The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-04
CROss-FIRE OF COMMITTEES.
Board of Trade and Commercial Club
Authority Questioned.

81 assert that the elevated track commits
sion OF the Commercial Club is without au-
thority to speak for that organization"
said /. S. Gordon to the grade crossing
commission.
THE Board of Trade has never acted on
the elevated track question except by a mi
nority of its board of governors, and with
all respect to it's commit ttee, which is here
in good faith, il Is here without authority
to speak for that body" said Albert Sahm,
ten minutes later.
The commission smiled facetiously over
those opinions The speeches of Mr.. Cor
don and Mr.. Sahm suggested the inquiry:
Ibid the Commercial Club and Board of
| Trade mean it?'
The commissions session yesterday was
| set aside for the Merchants Association
| committee and the Board of Trade The
Merchants Association committee asked
| further time, which was granted, and the
| Board of Trade committee composed of
| Edgar III. Evans. A. A Young and r. o.
| Hawkins, presented the report of the
boards subcommittee. prepared in 1899, and
| which opposed track elevation. Mr.. Haw-
| kins presented the report, which was print
ed together with a communication from
| the board stating this organization reaf-
firms its former position in the premises,
and further that the indianapolis Board of
Trade is opposed to general track eleVa-
| ton" In presenting these documents Mr.
| Hawkins narrated the history of the board
| investigation.
The time of the commission was largely
SeE of 0y be BSsrd of of rse
| elevation. He quoted many of the argu-
ments made in the printed report but his
| address was particularly devoted to dis
1 M fho foI
| Clubs elevated track commission, which
| was spoken for Saturday by William For
| tune. He said Mr.. Fortune did not fairly
| represent the organization. He read notes
/ from the minutes of the Commercial Club
| showing how the commission resulted from
| a "dollar-a-plate dinner" which, he said.
could hardly bring representative gather
! ing of men. The resolution authorizing the
| appointment of a commission was intro
acted all his outgoing freight business by
express and received only half his business
by freight. He also said he had authority
| from ID. NJ. Parry. former president of the
club. that he had appointed Mr.. Fortune
chairman OF the commission without au-
| thority. MIR. Gordon said the club had only
acted through its directors, and that the
! commission did not represent the member
ship OF the club. He had taken a postal
| card vote OF portion of the club member
ship-about seven hundred-when the conn
mission urged the elevation of the proposed
Indianapolis Southern tracks, and 1t showed
| 80 per cent. or the members who answered
|
glad To join in taking vote of the club to
determine its position rather than let its
position be represented by commission
created without authority by the board of
directors
Mr.. CoFFIN's QUESTION.
Has the Board of Trade ever acted on
the question except through its board of
governors?" asked Mr. Coffin. of the May
| or's commission.
Mr.. Gordon said a vote OF the membership
of the Board of Trade would probably show
more in favor of elevation than in the Conn
mercial Club.
Albert Sahm. n member OF the board of
governors of the Board of Trade followed
in a speech. in which he confined himself
| TO discrediting the committee from the
| Board OF Trade. He said the question came
| before the board of governors i'm 1899 The
president or the board, he declared. ap-
| pointed committee on which there was
| not one member known to favor track ele-
| walton. The report OF the committee was
! approved by a meeting of the board OF
| governors. at which quorum was not pres
| ent. which fact he brought TO the attention
| OF the governors at the time but which.
| he added was not received with attention.
| Nothing further done. he said until
last night. when again minority of the
| board of governors met and reafiirmed the
| former attitude OF the board. He said ne
| had called the attention OF the governors
TO this fact again and had demanded an
aye and vote i'm which he stood alone
In opposition 10 the reaffirmation. as he had
when the report was first submitted AT
neither meeting. he said; had there been
Consequently he said, the Board of Trade
had not spoken the subject, and, with
Hawkins spoke for. 1t was without author e,
| ity TO represent the Board OF Trade.
Mr.. Young. of the Board of Trade COM
mittee. interjected the remark that there