Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07

, oAl - MAJ d AN " AL
the board to attend the opening of the IL
brary next Monday.
In reply to an inquiry from Mr. c. c.
Lancaster he stated that about 900 names
had been registered>of persons who wished
to take out books.
resolution was adopted:
THAT the ID board e. trade authorizes and
committee on library to make immediate
presentation to Congress of the needs Of
the Washington Public Library"
Mercantile Interests.
Mr.. W. A. Hungerford, from the commit
tee on mercantile interests, in the absence
of Mr.. Isadore Saks, the chairman report
ed resolution in favor of paying the sealer
of weights and measures and his assistants
their salaries from theF general fund. and
not from fees collected from citizens, and
that hereafter no fees be collected
Mr.. j. T. Petty, the auditor of the Dis
trict. stated that the salaries of the sealer
of weights and measures and his assist
ants are not paid from the fees as those
were turned into the United States treas
ury, but are paid from the general fund
He had intended TO recommend that the
fee system be abolished, and he thought
the part OF the resolution favoring that
could very properly be adopted.
Mr.. Robert b. Tenney expressed his op-
position to the fee system. He was in ia
Vor of such an official as the sealer of
weights and measures, but he objected to
being taxed for such a purpose.
Mr.. Hungerford amended the resolution
in accordance with Mr. Petty's suggestion
so that it provided simply for the abolition
of fees.
Mr.. George E. Emmons thought that the
building interests ought to be freed from
the burden of paying fees to the city sur
veyor for having surveys made.
fhn ,t,of, ,NfN
fees might as we'll be abolished if the prin-
ciple was established, and he spoke special
ly of the fees charged for the inspection Of
boilers.
ton be referred back to the committee in
order that report might be presented at
the next meeting as to whether there
should be other fees abolished.
Applicable to All Fees.
In the discussion which followed reference
was made to fees paid the recorder of deeds,
the register of wills and the building in
spector, and it was thought wise to have
the entire subject Of the payment of fees
looked into. Mr.. Hungerford explained
that the committee reporting this resolution
mad in special charge the interests of the
merchants, and if there were reforms af-
fecting other interests they should be con-
sidered by the proper committees.
The motion to recOmmit the resolution
vote of IS to 15 ..-.-
The next resolution, reported favorably
by the committee on mercantile interests
and adopted, was as follows:
Resolved, by the Washington board of
trade, That its executive officers and the
committee on mercantile interests be re-
quested to do all in their power to interest
the steam railroads operating in this city
in proposed business excursions to Wash
ington from adjacent territory.
Centennial Celebration.
Mr.. Marion Dorian, from the committee
on mercantile interests, offered the follow
ing resolution. which was adopted '-
Whereas. it is proposed TO celebrate, in
1900, with proper ceremonies, the one hun
dredth anniV arsary- of the removal of the
seat of the federal government to Wash
ington, and this celebration will be ma
tional in character and should be of such
magniticence as to- reflect credit not only
upon the nation, bat upon our beautiful
city and it's public7Spirited citizens as well,
therefore, the Washington board of trade
Pledges its aid aud corporation to the
committees, Officials andd civic, having the
arrangements in chargess and by its influ-
ence and zeal helptto make of the occa sion
success commensurate with the impor-
lance of the event IT, be celebrated
Also from the same committee, the fol-
lowing resolution, Which, was adopted:
Whereas, the law taxing secondhand
dealers $40 per annum has been in effect
extended to other lines, of business than
pawnbroking, to tbs manifest detrment of
many business integests,, not, in the opinion
gress, therefore, Tie Washington board Of
trade pledges itself to do everything in its
power to meliorate the conditions so justly
complained Of
Mr.. Hungerford Stated that the commit
tee on mercantile Interests IS considering
measures for the welfare of the business
men of the city and, for. the purpose of
ascertmnins the needs of merchants he
stated, a circular letter. which he read has
been sent out inviting suggestions, so that
the committee may act with intelligence
and without waste of time.
The Telephones.
Mr.. W. G. Henderson offered a resolution
to continue the committee on telephones
appointed at the meeting held November
H. 1898, and providing that the committee
be empowered to act in conjunction with
the officers of the board to the end that a
reasonable rate of telephone rental be es-
tapltshed as fact in the District of Co.
lumbla. The resolution was adopted
resolution was offered by Mr. James
". Somerville, which was adopted, as fol-
lows:
Resolved by the Washington board of
uade, That every effort to place electric
wires underground be heartily commended
and that the board views with favor the
proposition to bury in conduits all electric
ilsnt wires IN the city OF w aShington.'
Mr.. 3. T. Janney called attention to the
annual meeting of the national conference
of charities and corrections, and. from the
committee on charities and corrections, Of
fered resolution inviting, in connection
with the District Commissioners, the con-
ference to meet in this city in 1900. The
resolution was adopted.
resolution was offered by Mr.. A. A
Birney, which was adopted, to the effect
that THE official affairs of a municipality
are necessarily conducted by residents
thereof, acquainted with local public senti-
ment, which finds voice in the praise or
blame of their neighbors while the inn
portations of non-residents to fill such Of
fees exposes a municipality to the tender
mercies of officials often ignorant of local
affairs and unrestraiaed by respect for a
wholesome local sentiment, and the ma
ton has wisely recognized the applicable
ity of the above stated principles to local
appointments in the District of Columbia
and has through Congress, enacted that a
three years residence is essential to ELI
glbility to appointment, as civilian District
Commissioner, and has in the platform of
both the great political parties, extended
this condition of eligibility to the other local
federal offices by dec airing, either specifcal-
ly concerning the District or generally con-
corning the District under the classical
ton of territories. that all the federal Of
ficers appointed for it should be selected
from bona fide residents thereof: therefore