The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-25

The National Board of Trade convened
yesterday morning at 1890 o'clock and
the regular business before the board was
begun. Many Of the committees appointed
Tuesday had not finished framing their re-
ports When the meeting was called to or
der yesterday morning, and the attendance
was somewhat small at first.
The first business was the reading Of the
reports of the standing committees APP
pointed last year. c. B. Murray, Of Gin
cinnati, spoke in behalf of the crop COM
mittee. on the report OF the United States
Agricultural Department for the past year.
He complained that the amount of the
yearly crops had been greatly underesti-
mated by the department. His report was
accepted.
Alden Speare. Of Boston, read the re-
port OF the committee on the new depart
ment, and stated that the committee urged
the board to induce Congress to take ac-
ton on Senate bill I3s relating to the
establishment of department of COM
merce and Industries.
The principal business of the morning
session was the reading OF the report Of
the postal committee by Finley Acker. Mr..
Acker told why the Government had so far
been unable to reduce the postal rates 10
one cent. He stated that the cause of the
trouble was the excessive amount paid by
the Government to the railroads for mail
transportation.
After this report was read and a lengthy
discussion Of its contents INDUCED in, Rep
resentatiye Robert Adams. jr.. addressed
81, IL, ~
form.
The board then adjourned until go
o'clock.
The afternoon session began with an ad-
dress by Governor Brady. OF Alaska. He
spoke of the great commercial future of
that section of the United States. and
urged the board 10 bring before Congress
the many needs Of that auriferous coun-
try. He stated that Alaska was in great
need of laws to govern the miners OF the
gold fields. The necessity for a system OF
lighthouses along the coast was also made
plain to the board.
The first business OF the afternoon was
the reading of the report of the waterways
committee. by Mr. Miller. Of New Orleans.
He presented before the board the great
need of New Orleans and the surrounding
territory for more complete system of
waterways, locks. etc. His report was
adopted by the board.
Dr. Robinson. OF New York. spoke in
behalf of the general health committee.
He stated the needs o. New York for
better quarantine and hospital service. and
expressed the wish for the board to bring
the matter before Congress.
MIR. Jones. Of st. Louis, read the report
of the committee on International expo
sitions, and in regard to the proposed e1-
position at st. Louis in a few years. He
made a fervent and forceful speech in
favor of the latter idea, and the report
was adopted.
Mr. White. of Boston, presented the re-
port of the committee on the revision of
the revenue laws. which was finally ac-
copied
The most interesting debate of the ses-
sion followed the reading OF the report of
the committee on the United States mer-
chant marine. The report of the majority
of the committee was in favor Of the pas
sage of the Hanna-Payne Frye Shipping
bill. The minority of the committee was
Dr. Samuel Adams Robinson of New York.
who stood so strongly against the hill that
the efforts of the other nine of the com
mittee to change his opinions were in vain.
DR.. Robinson presented the minority re-
port which asked Congress to provide
some way out of the merchant marine diff
ficulty without mentioning any specific
means for so doing II was this point
that caused so much discussion and de-
bate. Many were against the Hanna bill
itself, but were greatly in favor Of pre-
senting TO Congress report containing
some way out OF the difficulty. Conse-
quently they would rather favor the bill
than have nothing to offer in its place
After a long debate the board voted in
favoi of the majority report and the reso-
luton in favor of the bill will be placed |