Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-09
WORK OF CONVENTION
National Hardware Associa-
ton at the Arlington.
BUSINESS CONSIDERED
CLASSIFICATION BY RAILROADS
OF FIXED AMMUNITION.
Continuation Of Discussion Of Postal
Rates-Reduction in Letter
Postage Advocated.
BUSINESS CONSIDERED

The convention Of the National Hardware
Association was continued at the Arlington
today, In executive session, and discussed
a number of the more important problems
before the association.
One of the serious questions was the
classification by the railroads of fixed am
munition, such as rifle and shotgun shells
as high explosives" The association OBJ
jects sharply to this as it increases the
cost of transportation and subjects the
members handling ammunition to restric-
tions which they declare are not warrant
ed by facts. Mr.. Bigelow. the president of
the association, said that he had had prac-
teal demonstration in fire that occurred
at his place that burning ammunition was
not dangerous unless very closely con-
fined.
The present railroad classification of am
munition with dynamite and nitro-glycerine
affects the insurance and storage problem
with many dealers. In some clues the au-
thoritIes insist on special fireproof vaults
being constructed for the storage of pow
der and cartridges, and this the association
declared both unnecessary and unfair
The postal discussion which was UP yes
terday was continued today, and the meet
ing declared itself in favor of general
reduction of letter postal rates from to l
cent as soon as the Post Office Department
can see its way clear without imposing 100
heavy an additional burden on the revenue.
One Of the members In speaking OF TINS
matter said
I'VE want a one-cent postal rate inde-
pendent of any changes in magazine and
periodical rates. We do not want the two
things COMPOUNDED. At the same time the
association viii not press for the reduction
In the face of big deficit. We are willing
to leave that to the discretion OF the POST
master General"
Canadian Delegation.
There was present at the meeting this
morning a delegation from the Canadian
Hardware Association, consisting of Presi-
dent William Valance of Toronto, Vice
President Thomas H. Newman of Montreal
and Secretary and Treasurer J. Hardy. be-
sides three delegates. Friendly greetings
were nterchanged and some complimentary
references to President Roosevelt were
made by Mr.. Valance. But the question
OF reciprocity and trade relations was let
severely alone for. while the Canadian
dealers are on very friendly personal terms
with their American colleagues, they are
trade rivals and are in favor of high prOtec-
ton for Canada in order to keep out as
much as possible of American goods.
There were souvenirs of all sorts dis
tributed by the hundreds to the members
OF the association today. Many of the man
ufacturers took this as a good chance to
get their specialties before the dealers, and
the members and their wives were loaded
up with all sorts of patent tape measures,
hat pins. granite ware samples. watch
charms and nall clippers till the exit from
the convention hall looked like bargain
day rush in department store
The souvenir display. however. by no
means equaled the big assortment of Gu
rious prizes that were the result OF the
one hundred table euchre party held at the
hotel last night. The party had been ar
ranged by Mrs. f. 2. May, the wife OF the
local member of the association. Some
time ago word was passed to the firms rep
resented that they could send hardware
prizes for the party. They did so with
alacrity, and the result was very UNIQUE
and in many respects valuable collection
of prizes. ao-a,,
There were sets of garden tools, a dozen
or more floor sweepers, axes. hatchets,
saws and tools of all sorts, big bath room
scale with measuring rod attachment seSS
of carvers, pearl-handled butter spreaoets'
children's express wagons and, In fact, az,
most every household utensii that couiu
be found in a hardware store. MRS; N.Y. ~
was exceedingly pleased with the way me
marty went off, and there were prizes anu
to spare, for all the tables, many OF them
as there were.