The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06
URGE SPECIAL SESSION
BOARD OF TRADE WANTS CONGRESS
no ACT ON CURRENCY REFORM.
Revision of Post Parcel Laws IN
acknowledgements of the
Grain Merchants.

The governors of the Board of Trade last
evening took decided action in favor of a
special session of Congress to consider the
currency question. In response to a request
from Mr.. H. II. Hanna that some express
sion be made, the following resolutions
Were presented and unanimously adopted
without debate:
Whereas, For two years past the COM
mercial organizations of the country have
been endeaVoring to obtain conservative
system; and,
Whereas The business men of the coun~
try have Joined hands upon this question
and,
Whereas If monetary legislation is to
be had we feel that the question should be
taken up and acted on at a special session
Of Congress; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the governing committee
of the Indianapolis Board of Trade, That
the President OF the United States sho1ld
call a special session of Congress to assem-
bic early after the 4th of March next; and,
be II further
Resolved, That this organization does
most respectfully and earnestly urge the
chief executive to call special session, to
herein Indicated; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolu-
lions be forwarded to each OF the senators
and representatives from this state, ana a
copy of the same to the President OF the
United States.'
A request from the Detroit Chamber OF
Commerce and other commercial organiZa-
tions Of that city caused a brief, but sharp
discussion. Resolutions were sent in by that
body demanding a revision of the parcel
post laws, calling for more extended facili-
ties and lower and more liberal rates. The
Endorsement Of the Indianapolis board was
asked. The fear was expressed that this
would be the first step toward greater
deficit in the Postofice Department than
now is found every year. Mr.. William
Scott explained that the deficit is caused by
the rates given second-class matter, and
that the parcel post is carried on at great
profit. The resolutions were finally Endorsed
and the efforts of the Detroit organizations
were seconded.
The grain merchants had two grievances
to have official action on. The first grows
out of the ruling to the collection of a
war revenue of L cent on each sale of $780,
The tax imposed is held to apply to all
grain merchants in the Board of Trade, and
an attempt has been made to collect it,
Payment was refused on the grounds that
the tax was intended to apply only to those
sales made on the floors of exchanges or
boards of trade where there are floor sales,
options and call sales, and that the in
tention was not to impose 1t on dealers who
handle the actual grain and who do not
test against the collection of the tax against
those who have their offices in the build
ing was written to the collector by Secre-
tary Smith, and thus far no ruling has been
received from him. The committee con-
CURED in and Endorsed the letter as the of
fetal expression of the body. The grain
merchants also want more liberal terms
from the railroad companies as to time for
loading, and thus try to hold here a por-
ton of the grain that now goes through
here to Toledo and to the seaboard points.
The matter will be laid before the next
meeting of the grain committee of the
Traffic Association at Chicago.
The Indiana State Board of Commerce in
vited the board to make suggestions to
township and municipal reform and meas
ures to be introduced in the approaching
session of the Legislature. The president
was authorized to name a committee of five
to formulate such suggestions and send
them to the state board. The president
was also authorized to appoint four dele
gates to attend the National Board of
Trade, which will meet in Washington, ID.
G. Mr. w. J. Griffin and Mr.. Charles A.
Bookwalter were elected to membership.