Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-05
ENLARGING ITS SCOPE
JOBBERS AND SHIPPERS IN
CREASING THEIR MEMBERSHIP.

There Is every prospect Of substantial
increase of membership in the Jobbers
and Shippers Association. Just what the
figures will be cannot yet be stated but the
committee on membership Is pleased with
the outlook and SO reported to the meeting
OF the association yesterday afternoon.
There was a well-attended meeting of the
board of directors at the New Willard.
The chairman of tie committee on men,
bership said the members had continued
| the canvass Of the town. and that they
were extremely gratified with the responses
| Of the people approached.
It was not stated definitely. but it is quite
possible that some of the older members
will adopt a suggestion made some time
ago, and take out several memberships
each. Possibly some Of the individual mem
bers may be induced to pay for as many
as fifty memberships. simply to furnish the
association with more funds with which to
carry on the work of publicity. all of
which costs money.
The question of free trips to Washington
for visiting merchants was also discussed,
and in all probability as soon as The Star
special returns to Washington something
definite will be done in this line. The
scheme has been adopted with success by
Baltimore and Richmond and some of the
other wholesale towns.
What It Provides.
II PEOfAOcS Siluply tHdt WHEN q merchant
or other buyer comes to town and orders a
bill of goods over certain amount his
railroad fare is refunded to him by the
association. To meet this a levy is usually
made on the merchants that he has dealt
with. and they are assessed proportional
ly. The houses that do the selling, If the
bill Is OF respectable proportions. are quite
willing to stand the small expense incident
al to getting the business.
There was an addition made at the meet
ing to the joint committee that will have
the arrangement Of the Washington display
at jamestown. w. H. Moses of the firm of
w. B. Moses & Sons and T. C. Dulfn of
Dulin & Martin were made additional mem
bers of the committee to act with the COM
mittees from the Business Mems Assocfa-
the Greater Washington exhibit. The joint
committee will have another meeting, prob
ably next Wednesday evening. at which
further plans will be discussed Members
both Of the Business Men Association and
the Board Of Trade have promised to APP
point their committees in time for that
date.
There Is a good deal Of interest among
the members OF the Jobbers and Shippers
Association as to the ultimate outcome of
the consolidation question in which the
Board of Trade, the Business Mems Asso-
citation and the Jobbers and Shippers have
been said to be interested. for the forma-
ton of a chamber of commerce for Wash
tngton. The members of the Jobbers and
Shippers Association say they are not con-
cerned particularly In the matter. They
hope. however that no friction will develop
over the suggestion.
Awaiting the Star Special
Every one connected with the association
is looking forward to the return of The
Stars special. The train has done such a
remarkable amount Of business that it is
question whether such trip would not bet
ter be made an annual or semi-annual fix
ture There has been over $50, 600 worth of
goods sold on the trip and the bringing of
this amount of money into Washington
semi annually Is sure to be Of benefit to the
community well as to the individual
firms that have received the orders for this
will. it is believed, lead to much greater
results.
There is every prospect also that the rail-
roads will meet most OF the wishes of the
shippers without the latter having recourse
to the interstate commerce commission.
How wide the powers Of the commission are
under the new law most Of the members of
the association had not recognized. But
they find, now that the railroads have been
properly approached, that they are inclined
to come down without shooting" This
will be more satisfactory for all concerned,
and 1t Is relief to the members of the as
ISOLATION to find that, the railroads are will
ing to do what they might ultimately be
compelled to do, but in the one case they
would do so willingly and avoid friction,
while II the law had to be resorted to there
would be sure to be endless trouble.