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


The Board of Trade at a special
meeting, last night week. for the second
time in less than week, placed itself
on record as opposing the bill now
pending before Congress TO grant the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum an
appropriation of 5000, 1000. At the Feb
ruary meeting of the board resolution
was adopted favoring the bill, and at
the May meeting, which was held last
Thursday week, another resolution
was adopted resembling the former
action Of the board in tho matter, 1t
being represented to the board that the
museum was engaging in an enterprise
in competition with the mercantile
agencies Of the country.
Last weeks meeting, the call for
Hollingsworth Co., the Pussy & Jones
Co., the Lobdell Gar Wheel Co., the
Remington Machine Co., the Diamond
State Steel Co., Mitchell & Thomas
and Theodore A. Leisen, continued
from 8. Is o'clock until lO.45 and was
characterized by lengthy statements
and spirited debates. The meeting room
was crowded and many participated in
the discussion.
At the request OF President Eawton,
Secretary Taylor read resolution
which had been sent to the board the
object of which was to rescind the
action OF the last meeting. Without
the resolution being formally offered,
which nobody made q move to do,
Harry Emmons said he understood that
it emanated from the Philadelphia
Museum, through . representative,
who was present, and he asked that
the representative of the museum be
given the floor for the purpose Of
making a statement. and on motion of
l.. E. Brooks, manager OF the local
agency Of Dun & Co. and also a men,
her of the board, an invitation was
extended to @. A. Green, assistant
chief Of the bureau Of information of
the Philadelphia Museum, to address
the meeting.
Mr.. Green, after thanking the board
for the courtesy of Q hearing, said the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum was
public institution for tho promotion
of the export trade, its object being to
gather such samples and data from
foreign countries as would inform
American manufacturers as to what
they would have to compete with /;
| BiNihB thO tihOo CouhiJiOuo VI tD6
world in such manner as to aid
domestic mar ufacturers In their efforts
to introduce their goods abroad. 1t
was established, he said, under AN
ordinance of the Philadelphia CITY
| Councils, dated June 18th, 1894. At
that time there was no idea of such an
Institution as exists today. the present
condition having developed from the
needs of the times. The obstacles to
the export trade have been lack of
knowledge of the condition of foreign
maj kets and there waa no way hereto
fore for American manufacturers to get
the information without sending repre-
sentatives into the field, which would
be very expensive. When the museum
f1rst placed samples Of exhibition 1t
was understood that IL Was to be. main
tanned by the city, but II was after
ward found that 1t would be necessary
to have a bureau Of information.
Manufacturers wanted information
about places in which business was
done 10 foreign countries and the
museum began to make an investi.
cation, and the bureau developed from
the needs of business people. Now
Investigation In all parts Of the world
is the object In view. 1t has been
shown during the five years of the
museums existence what good is being
done. The Congressional committee's
report states that the enormous in
crease in the export trade is due to the
influence OF the Philadelphia Museum.
The government of the museum is
vested in IA trustees, who are .promi-
nent business men Of Philadelphia,
were appointed by the mayor for life
and receive no compensation in adj
dition to whom there are eight city
and State officials, including the
governor mayor and heads of DEPART
ments. The advisory board is made up
of representatives appointed by cham
bers of commerce and boards of trade
throughout the United States. The
Wilmington Board Of Trade is repre-
scented by two members Through
these representatives commercial bodies
throughout the United States are kept
posted concerning. the work OF the
museum, and In that manner the
museum is able to serve the best
interests of all IN al. parts Of the
country. The expenses are maintained
chiefly by the city Of Philadelphia, hui
the State and government made appro-
priations toward tho building fund,
and the government made an additional
appropriation of $4,000 for the pur-
pose Of gathering samples of the Kind
Of goods made in other countries with
which American manufacturers are re.
quired to compete, and which were or
exhibition at the recent Export Elk.
position. They are now on exhibition
at the museum and are available all
the time, together with information
concerning them relative to markets
and prices.
1t was thought wise, he said, as the
museum was recognized all over the
world, that it should be given further
recognition by the government an6
get additional assistance from thai
source in order that il might extenc
, its Investigations to all parts Of the
world, and bill granting an appro
, priation of 5000, 00O was introduced II
, Congress. The bill, he said, set forth
: that the money is to be used for tie
. purpose Of completing the collection o.
|, ,ksamples, obtaining the necessary data
, trade, conditions abroad, &C., the objec
| being to aid in opening new markets
/ aproad.9lIt contains a proviso thai
such samples and data are to be dis
/ tributed to commercial bodies through
/ out tho United States. Boards of trad,
and chambers OF commerce recognized
: the Importance of this work to manu-
facturers all over the United State
a and nearly all of them passed reso
, buttons favoriDg the bill. This wen
! on until the management of til,
a museum found that the hill was opposet
| by commercial agencies, and it wa
| l,opouaraI That in tho onr,o,t;oy, -, q,