The age-herald., 1898-01-26
MF. Martin Said the Trade With Mexico
 Had Assumed Large Proportions.
THE BANKRUPTCY LAW ENDORSED
Committee on Transportation Recommended a Provision for a National Classification of Rates and Advocated the
 Anti-Scalpers Bill.

New York, Jan 25.-The third annual convention of the National Association of Manufacturers began in the Masonic tenn pie in this city today. Prominent mer- chant from all parts of the country were present at the morning session, at which Theodore Search presided. The conven- tion will close with a banquet on Thurs day, 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 continued dullness and stagnation into pronounced activity. He claimed the national association of manufacturers had a large share in the credit for this expansion of trade He de- clared one of the greatest problems still to be settled was the shipping question and advocated a liberal policy on the part Of the government to encourage American shipbuilding
 He highly commended the system of es- tablishing sample warehouses in foreign countries.
 The Bankruptcy Law The proposed national bankruptcy law now before congress had, Mr. Search said, II. deprecated the increasing tendency on the part of state legislatures to impose special taxes upon foreign corpoI ~S ns. The report of MT. T. H. Martin of At lanta, Ga., commissioner of the associa- tion to Mexico, was then read. Mir Mar tin stated he was ceurteously received by President Diaz and was confident a propo- sition to establish sample warehouses of Ar,nn
 would be promptly accepted by the Mexi- can government. MT. Martin stated that if the United States could continue the present ratio of gain in trade with Mex ico for the next three years it could easily control the trade of that country there after, but that the present was crucial period in which European competition was doing it's utmost to win. He recommended that the association request that state de- partment to undertake negotiations for a reciprocity treaty with Mexico. Recommended M etres System The report of the committee on weights and measures recommended the adoption of the metric system of weights and measures as the legal system of the United States to come into force Jan. 1, 1901.
 The report of the committee on com merce and industry dealt almost ex- clusively in the work done in promoting the creation of the national department of commerce and industry and the necessity for the existence of such an institution. The committee on transportation recom- mended that the interstate commerce law be amended to include a provision for a uniform national classifcation to invest the interstate commerce commission with such power will prevent unjust dis criminations and extortion in transporta- tion 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 division of earnings or not, shall be en- forceable through the commission and the courts and the adoption of the anti-scalp- CTS bill
 Large Gain in Membership
 Secretary E. P. Wilson, of Cincinnati, then submitted his annual report. This showed a gain of 644 members during the past year.
 The report of Treasurer Robert Laidlaw, of Cincinnati, showed total receipts s39 767; disbursements, 37191, leaving balance for the year of s2,575.
 The reports of the committee on weights and measures created considerable dis cussion and was referred to the commit tee on resolutions. This brought the business for they day to close, and an adjournment was taken until tomorrow. 2
 Between 800 and 900 delegates were en- tertained tonight by the members of the local branch of the association at Bo- hemian smoker at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, which is estimated to have cost $1O,O00. The affair was enlivened by the appearance of half a hundred theatrical performers before the guests.