Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-27
Our Congressman Reminded
of His Duty.
EXPECTED
Committee Appointed by the Business
Mems Association Presents the Claims
of Newport News in the Gus
tom House Matter

to- have Norfolk instead OF NEWPORT
News hmalie the port cit entry for Hamp-
ton Roads.
Yesterday the Letter was forwarded to
Congressman Young. Following is a
copy OF the communica ton:
Newport News. Va, Feb, 81, 1895
Hon. w. A. Young, M-trlber of Con-
greSS:
Dear sir:-The Business Mems Asso-
ciaton'of the city of Newport News has
had its attention called to the fact that
the Hon Lyman Gage. Secretary of the
United States Treasury, has recon-
mended, for economic reasons. the con-
sc4idation of various ports, under one
custom house service. ard that Norfolk,
Portsmouth and Newport News be
Joined with this as the port of entry.
we unierssana that q bill viii shortly
be introduced into Congress seeking to
ennct these views of s. ere aly Gage.
This Association is banded together to
promote the prosperity of Newport
News s far as possible
The foregoing is d matter of vital i'm
po!tance to US, and W., a committee APP
pointed tor the IurpoSe, would call y1'ur
attention to the following:
The reasons which led the Secretary
of the Treasury to choose this port in
stead of Norfolk OF Portsmouth as a
port OF entry must b5 WEI known to
YOU We would not belittle or speak
i'll of our neighbors. We rejoince TO see
them advance. But this matter under
consideration has nothing to do with
population. We acknowledge willingly
the supremacy Of Norfolk. and probably
Portsmouth, in this particular The pro-
poseid' legislation is a regulation of sea-
going commerce. 1t must d=al With eX-
ports and imports. We claim that New
port News is far ahead Of either of thes.
ports SO far as concerns these matters
We arr better located: have q better
h2rbor; our capacity to andle such
tfaiflc is better; our export and import
business sslrpasses theirs. Facts of this
KIND must have suggeted themselves to
Seer tary Gage. and caused him to give
US precedence.
Newspapers report that y1au ia
boring TO either defeat this law or IIaye
1t so charged that when passed by your
body Norfolk will he the port of entry.
ne r. knew az these reports i,r
true. If Correct, we would respectfully
protest against any such action upon
your part. We are r-presen tailed by you
in Cong! eSs. You .sre there to guard
and protect our interests i'm common
With the rest OF your district. All mat
tiers concerning Congressional aid mus
come through You. The city of New
port News has the same claims upon
Your lima and talent that Norfolk or
elsewhere has
We would not ask you to advocate
any measure nor do any act Which
other pace in Your district. We do not
claim that We have the right to dictate
your conduct, but. with all Difference,
We feel called UPON to submit tie pro-
test OF this Association against this re-
portelI support.
We Only ask that you remain passive.
ana give this city the right to pat in
their ciaim and uhat no town come en-
dorSed by the Congressman from this
district. CndSr any such conditions. we
have no fear, and .H5Gteve We can show
reasons sufficient to induce Congress to
pass Secretary Cages resolution un-
changed.
Yours very respectfully,
c. AYIAETT ASHLEY,
THOS. b. HENLEY,
ELIAS PEYSER,
COMMITTEES BusiHess Mems Association.
Newport News. Va.
Mr. r. G. Bickford sahD to a Daily, |
Press reporter yesterday afternoon:
In common with the majority Of our
peGp.e, had supposed that the Congress
slonal Committee Were fully informed Of
the SeH-eVIient advantages TO the Gov
eminent of the proposed acticn and
that, therefore, the Re SUIT was p?e1eter-
mined 1t seems, however, that the eff |
forts of Mr.. w. a. Young. Congressi0n-
al representative for this district, and
consistent misrepresentation of the in
tereSts of Newport News, seconded by
the extraordinary activity exhibited by |
Ghe citizens of Norfolk in this regard |
has impsrllei the welfare of our city.
Mr.. Young proposes, notwiths ia nding |
the recommendation of the Secretary
OF the Treasury in favor of Newport |
News, to change the plan of consoIida-
ton, selecting Norfolk as the port Of
entry.
"A date, has been fixed upon which
the committee wiz receive a delegation |
aEpsarirs IN THE Interests Of Norfolk |
IT is of the utmost Importance that
Newport News should see to it that she
also is lby delegation We
cannot AFFORD to underestimate the Sc |
r!ous nature of this attack upon the dig
nitN OF our port. Ordinary means of
represehtath oIN Railing, we must repre-
sent ourselves.
Il suggest that the newspapers OF this
city call mass meeting of our citizens
So that proper steps may he taken To-
wars the desired end'
The Washington correspondent of
the Norfolk V.rg'inian had the following
10 say i'm regard to this matter i'm yes-
terday's issue of his paper:
while at the Treasury on the Nor
FOLK public building matter, Mr. Young
arranged with Assistant Secretary
Howell for the reception of THE Norfolk
committee appointed to protest against
the consolidation of Newport News !
and Norfolk-Portsmout into one port,
with Norfolk as the zub-port.
MIR. Howell stated that he would be
pleased to hear what the committee mad
TO present. Mr.. Howell has TO feeling
in the matter, and is only looking out
for the governments view. which is to
economic the expenses. He stated to
the 'Virglnian that he would be perfect
ly willing to make Norfolk the port Of
entry and Newport News the sub port,
but he felt that there ought to be a
olidation of the three ports-New-
port News Norfolk-Portsmouth and
Cape Charles City-into one port. with
one collector of customs. Mr.. Young
Who was present. combatted this idea,
and pointed out the necessity of all the
ports being separate, and contended for
the law to renGain ais it is. Mr.. Howell
is not inclined to this view.
Chairman Dingley. of the Ways and
Means Committee. takes the view of
the Treasury on this subject and says
THAT he knew full we'll when the con-