Evening star., 1902-01-22
AS TOPENNY POSTAGE
Discussion Today at Session Of NJ
tional Board Of Trade.
VIEWS ON CUBAN TARIFF QUESTION
Other Subjects Considered and the
Action Taken Thereon.
TRADE AND ROE

RADE AND RCE
The second days session of the National
Board of Trade was begun this morning In
the banquet hall Of the Shoreham. Owing
to the meetings Of the various committees
last evening and again this morning the
time Of the delegates has been pretty fully
occupied. The work Of the board is mainly
in considering reports from committees
and hence it is necessary that these bod
les should begin active work at once, so
that there will be no delay in the proceed
ings.
Owing to the engagement of the dele
gates in committee work the session this
morning did not open promptly at the hour.
Mr.. Van Wickle and Mr.. Greeniees, two
Of the delegates from the Washington
Board of Trade. were on hand and con-
tinued the distribution of cards to the del
egates inviting them to attend the recep-
ton to be given by the local Board Of Trade
at the Arlington this evening. A large
number Of the visitors have arranged to
accept the hospitality of the Washington
board and the delegates of the local body
have received many expressions Of appce-
citation at the courtesy which has been
shown them by this invitation.
AS the officers of the board have not as
yet been elected, the choice having been
deferred pending the report Of the commit
tee on the betterment Of the board. the
temporary chairman, Mr.. Alden Speare of
Boston, continued in the chair.
Postal Committees Report.
The first report that came before the
board was for the postal committee by the
chairman, Mr. Finley Acken Of Philadel-
phia. 1t was stated by the committee that
in regard to the adoption of penny postage,
the argument advanced against 1t by the
postal authorities was that If the postal
service is to be self-Sustaining the reten-
ton of the tr.o-cent rate is necessary. The
committee W., Of the opinion that If this
tradition was to be maintained all the men,
bers of the board would, in all probability,
be in their graves before the proposed con-
dition Is remedied, and penny postage es-
tablished. The committee then pointed
out what was termed the fallacy of this
position, giving figures to show that mer-
camille firms eXpend for first-class postage
all the way from $3s,OOO to s1O0 annually
while magazine publishers paid in second
class rates from $4,000 to 5000 per annum.
The use by the latter Of the first-class
rates was stated to be comparatively in
significant.
1t was also pointed out that while the
f1rst-class matter was carried by the gov
ernment at large profit, secondclass
seven per cent. Upon these facts the COM
mittee concluded that a due regard to the
American spirit of equity would lead to
such an adjustment of the postal rates as
would remedy the class discrimination
which is shown to exist.
1t was urged that such conditions rather
than the combined net loss and profit from
the postal service should be considered.
cent postage should be established and the
declaration was made that under the op-
Grafton Of this change in the course of g.
few years the revenue would be equal to
that which the department now has.
Border Quarantine.
The report was accepted.
The special order of the day was next
called. This was the consideration Of the
resolution providing a rigid border quar-
antine to be maintained to protect the
country from imported disease and that
the United States marine hospital service
should be made part of a national health
commission. This resolution was acted
upon at yesterdays meeting, and 1t was
decided to hear this morning on this SUBJ
1ect DR.. Wyman of the marine hospital
service and DR.. w. c. Woodward, the
health officer of the District.
Mr.. Thurber stated that the committee
had not communicated with these gentle
men as yet. and on his suggestion the &C
tion Of yesterday was reconsidered, in
order that the subject might be referred
to special committee to report at later
session.
A report was read by Mr. F. B. Thur
ber of the committee on arid lands, which
pointed out the great Importance Of the
reclamation Of these sections of the coun-
try, so that they will become available for
use. The report was accepted.
Bankruptcy Law.
Mr.. Morris s. Wise of New York pre-
sented the report Of the committee on bank
ruDtcy. which WAS follows.
Your committee has examined the pro-
visions Of the Ray amendatory bill, now
pending In Congress, and known as H. R.
1910, and finds that said bill, or some
equivalent amendatory measure, is neces-
sary in order to perfect the national bank
ruptcy law, and make such law more just
and equitable In its operation.
I'VE especially recommend the Ray bill
in respect to amending section 81 G, which
protects payments made on account by in
solvent debtors to innocent creditors, and
changes the law as construed by the United
States Supreme Court in the case of the
Chicago Trust Company agt. Carson, Prize,
scott q Co., and your committee accord
ingly recommends the Endorsement of the
Ray bin or equivalent amendatory legisla-
ton, which VIII properly amend the bank
BILL"
The report was adopted.
Upbuilding of Merchant Marine.
Resolutions were presented by Mr.. An
drew Wheeler Of Philadelphia for the COM
mittee on merchant marine, recommending
to Congress the adoption OF such measures
as will build up the merchant marine. This
action was urged by the committee because
OF the large recent accessions to the do
main of the United States and the new
opportunities thus opened up to the citizens
of this country for enterprise; that these
conditions and the rapidly developing for
eign trade demands an expansion Of the
merchant marine. The report was adopted
1t was decided to make the report of the
special committee appointed to consider the
future of the board the special order for
this afternoon at o'clock.
resolution was adopted urging upon
Congress liberal policy In appropriations
for the Improvement OF the rivers and har-
bors Of the United States as 1t is believed
the people will indorse that which tends to
the improvement Of the transportation
facilities.
The report of the committee on crop re-
ports. which was read by Mr.. c. B. Murray
Of Cincinnati. criticised the reports as made
by the Agricultural Department for the
| reason that summaries were not given
| showing the average yield. It was claimed
Nxyf fho dam ~ 10