The Portland daily press., 1898-09-27
GroccIs and Flour Dealers Dine at
Riyer,On.
BENEFITS OF BUSINESS ASSOCT-
ATIONS DISCUSSED.
An Agreement Reached for Saturday Clos
ing During Whole Year-Ofcers
Chosen for Ensuing Year-Speechmak-
ing at the Banquet.


The annual meeting of the Portland
Wholesale Grocers and Flour Dealers as
ISOLATION was held last evening at River
ton park cafe.
The members of the association were
conveyed to the park on special cars or
the Portland Railroad company, leaving
Preble street at $50 O'Clock. The f1rst
part of the evening was devoted to tie
con sideration of several matters.of BUSH
ness. The election of officers resulted as
follows:
President-Holman S. Melcher
Vice. Observation-Disclosures Walker, Fred
o. Conant.
Secretary and Treasurer-Warren P.
Chase.
Directors-Wm. Henry Gray, Clarence
A. Weston, Frank ID. True, Elias Thorn
as, Jr., Walter A. Skillings.
Committee of Arbitration--Weston +.
Milliken, Samuel Clark, Jr., c. ID.
Delegates 10 the New England Grocers'
Association-F. V. Carney, 70. Conant,
H. S. Melcher, E. Tomlinson.
A resolution favoring the closing OF
the wholesale stores Saturday afternoons
at O'Clock through the entire year was
introduced, but consideration of the same
was deferred until after the banquet.
Voted to observe Washington's birthday
as holiday.
The secretary was instructed to address
the express companies and request them
to affix the war revenue stamps to all re-
ceipts. the same as is now done by the
railroad companies which is in con-
formity to decisio of the Supreme
Court.
An adjournment was then taken to the
BANQUET hall, where the association, with
their invited guests, were seated to par
take OF the sumptuous banquet prepared
by D. B. Smith, the genial manager,
and served by an efficient corps OF wait
resses under the charge of Miss Kelley.
Supper over, Major Melcher, the presi-
dent. called the assembly to-order and
welcomed the members and guests OF the
association. He referred to the value OF
the association which had been orga-
nized for 10 years.
Mayor Charles Fl. Randall of Portland.
member of thhe firm of Simonton q
Randall, was introduced, and in brief,
welcomed the visiting guests to the city.
In his remarks Mayor Randall referred
to the prosperity of the city in wealth
and population.
We are, said Mayor Randall, attracting
large numbers of people to our city every
summer on account of our seaside re-
sorts. He referred to the fact that 300, GOO
people had visited Riyerton during the
summer. The Mayor spoSe of the in
ol easing facilities for shipping. and al
iuded to the increased foreign steamer
service promised for the coming winter.
President William j. Seaver of Boston,
of the New England Wholesale Grocers'
association, spoke briefly, saying that
the New England association had been a
great benefit to the member during the
three years of it's existence. He believed
strongly in the idea Of association work. =
Mr. Jacob P. Bt ties, secretary of the
New England Grocers' association, spoke
of the rebate system among the wholesale
tence Of the association three years ago,
there had been $780, 600 in rebates paid to
the several dealers throughout New Eng
land.
II. B. Pennell, representing Cook,
Everett & Pennell, wholesale druggists;
Bryce NJ. Edwards of Edwards & Walker,
hardware dealers; Ammi Whitney of
Kendall & Whitney; II. W. Corey of
Corey Il Co., iron dealers. and Fl. N.
Pinkham, representing Dow Il Pinkham,
insurance agents, ZACH spoke in favor Of
the formation of associations in all lines
of business.
Major S. W. Thaxter referred to the in
ternational commission now in session at
Quebec, and said that as citizens we
should bs interested in breaking the
barrier in trade relations between Canada
and the States. In closing his remarks
he eulogized the late d. W. Kensel, one
of Portlands well-known grain dealers.
NJ. N. Rich, secretary of the Portland
Board of Trade, spoke of the value of
association, and said that he believed
better results could be obtained in Con-
gress and in the legislative halls If the
merchants stand as unit on matters OF
importance. He also said that he hoped
to see better trade relations established
between our own country and Canada
The resolution relative to the Saturday
half holiday was then considered for hnal
action. Messrs. Chas. Walker, X. 1.
Laughlin, q. A. Weston, James b.
Hawkes. and several others spoke IN favor
of the movement to close Saturdays
throughout the year at O'CLOCK. y. H.
Chase, B. M. Edwards, L. M. Cousens.
c. H. Ra ndall were opposed to the pro-
ject through the year, but were willing
to do as at present. close five months Of
the year on Saturdays.
The discussion developed the fact that
the resolution could not pass unanimous
~ so a compromise was made and an
amendrnent offered to the effect that
during five months of the year the whole
s,1e stores should close ON Saturday at
o'clock, and at 3 O'Clock during the
rom aiming seven months of the year. The
-. m the motion as amended was