The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-11-13
THE oHAMBER OF UoMMEBoE.

THE CHAhB ER UT UOM MMEHCE.
 The New Haven Chamber of Com |merce performed a distinct service at Its annual banquet Monday evening when 1t produced as the speakers of the even ing men who were capable of discuss ing the currency and general business morals. It will be forgotten in a few years that it was ever hinted that the chamber did little between meals if it's management continues to arrange for the entertainment and instruction of it's members along lines of current in- terest.
 One of the weaknesses of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce has been it's unwillingness to consider matters of public importance if by any crook they could be given political signifl- canoe. The reason for this mistaken attitude has been the fear that some- body's feelings would be hurt. This ac- counts for the failure of the chamber to discuss the tariff question as freely as it discussed last evening the cur rency question. It is less than dozen years ago that the currency question was steeped in partisanship and it Is likely to be again. It is the expecta- ton of the country that congress will proceed at once to consider it when it meets next month. President Roosevelt is reported to be in frequent consulta- tion with the great fnanciers of the country with the purpose in view of aiding the deliberations of congress. It is practically impossible for any large question to escape the influence of po- litical considerations in a country man. aged by political parties, but that of- fers no good reason for a commercial body lodging 1t. On the contrary it imposes an obligation upon it to re- sist political manipulation by itself studying questions without partisan in- terest.
 It Is apparent to everybody who has had business connections and dealings that there is something radically wrong with the currency system of the | United States. Former Secretary of the l Treasury Shaw. in his speech Monday evening, said that there would prob ably be as many reform bills introduce ed into congress during the approach ing session as there were members, but that in the end Senator AldrIch would sit and draw the bill that would be- come the law. It Is debatable whether this is what the country needs, not that Senator Aldrich lacks the ability or the assistance he needs to draw such an act, but that he may be counted upon in his study of the situation to study most the point of view of the money market There are very earnest stud ents of the currency question who as- sert that one of the chief difficulties with the currency system is the fact that 1t has always been approached from the point of view of the owners of wealth exclusively, and that too lit- tie consideration has been given 1t from the point of view of the wage-earner, which is equally important.
 It is to clear up such disputed points as this that bodies of the dignity of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Club should encour- age dispassionate discussions. It is a livery complicated question and we make bold to say that few business men un- derstand it, which only emphasizes the necessity of an open and free discus
 sion. It goes without saying that the
 people of this country want the best currency system obtainable, but 1t is
 doubtful if they get 1t If the facts are not all laid before them. This Is true
 too, of the tariff question, the question
 of immigration and that of our so-call
 ed colonial problem. It Is not less tall
 we need but more.