Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-17

merce abroad, for which o charge OF
s25 was mado, and for the general
ice the charge was 800. He ex-
planned that the charge Of 800 was for
clerical work and said any business
man could get the information free by
calling at the museum. BY becoming
subscriber at the rate Of 500 bust
ness man can have the information sent
to him. He took exception 10 the state
ment that the .m,lseum was Offering to
furnish 90 foreign ratings for 500
year. He read letters from Gov. Stone
OF Pennsylvania, Mayor. Ashbridge Of
Philadelpbia, President j.. O. Straw
bridge and directors stating that the
museum was not private concern,
but public institution operated for
the general benefit Of the business of
the county, and made the assertion
that it was not for private gain and no
dividends are declared. He also de.
MED that the Export Exposition was
held under its auspices. but said the
museum, like the Franklin Institute
and similar concerns did what they
could for Its success. lie also denied
that reports Of the financial standing
OF business houses in other countries
were furnished by consular aeents. He
SAID the museum did not give ratings,
put was always willing to tell what the
leading hauses in any line Of business
~ any country were, Furnishing in
formation concerning foreign business
houses. he said, is not the chief bust
ness. 1t is only a small portion OF tho
work: only an incident. The informa-
lion is obtained with tho funds pro.
vlded ny manufacturers aud not with
public funds. The bill appfopriating
money specifies what that money must
ba used for and it must be used for the
purpose specified. If an Individual
wanted to oppose the appropriation
bill he wanted him to act with full
knowledge of the facts.
he said when 1T was known that
there was opposition, letters had, been
addressed To prominent manufacturers
~ al parts OF the country asking for
their We've on the matter and he had
with him about 100 replies favorable
TO the Dill. He read one Of the letters,
which was from Wilmington firm, in
which it was stated that the writer
did not see any ground for the attacks
on the bill, although be had not seen
the arguments Of the opponents. The
firm had not received any orders for
was benefited Indirectly.
Mr.. Green claimed that the work of
the museum is benefiting all, ms with
prosperity and the shops running full
time the merchants are tprofiting
thereby. The museum is extending
the markets, which Is necessary for
prosperity.
Harry Emmons, who followed Mr..
Green, said he did not think there had
been any misapprehensio regarding
the matter and he did not consider
that MIR. Green's remarks had cleared
the atmosphere. He believed the board
was willing to admit the most of
what MIR. Green lind said. ! Person.
ally he was SO willing. He commended
that there was "a principle involved, a
question Of fair play and Justice to
everybody. lie did not object to the
government making appropriations for
public works, and SO fan as the museum
was doing public work he had no
objection to make, but he did object
to the government app opriating money
to a concern to engage in an enterprise
of private nature. He Thought it
would be Just as consistent for the
government to appropriate money to a
Wilmington concern which might take
up some public work In connection
with its business. He thought the
museum had entered upon business
| which was not public work, Ii
wanted to receive from the government
| financial support for work which is
supplied by Bradatreet's and Dun 4
| Go. at great expense, and branded il
| unfair competition with government
support lilo held that Mr.. Green had
| admitted every material fact which had
| been claimed 10 the argument which
prompted the action of the board at
| Its last meeting.
Quoting from the appropriation ELL
| the clause land trade conditions
abroad,' he said that gives to the
museum full power TO conduct the
business of a mercantile agency and
that is what it Is edoing. Tho proviso
that\ the materials, data, &c., are TO
be distributed among boards Of trade
throughout the country does not pre-
vent the museum from charging Sl25 to
any who want to make a contract with
it for getting the information.
| Referring TO circular issued by the
museum, he said II proposes to furnish
the financial standing of foreign bust
ness houses. That, he held, is the
work Of private concerns, and If the
public is being efficiently served by
these concerns, why should there be
competition supported by the govern
ment? 1.-THE Museum be said, "says
it has the most extensive and best
foreign mercantile agency in the United
States, and that is what we claim. II
you believe what they say, that is what
they arc doing.'' e
Continuing, Mr.. Emmons said the
feature which is Of particular interest
| to manufacturers Ia the bureau of in
formation. If the representations made
in the circular are facts the museum is
exceeding its powers and in connection
with its public business has estap-
lished n private business concern. He
] claimed that the bill gave the museum
power to use any part of the sppro-
priation necessary In the work of OBJ
tanning the information Of which he
had been. speaking, and II these are the
facts the board ohnnot stultifyT itself as
a board, of trade by resembling the
resolution already passed. 1
Mr.. Brooks said gentleman was
present who was willing to swear that
he had received from the museum a
contract blank from the museum
stating that information concerning SO
foreign houses would be furnished to
subscribers.
II. h. Jepson of Newark, N. j.,
representative Of Dun g., Co.,
produced the blank referred 10
above and said he was the person
who had received it and ..he con-
strued it to distinctly dofine that
the museum was in the mercantile