New-York tribune., 1901-02-14
BOARD OF TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION.
OSCAR $ sTRAUs ASSUMES THE PRESIDENCY
OF THE ORGANIZATION

The New-York Board of Trade and Transporta-
ton held its regular monthly meeting yesterday
afternoon Oscar 5. straus ex-Minister Tur-
Key and the newly elected president OF the Board.
was introduced by the retiring president. William
ID Parsons. On taking the chair Mr. straus said:
, Having been in the public service for the last
Inree years. hoped on laying down my mission
might be able to make up for lost time so far as
PIlvlleges OF seclusion: but no sooner had Yield
your Board to take the presidency Il came in such
a Iorra, az the solicitation OF NUMBER OF gen
and for whom have so high an esteem, that felt
II difficult 10 decline Having accepted the post
you for the honor the selection implies
Mr. straus adverted TO the honorable and use
full existence Of the Board of Trade since its
ganization in 1873. and. referring the bills
now before the Legislature, said that TO propose
legislation without having submitted the sys-
TEN practical and scientific inquiry is a dis
turhing factor and fills Albany with the officers
of our leading trust institutions, pleading not for
themselves but for the security of the trusts
mitted TO their charge. In concluding ne said:
We are not associated together 10 run the Cow
ernment engage in local contests but sim
Ply 10 do our duty in regard 70 those public ques-
commercial community in particular and you must
not neglect 10 participate in this work II has a
m5rked effect IN keeping the members OF the Board
Individually alive 10 their larger interests as mem
oers Of the great mercantile community OF this
country ana 10 lay open 10 them view peyonq tne
narrow limits OF their own personal ana private
consists in expansion by force of arms. but by
fleets that carry products of farms and fac
tories u the remOtest corners OF the earth. Thls
age is sometimes derisvely called the Commercial
Age" I regard that the greatest praise that
can he bestowed upon time and country 1t
was shibboeth of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries that commerce followed the nag: out the
nations which adopted that idea soon discovered
that II was a lame and shriveled commerce, and
that the true commerce stayed behind TO follow
the natural course the channel of least resistance
ter versed in the history and diplomacy OF nations
wisely fOresaw before the present troubles in China
| arose that the only true policy for the nations
concerned that great commercial policy of the
| open door
J \ vote Of thanks unanimously rendered u
/ William II Parsons. the retiring president, who be
spoke for Mr.. Straus the same courteous treat
ment he had always received from the members
| \ resolution Sav5riuE the preservation of tn
| Palisades was adopted. The report OF the Exec
! utive Committee dealt largely with the severa
taxation bills now before tho Legislature, whicl
/ are commonly known as the Governors series
and which affect the interests OF savings banks. in
| surance and trust companies The particular bill
| saws the report. which affects most directly N
! commercial and manufacturing interests i sen
ate aiIl No 24. entitled. An act 70 amend the "a
law I'm relation to the franchise tax on corpo. Il
/ tuus" The report disa9proves the passage or I'M
/ and similar bills CharacteriZlng them as unJlS
The resolutions included IN the report Were IN tl
( same vein. and recommended that the ENecutlV
/ Committee be- authorized 10 take such lurth-
steps with reference 20 tax legislation as 20 II
/ members might seem proper
/ Lewis \IXoUs resolution IN FAVOR or deepeiiih
/ the channels in New-YOrk HarhOr was adopted
motion requesting the secretary 10 CoIhrhunIcdl
with the LEGISLATURE and Governor. asking for IN
/ passage OF law repeating the extraordinary id'
/ which gives the Ramauo Water Company sue
/ power referred 10 the Executive committee