The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-21

lRanlZatlOn
Messrs. George r. French, Sam Bear
IJr.. M. S. Willard. ]. C. Stevenson. J
A Arringdale. W. E. Springer, B. F
Keith and w. z. Worth made remark
in which they generally favored a union
of the three bodies.
Mr.. Willard said this same matter
was once taken up when he was a
member Of the board of of the
produce exchange but it fell through.
Mr.. Stevenson was not sure that the
graduation of membership was what II
SHOULD be but he said he favored &
strong organization and he felt that the
combined organization would make its
Influence felt and more would be ac-
complished by coherent action.
Mr.. Springer, who is president OF the
merchants association, said he spoke
as a member Of the chamber Of COM
merce. and while it was desirable for a
union Of the bodies. he had consulted a
number of the merchants association
who he said would not agree to the
merging Of the bodies.
Mr.. Worth strongly advocated union
and said he would be willing to pay
500 a year if the members of all these
ORGANIZATIONS would meet at some spe-
icified time every day. He said that the
contest would result advantageously, as
men never failed to get ideas from one
another when they are thrown together.
President jacob spoke strongly in ia
lV0F nr mGroino tha 49, tfo-r i -
said he had suggested their consolida-
ton in his recent annual report, and
had spoke to many members of it's ar
vantages. He said the organizations
would be numerically and financially
stronger n would accomplish more
for Wilmington He believed a gradu-
Iated membership vas the proper thing
but he suggested that the members of
the various bodies would have to be
Icanvassed TO ascertain whether the plan
submitted by the committee was &C
ceptable to them. He believed that the
combined organization should have
more income than So. 600 and too much
economy would not obtain the best re-
suits. He believed the bodies should
come together and erect a building in
some suitable place with ample accom-
modations. and that it might have a
club feature besides embrace all the
departments and purposes OF the vari-
Gus organizations.
Mr.. Smallbones moved that the report
of the committee be received, that the
commimtttee be continued and that
their report be submitted to the pro-
duce exchange and merchants associa-
ton with the endorsement of this cham
Der as a basis for consolidation. At
ter discussion the motion vas seconded
by Mr.. Sam Bear, Jr., and vas unani-
Imously adopted.
OTHER MATTERS.
Applications for membership were re-
ceived from Mayor A. M. Waddell and
the S. P. Cowan Livery Company, and
on motion the secretary cast the una1-
Iimous vote Of the chamber for them.
They were declared elected members.
A communication from Mr. NJ.
Willard. secretary of the Carolina In
I%surance Company was read. submitting
the following circular which he said
had been sent to the merchants and
for which he asked the endorsement Of
the chamber. viz:
I'VE believe the Carolina is IN a po-
Isition. if 1t should receive the endorse
Iment and support Of the commercial
bodies of the City in it's efforts, to Sc
cure some very material modification
of the recent advance In rates. At
lany rate. the company is willing to
make the effort. and Cat it's own ex-
Ipense) to send its representative to
New York or Atlanta, to lay before
the officers of the companies the rea-
sons why Wilmington should not be
as heavily taxed as some other. COM
munitieS.
I'VE believe. if we can be successful
lin such an effort it will be Of much
more benefit to the community than t
Iwould be for the Carolina, by itself. to
irefuse TO be governed by the increase
adopted by the companies, as the
iamount OF insurance which a single
company can carry is comparatively
Limited.
IF the chamber of commerce.. the
produce exchange and the merchants
association hin favorable Of this prop
iosition, we are ready to act at once in
the matter"
on IHOllOl " MI. ~"
the following was adopted:
Whereas, The State Of North Caro-
lima has, through the legislature. pro-
vided an insurance law which protects;
the insurance companies from incen-
idiarism and one that is acceptable to
the underwriters, n the City of Will
lmington has adopted a paid fire de-
lpartment and purchased additional
machines at considerable cost in order
to equip itself effectively, and it was
ipromised that these Improvements
would insure lower rates OF insurance.
and e..
Whereas, BY the published state
lment OF the Insurance Commissioners,
Through the circular of the Greensboro
Fire Insurance Companies, 1t is shown
THAT for the past three years the fire
insurance companies doing business IN
this state have made a net profit OF %
per cent, allowing 35 per cent. Tor
general expenses and 40 per cent. FOR
their losses, according to the record,
land in the face of these facts the
lSoutheastern Tariff Association has
advised our local fire insurance agents
of on increase of 25 per cent. on all