New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-27

away with the shortcomings Of the harbor. dis
advantages which have seriously threatened the
continued supremacy of New-York in the ports
Of this country.
Last nights dinner was meant as testi-
monial from the commercial and mercantile IN
terests Of the city to Senator Frye for his SER
vices in removing the detriment from which
New-York has so long suffered. In many re-
spects the occasion a memorable one. Not
for long time have so many OF New-forks
well-known men been gathered together under
one roof Representatives OF every big steam
ship line of he commercial and trading insti-
tutions of the city. Of the banking. railroad ana
Industrial interests. merchants. business ana
professional men OF the highest standihs anu
widest reputation to the number OF nearly six
hundred combined to pay this tribute u senator
Frye.
HISTORY OF THE DINNER
A word as to the history of the dinner will not
be out of place When the suggestion was nrse
made to Sepator Frye he was inclined TO retuse
the honor. modesty urging that he had Simply
done his duty and did not want any testimoh'ai
for that He was prevailed upon however, 10
..osrt II ard as a result OF a meeting OF repre-
sentatives OF .he commercial bodies OF the city
an Executive Committee to arrange the details
Rrainard president Produce Exchange; OSWALD
Henderson. Produce Exchange; L. w. Beasley'
nresident Maritime Association; F.. s. Atwoon'
Maritime Association; Emil l.. Boas. Hamburg
American Packet Line; Gustav II. Schwao
North German Lloyd Steamship Company;
Clement A. Griscom, jr.. American Line; Mar
shall Fl. CLYDE. Clyde Steamship Company; Her
man Sielcken Cotton Exchange; w. bayaIo
Cutting, Chamber OF Commerce; william r.
King, president Merchants Association' Jonn
w Ambrose Merchants Association; William N.
Corwine. Merchants Association. and ex-mayor
Charles A. Schieren, OF Brooklyn, MANUFACTURES
Association.
The result Of their efforts was the brilliant
gathering Of last night The dinner was iaia III
the ballroom OF the Waldorf-Astoria' The TOOTH
was resplendent with flags and MOWERS fne
galleries and supporting columns were aimoes
hidden with festoons and garlands or the N1-
,,oro, coIors while at intervals around the room
uere hung the banners OF the different states.
Conspicuous among them, and as eVioenoe IN
Senator Fryes work as one or the Feace Con'-
missioners In arranging the terms upon "n'c"
tho war with Spain should be terminated, wero
the hammers of Porto Rico. the Philippines ana
Cuba In a place OF honor behind the eues'
table was hung the banner OF Maine' sehasof
Frve's State The tables were laden with COST
,v roses and other flowers, while tall growing
Mains and freshly cut foliage entered largely
into the decorations.
Governor Roosevelt presided. Upon his risns
was seated Senator Frye. and upon his iefs
Senator T. c. Platt. Others at the cross-taoies
were Abner Mckinley. Charles Stewart Smith,
Ex-Governor Levi T. Morton, Major-Generd
Wesley Merritt. Senator Elkins, George r. BID
we'll. Frank Brainard. William +. King W.
Bayard Cutting Alexander Z. Orr, Charles n.
Schieren ex-Mayor William l.. Strong, Andrew
II. Green. L. W. Beasley Congressman James
s Sherman, the Rev. DR.. Van Dyke Amos J.
Cummings. J. w. Ambrose and X. cowen.
The details OF the dinner were carried OUT oy
a committee composed OF Gustav II. schwah
C. A. Griscom jr.. +. s. Atwood. OSWALD san
derson and william II. Corwine These men
together with Charles II. Webb. Edward Lyman
shortt and S. C. Mead. presided at the sever
rows of tables which were provided Tor the as
commodation OF the diners.
MANY WOMEN THERE.
A little before the speaking began the boxes
NJ the galleries were filed with fully two hun
dred women whose brightly coored costumef
further heightened the beauty Of the scene. Th'
souvenirs were in the form Of miniature steam
dredses. symbolizing the forthcoming deepen
ing and widening OF the harbor's channels
Upon the frontispiece Of the menu card was th'
bust Of Senator Frye. surrounded by the Stan
and Stripes and a laurel wreath. The progress
OF New-York port was depicted In the pict
ures, side by side OF an ancient merchantmen
and OF a steamer OF the type Of the ST. Louis
OF the American Line. A chart OF the harbo
and its channels was also placed beside eaci
>roprII OF, TILE III ARI EN- RIl,ER