10 handle this i'm
portant business on such small margins
that the tax amounts ~ 10 per cent Of the
minimum commissions charged for buying
and selling. and is. therefore. excessive. eX-
ceptional and unreasonable" and, accord
ingly, asks that the national board of
trade hereby respectfully urges upon the
Congress Of the United States such Il modi-
fication Of The United States revenue law
as will relieve the members OF the COM
merCial exchanges OF the country from this
special tax on sales, which is not imposed
upon any other class Of merchants in any
other line of trade
This proposed amendment of the law is
indorsed by the Cincinnati chamber Of COM
uercc and the merchants exchange of ST.
Louis. The Scranton board of trade asks
that express. telegraph and telephone com
panies be compelled to pay the tax on mes
sages and shipping receipts, instead of pass
ing It onto the public.
4 reduction of the present tax of s1.1O
per proof gallon spirits to 10 cents is
Urged by the Cincinnati chamber of COM
merce and the Peoria board of trade. The
former asserts that result OF the pres
ent law fraudulent dstillation has been
stimulated to such an eXtent as to seri0us-