The Washington herald., 1907-01-14

Whether the plan for encouraging the
establishment Of manufactures and COM
merce in the District Of Columbia. for
the consideration of which a committee
was appointed by the Board of Trade
last February. is 10 be adopted will prob
ably be definitely decided upon at a meet
ing of the Board of Trade tonight
While fifty members of the organization
have signed a statement opposing the
move for the employment OF a CONNER
eial secretary, the majority of the board
is said to favor the proposition.
b. II. Warner is chairman Of the com
mittee that was selected to make re-
port on the suggestion. This is composed
Of siXty-two members Later, sub
committee OF nine. with Robert y. Har-
per as chairman, was appointed TO make
a report to the original committee. Mr.
Warner will submit his report to the
Board Of Trade tonight The committee
has several suggestions for the eneour-
agement Of manufacturing and CONNER
cial enterprises in Washington, and If
one is not received favorably the other
viii be placed before the members for a
decision.
Il was very much surprised when in
formed that a circular was being CiT-
IcuIated," said Mr. Harper last night. 4
have not seen il myself, nor have / been
asked to sign it. The only information
have as 10 its contents comes through
the columns OF the press.
Action Is Unprecedented.
so far as / can recall, nothing of the
kind has ever been done before regarding
the report Of any committee. II has al
ways been the custom Of the board TO
simply oppose favor, or refer back 10
the committee with Instructions when the
majority OF the board was against the
provisions Of a resolution.
The move made by those having the
( circular in hand is most extraordinary
and unusual The statement sounds a
warning to the individual members TO be
present and prevent the entire Board Of
Trade from being wiped out Of existence.
Surely no one desires TO accuse US. either
collectively or individually, Of planning
1 its destruction.
Without wishing to draw a comparison
/ between members. ] will venture 20 say
f that there is me- more loyal set Of
members Of the board than those who
constitute the committee Of which / ana
a member. There are no better citizens
and weH-wishers OF Washington than can
/ be found on this committee Why any
one wishes 60 dlstort or really misrepre-
sent our position I cannot understand
To read this circular as it appears IN
/ the papers would look as though We had
/ recommended the appropriation 0t 5000 ~
/ ZOO for this committee.
board Not Endangered.
The Board Of Trade is composed Of in
telHgent business men. capable OF look
I ing after the welfare of the city and The
organization. 1 hardly feel that any ont
need fear that any committee will be per
mitted 10 damage either by report OF
otherwise. any of the members Of The
organization. we are working for tht
board and the upbuilding Of the city, and
( at the present time under instructions
/ from the Board OF Trade itself. We have
/ been instructed 10 report a compreheH-
sive plan TO induce manufacturing plants
+ 20 locate I'm the District This instruction
was given Us last February.
/ If any one is under the impression that
any member of our committee, either
siugly or collectively, desires 20 do any
thing detrimental 10 the success OF the
Board of Trade or Washington he is very
much mistaken.
Il feel that as our report only makes
"A suggestion, and recommends nothing
at all radical the individual members not
+ on the committee should at least wait
until we are heard at the meeting before
/ they criticise the committee. II what
/ we recommend does not meet with theiy
approval the majority Of the board has
/ the remedy
/ The matter 10 be decided tonight was
brought before the Board Of Trade at q
meeting several weeks ago, and post
pOned because Of the fact that there was
+ q great deal Of other business 20 be trans
acted. 1t is expected that the meeting
I tonight will be largely attended