Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-24
CHEAPER POSTAGE
Probabilities Discussed by National
Board of Trade.
an ELABORATE REPORT PRESENTED
Establishment of New Department
of Government Recommended
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

| The second days session of the national
| board of trade was begun this morning in
| the banquet hall of the Shoreham Hotel.
/ The delegates went TO the White House at
| 10 o'clock and paid their respects to the
President, and the session was, therefore,
| not opened until half hour later Yester-
days work of the board resulted in the ap-
| pointment of the various committees to
| which the resolutions proposed by the sew
| eral bodies were referred. Most of the COM
| mittees had meetings last evening. and as
rapidly as the business before the board
| is disposed of they will report. 1t is ex-
pected that the board will be ready to adj
| Journ at the close of the session tomorrow
afternoon. although that is by means
certain The practice of the board is to
allow wide latitude of debate. as the
main purpose of the organization is to
bring about an interchange of views on the
various subjects, so that the conclusions
reached may be generally recognized as
sound The time limit ON debate is not Of
Ten applied by the presiding officer, and so
the discussion generally runs along I'M
cheched. Inc delegates, as rule, how
ever, are men who KNOW what they want
10 say and are in the habit OF expressing
themselves concisely, ami they are not apt
TO enCroach upon the good nature of the
ppdiu iHe pTeSlulnS G1llCer recognizes this
trait of the delegates and performs his du-
ties without too much reference to parlia-
mentary procedure.
The Members Photographed.
The delegates returned from the White
House about 1890 O'Clock, having stopped
on the way to have group photograph
taken After the board had been called 20
order report was made by Mr.. g P Muir
lay OF Cincinnati in regard to crop reports,
in which it was stated that "a few sug-
gestions We're to he made in regard to the
reports made by the Agricultural Depart
ment 1t was thought there might be more
promptttude in reaching results and more
attention to the returns of MINOR crops. 1t
was further suggested that the department
should nave cable information in regard TO
the crops in Europe, to be made known in
connection with the reports of the crops
The report was accepted.
A report from the committee on the de-
partment OF commerce and industries was
presented by Mr.. Alden Spear 1t recon-
mended that such d department be estab-
Eshed equal in prominence to any of the
great departments of the government. The
report favored the passage of Senate bill
No. I3S, relating to The formation of the
new department.
1t was stated IN the report. which was
adopted, that the industrial, manufacturing
and mercantile interests of this country are
OF such Importance as to imperatively de-
mand the establishment of a national de-
partment devoted to the promotion OF these
varied and vital interests.
The Committee Was Continued
On motion of Mr.. G. Waldo Smith of New
York, who spoke briefly in explanation a
resolution from the New York board of
trade and transportation was adopted IA
vorinS the adding to the definition of mixed
Hour in the internal revenue bill the clause
but not to include self-rising flour to be
hoNt OF sa1t
yeast or baking powder
Mr. Smith also called attention to a reSo-
luton from the same body urging upon
Congress the passage of law providing for
the creation of an American system of
navigating naval reserves, which was
adopted.
The Importance of Congress enacting a
national trade mark law explained by
Mr. NJ S. Wise of New York. He said that
every civilized country in the world has
such a law. The resolution was adopted.
The secretary read telegram from the
venerable president of the board, Mr.. Fra
ley, accepting the election to that office.
One-Cent Letter Postage.
A report from the committee on postal
affairs was read by Mr.. Finley Acker of
Philadelphia, which called attention to the
provisions il bills before Congress to do
away with one difficulty in the way Of es-
tablishing 1-cent letter postage, and that is
the correction of the abuse IN the trans
mission of second-class matter. 1t was the
opinion of the committee that these meas
ures should be approved.
Another difficulty in the way of this
change, the report pointed out, was the
high rate for railroad transportation of the
mails The report reviewed the steps taken
by the commission appointed to investigate
this subject. The report Of the committee
was an elaborate enc. and went with some
detail into the testimony given by Prof.
Adams and Mr. Critchnet before the com
missions and the conclusions reached by
them. The figures of the railroad were
analyzed by the report, and It was stated
that such analysis showed that the govern
meut was paying higher pTOportiOnate
| rate for hauling the mails than is shown
| by the statistics on this subject prepared
by the Post Office Department. The latter,
the report stated. had been much criticised.
| The reading of the report continued. and
the figures going into details Of the extent
Of the business Of carrying the mails by the
railroads, as bearing upon the cost, We're
brought out, the report fairly bristling with
statistics. The interest of the delegates
however. did not seem to flag. One reason
was the recognition that this is one of the
most important subject that is likely to
cCme up at this session, and 1t was evident
the sentiment in favor of one-cent letter
postage was strong one.
The contest which is going on with the
railroads in regard to their mail carrying
charges is looked upon as having an init
mate connection with the rate of letter
postage. A protest was entered against
being criticised for using statistics which
Were prepared by others, upon which the
responsibility for their accuracy rested. 1t
was stated that the heaviest daily shipment
| of mail was between New York and Phil
adelphia, and amounted to about 300 0gJ
| pounds The lowest was 400 pounds daily
/ A comparison was made by the report of
| the prices charged by the railroads for pas
| senger tickets for month or longer and
| the usual excursion tickets. anG then
| noting the difference in these rates in favor
| of the longer period.
Advantageous to Railroads.
| The report expressed the opinion that as
| the United States furnished business for
\ $50 days in the year. the conclusion was
| justified that the rate paid. by the govern
| ment to the railroads for carrying the
mails was most advantageous to the rail-
| roads.
An elaborate table making a comparison
I between the rates paid for handling mail
| passengers and freight, based on so many
| pounds carried, gave the rate for mails at
SEQ. that for passengers $40, and for first
| class freight, &C.
| 1t was further stated in the report that
] nit her 4 cent Iaf ter TO