The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-11
Baltimore Merchants Work
 With Vim. FEDERAL TROOPS DESIRED State Militia Worn Out By
 Sentry Duty.
Outside Financial Aid May Be Need cd Later, But at Present the City of Monuments will
 Care for Its Own.

Baltimore, Feb. 10.-The situation in stricken Baltimore began to visibly clear to-day after a conference at the Bel videre Hotel, between Mayor McLane. a special joint commission of the LeGis- lature and a formidable delegation of representative business men.
 This conference was arranged with view of meeting in a practical way the exigency which this community now faces.
 The supreme question to be decided was that of calling upon the national gov ernment for soldiers to take the places of the two State militia regiments now doing police duty in the burned district. The constitution of Maryland requires that no such request can be made of the President, except by authority of the mittee was present to hear the views of the Mayor and officers of the city on that point
 Not 6 Time for Sentiment.
 A brief discussion showed the belief. of those present that this is not time for sentiment as to the ability of the State to take care of itself and that the United States troops were needed and needed at once.
 On this score. 1t was shown that the militiamen were already much exhaust
  that they should be relieved in order that they might return to their several voca- tions, and that the militia on active duty is costing the State $5O,0OO a day.
 Mayor McLane was particularly insist ent that to efficiently guard the hun dreds of millions of treasure that lie burned beneath the smouldering ruins called for the strong arm of the Federal soldiers. The announcement of the leg islative committee that it would recom- mend at once the immediate passage of the necessary resolution was received with pleasure by the officers and business r:en present.
 Business Men Aroused.
 There Is no doubt that within the past twenty-four hours the business men of Baltimore have aroused in an extraor- dinary degree to the importance of doing everything possible to keep their trade, chants and bankers have bsens eohferring to-day on this subject and the prevail ing conviction is that 1t will require the utmost vigilance to prevent the defiection of a considerable volume of commerce to Philadelphia and New York.
 It is believed here that the situation may be saved if the debris can be clear ed away and temporary buildings erect ed within four months. That a large per- centage of the spring trade will be lost is inevitable, but there is a set resolution among wholesale merchants that the per- centage shall be as small as possible.
 Restoring Cheerfulness.
 The opening to-day of the board room by the Chamber of Commerce and the receipt of quotations, the uninterrupted shipment9 of grain cargoes. the certain ty of State aid. and the notification by some of the large insurance companies of their readiness to pay 50 per cent on losses, and the action of the Legislature in asking for Federal troops, constitute chain of incidents which have contri- buted materially to the restoration of public confidence and cheerfulness.
 Late this afternoon Mayor McLane re- considered his previous determination to announce that he would accept outside aid. On this subject he said:
 '"The situation here does not justify such action. There is no Restitution as yet. I cannot tell what may follow. We have a board of charities which looks after the city's destitute.
 'Of course it may yet be necessary to ask for outside financial aid In the course of the next few days, I will be 1T better position to definitely decide upon this matter. We have received by con tribution from various cities about ST. 900 and additional offers of thousands of dollars have been made"