The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-11
BALTIMORE NEEDS
FEDERAL TROOPS
Business Men VIII Try Hard to
Prevent Trade From Slip.
ping Away.

BALTIMORE, Md, Feb. 10. = The
situation in stricken Baltimore began
to Visibly clear today after a confer
ence at the Belvidere hotel between
Mayor McLane, a special joint COM
mittee of the Legislature and formid
able delegation of representative bust
ness men. This conference was arrang-
ed with a view of meeting in a prac-
teal way the awful exigency which
this community now faces. At this
meeting, besides the mayor, there were
present influential members Of the state
lawmaking body, the board of public
works, dozen bank presidents, ex-
Gov. Smith, United States Senator
elect Rayner and several of the leading
citizens.
The supreme question to be decided
was that of calling upon the national
government for soldiers to take the
places of the two state militia regi-
ments now doing police duty in the
burned district. The constitution of
Maryland requires that no such re-
quest can be made of the president ex-
cept by authority of the legislature.
The legislative committee was present.
Mayor McLane was particularly in
sistent that to efficiently guard the
hundreds of millions Of treasure that
lie buried beneath the smoldering ruins
called for federal soldiers The an
nouncement of the legislative commit
tee that it would recommend at once
the immediate passage of the necessary
resolution was received with pleasure.
Mayor McLanes announcement that
ne will appoint an emergency commit
tee or citizens to act as an advisory
board to municipal affairs is a great
step forward in the way of putting the
situation upon a practical businesslike
shape.
The business men Of Baltimore have
been aroused in an extraordinary de-
gree to the Importance of doing every
thing possible to keep their trade ad-
Vantages from slipping away The con-
Vlctlon is that it will require the ut
most vigilance to prevent the DETECTION
of considerable volume of commerce
to Philadelphia and New York. 1t is
pelleVed here that the situation NAV
be saved If the debris can be cleared
away and temporary buildings erected
within four months. That a large per
centage of the spring trade will be lost
is inevitable. but there is a set resolu-
uon among wholesale merchants that
the percentage shall be as small as
possible.
The pervading sentiment was we'll
portrayed by Gov. Warfield, who said
today: Baltimore will rise gloriousIy
from her ashes.".
The fire insurance underwriters put
In very busy day perfecting their or
ganization and preparing to get at the
work OF adjusting the losses. A dozen
loss committees" were appointed and
tomorrow these will get to work.
The insurance companies are also CO.
operating with the bank people in their
EFFORTS to relieve the financial situation
Inc largest companies and some of the
smaller ones have decided to immedi-
ately pay 80 per cent Of the amount of
the claims presented to them where the
loss was total or nearly so, leaving the
remainder to be paid after the insur-
ance has been finally adjusted. This
VIII enable many business men to re-
sumo business at temporary quarters.
a few small claims were paid today.