Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-17
Chamber Of Commerce Proposes
to Refute Statement Made
by Capt. Stuart.
PORTS BUSINESS FAILING OFF j.?
transportation Agents Declare That
Import Trade is Increasing Rather
Than Observation-Disclosures Special
Meeting Tonight to Consider Report
of Committee-CoIIector Invited.

A statement tn the effect that the
business of this port is falling on,
made by Captain J. IL. B Stuart, col
lector of customs. ami published in
several newspapers. was the subject OF
a lengthy discussion at a special meet
ing of the Chamber of Commerce last
night. The meeting was called Inv
President II. l5. Holmes for the par
ticular purpose Of considering this
statement, with the view of ascertain
ing whether or not 1t is n fact that
Newport News is losing her prestige
as port.
Stuart Not Present.
Captain Stuart is Il member of tho
chamber and he was especially invited
to he present last night by Secretary
Farrnr. but he replied that he would
be out Of the city. lie asked MIR. Far.
rar, however, to give him the names OF
the persons responsible for the meet.
ing.
9 The meeting was well attended
nearly all of those present being repro
sentative members of the chamber. As
lar as Is known no one representing
Captain Stnnrt was present
Business Not Falling Off.
President Holmes made n report To
the effect that since reading Captain
Slnart'S statement he Ind investigated
and was fully convinced that there
hal been no FILLING OF i'm the business
of the port but on the contrary more
customs Inspectors were needed NOW
than this time last year. lie went ON
TO say that such statements us the one
made by Captain Stuart were injurious
to the port and fiat he believed they
should be corrected
3'." Everybody Talks.
Almost every one present had some
thing to say about the matter. MIR. D.
ID. Batohelor said that he Ind n sworn
statement from Mr.. J. y. Harrison, gem
eral foreman of piers for tho Chcsn.
penko g. Ohio Railway Company. to
the effect that the import business of
the port is 1915 per cent. grcatN now
Than 1t was at this time last year.
MIR. j. I'll. Graves, agent for tho Chos-
apeake q Ohio. said There Is no
question as to there being an increase,
very large increase, in the import
business of the port over 1904" Mr.
w. 5. Upshur, agent for the Chcsa-
pcalic & Ohio Elevator Company, made
statement along the same line.
Figures We're Correct.
Upon being asked for n statement
concerning the published report that
the import business of this port was
larger in June of this year than ever
before. Mr.. j. p. Donnclly. Il special
agent of the treasury department and
a member of the chamber, rcplicd that
the published figures were correct
Mr.. Donnclly also gave some Informal
tion concerning the collection of du-
ties upon immediate transportation of
imports.
Nearly every ono present agreed
that erroneous statements concerning
Newport News as port should not
80 nncorrcctcd and some time was
spent in discussing ways ana means
of proving Captain Stuart's statement
to hc untrue
Mayors Resolution.
Several motions and resolutions
were offered, hut finally all except n
substitute offered by Mayor s. II. DllX.
ton were withdrawn. Tho mayors
resolution provided for tho appoint
ment OF committee to secure official
reports OF the business of the port
from January ! of this year tn the
present time and during the same pc
Rod of last year. This committee is
to report at another meeting OF the
chamber to be held tonight
Upon n motion President Holmes
was made n member of this commit.
tee. Mcssrs. j. II. Graves ana w. S.
Upshiir were appointed to the commit.
tee by the chair.
Special Invitation to Stuart.
The president Instructed the sccrc-
tary to write letter to Captain
Stuart requesting him to attend the
meeting tonight.
II Is expected that the report of the
special committee will be made pub.
lie by tho chamber, with any resolu-
tion or resolutions which may he
adopted.
AS is generally known, Captain
Stuart said that he dropped four Dom.
ocrats from the customs service he.
cause the business Of the port was
falling off. On account of this fact
any action taken Just now by tho
Chamber of Commerce in regard to the
collectors statement will he of I'M
usual interest. The meeting tonight Is
expected to attract 81 large crowd.
NHJ Refused to Give information.
President Holmes said after the
meeting last night that Captain Stuart
Ind refused to give him information
concerning the business of the port
He went on 10 say that the collector
at first agreed tn furnish the desired
information, but later wrote him Il Ict.
ter stating that he did not deem it
advisable To give out the information
Natiopa{ Menro Rue;,oe, o,..,,.