Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
SPIRITED DISCUSSION
Railway Report to Board Of
Trade Provokes Debate.
PORTION EXPUNGED
REPORT ON TAXATION ALSO
CREATES CONTROVERSY.
Numerous Questions Brought to Atten-
ton Of Members-Buffet Lunch
Served-Those Present.

A discussion that was distinguished by
the warmest kind Of argument was precipi-
tated at the meeting of the Washington
Board of Trade at the New Willard last
night by an objection raised to the ap-
prevail of certain paragraph in the annual
report of the boards committee on rail-
roads, which was presented for discussion.
The paragraph, which appeared innocent
enough to the committee, contained these
words;
THE committee desires to be placed on
record as favoring some supervision of the
operation of our street car lines on the
part of the Commissioners of the District"
Mr.. r. Ross Perry, late chairman of the
committee on bridges and Of the special
legal committee objected to this phraseol-
ogy, and Mr.. W. G. Henderson supported
the committee. An argument followed into
which several members Of the board were
drawn before Mr.. A. r. Server of the COM
mittee could be recognized and withdraw
the Objectionable matter. The argument
of the railroad proposition was more pro-
longed than was the discussion Of any of
the reports.
The board met, as usual, in the hotel BAN
Quet hall and was called to order by Presi-
dent w. V. Cox. After the minutes of the
previous meeting had been read and ap-
proved several communications were read
One from the secretary of the International
Association of Machinists called the atten-
ton of the board to the recommendations
Of the commandant of the Washington
navy yard that as the United States gov
eminent could make it's ordnance at the
naval gun factory at much lower cost
than that at which any private firm could
manufacture it an appropriation be made
which would be sufficient to enlarge the
naval factory TO enable 1t to do all the
work now being done by private firms. The
support of the Board of Trade to the prop
osition was asked.
The announcement was made that the In
ternational railway convention would be
held in this city in 1905, and the repre-
sentatives of the association desire to put
up a building for exhibition purposes
communication was received stating that
the committee on public health is making
inquiries regarding medical lectures in the
public schools.
The following new members were report
ed elected: Robert A. Bates, William F.
Bowen, George V. Buck, w. H. Spignul,
William C. Lewis, Ida Gilbert Meyers, Perry
3. Turpin, Felix Mahoney, William Ram
sey William H. Dyer, Carl Stodder, James
F. Shea, William j. Eynon, A. E. l.. Leck-
lie, G. Bowen Chapman, Samuel j. Masters,
j. George Smith, ]. EMS Powell, Hervey
S. Knight, George w. Duffus, Colin H. Liv-
ingstone, E. 2. Dickinson and Charles
Cowles Tucker.
But L1ttle " 1scpolt'
Mr. Cox then announced that owing to
the illness of Mr.. r. Ross Perry at the
time of the previous meeting of the board
1t had been impossible to receive from him
the reports of the special legal committee
and the committee on bridges. He there
fore called for these reports the first thing
at this meeting. Mr. Perry said there was
little to report from the special legal COM
mittee, but he wished to urge upon the
members the fact that the time is ripe for
work toward procuring municipal code.
TT will be recollected that the District
code" he said, las originally prepared by
Mr. Justice Cox contained municipal as
well as a general code. For various rea-
sons the efforts of the Bar Association
committee and of this committee have been
up to the present time confined to the pro-
curing of the enactment of the general
code. This would seem to be proper time
for taking up the neglected municipal por-
ton. The public necessity for such code
is greater today than ever. Doubtless the
committee of the Bar Association will aid
in effort to procure this legislation"
In presenting the report of the committee
on bridges Mr.. Perry called attention to
the failure of the House of Representa-
uves 10 take proper action with regard to
an appropriation for memorial bridge. He
referred to the report of the committee, and
said that he believed the board should
continue its work in Congress to aid in
securing this much-needed Improvement.
The remainder of his report related to the
work that has been done or is contemplate
ed on bridges in the District.
The board was congratulated by Mr..
Thomas Z. Morgan, chairman of the COM
mittee on membership in presenting his
report, on the increase of it's members
During the time the committee was in ex-
istence, MIR Morgan said. eighty-six new
members were elected, bringing the mem
bership OF the board up to 81. DR.. Will
liam Tindal secretary of the committee
on universities, presented the report of that
committee in the absence of the chairman
Mr.. William II. Singleton. A brief report
or the committee on conventions was read
by Mr.. Edward T. Bates in the absence of
Mr.. Cuno III. Rudolph, chairman of the
committee. Mr.. Bates referred to the fact
that during the year just closed there were
out-of-town bodies held in Washington. He
said that the committee believed that MANY
more could be accommodated If there was
place here of sufficient size to accommo-
date all of the delegates All the reports
cited were approved without dissent.
Report on Taxation.
The two most important reports of the
meeting were those of the committees on
taxation and assessment and railroads.
Inc statement of both of these commit
tees provoked discussion, the last more
thah the hrst. The report of the committee
on taxation and assessment was read bv
MIR. Jesse b. Wilson, the chairman. was
present and took part in the discussion.
The report stated In part:
The past year has been eventfuI in mat
tiers of taxation, particularly by reason Of
Il. The triennial assessment of real prom
erty and increases in the assessment
- The operation OF the new personal
tax law. F'oH"i
3. Sales under the recent act of JuIv
lsoZ, or real property upon which the Dis
trict had acquired liens by bidding In at
previous annual sales
" AS regards the matter of assessment
OF real property. special committee was
appointed and directed to investigate and
report on the increases. The committees
found that number of citizens had filed
appeals, IN consequence of which the board
OF equalization and review was reducing ex
cessive values; therefore. the committee
recommended no action on the part of the
Board OF Trade, but advised property own
ers through the press to make appeaIs
where proper before the expiration of the
period. Your committee considers that the
matter OF assessment should be I'm all cases
absolutely fair and equal. and that all prop
critics, however valuable. should bear their
lust share of nd all OFF