Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-09
CONDUIT ROAD POLICE
Chamber of Commerce Fa-
vors Congressional Action.
AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT
National Government or District to
Have Control.
INTEREST IN SCHOOL SYSTEM
Mr.. Jesse B. Wilson Suggests Greater
Expansion-Chambe Should
Have Wider Scope.
AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT
INTEREST IN SCHOOL SYSTEM

The Washington Chamber of Commerce
held Its first regular. meeting of the fall
: season last night in the offices OF the
chamber 1914 F street northwest, and
after disposing Of considerable business
: that had accumulated during vacation
which embraced the summer monthe the
members mapped out tentative plan or
campaign for the coming winter. Nearly
200 members were present.
Following the disposal of routine bust
ness and the adoption of several com
munications the members entered upon a
general discussion of the best means or
perfecting the working methods OF the
chamber and improving the commercial
and business conditions In Washington.
The new business was OF a wide and
varied range. A communication was re-
ceived from the chambers of commerce Of
six cities of Japan, asking cooperation OF
the local chamber in calling halt upon
the persecution of japanese residents In
San Francisco.
resolution was adopted instructlng the
committee on municipal legislation to
urge Congress to amend the laws govern
ing the Conduit road. 1t Is the object of
the chamber to relieve the Glen Echo and
Maryland authorities from any control
over this road and to have 1t pohced by
either federal or District officers. Resolu-
tons were also adopted urging Congress
to amend the code Of laws OF the District
governing condemnadons and assess
ments incident to the opening of minor
streets and alleys. etc. The chamber dis
approves of the present method and Will
draft a bill providing that only real and
existing benefits in such cases be assessed.
Study of School System.
The chamber voted to appoint special
committee of seven members to study the
public school system and to offer such
| suggestions as may be deemed beneficial
| This action was the result of a short ad-
| dress made by Capt. James F. Oyster,
president Of the board OF education and
| vice president of the chamber, in which
| he said the task of handling the school
| system is a hard one and there are many
problems that have not yet been solved
| He said the cooperation of the chamber
would be heartily appreciated and would
be Of great benefit to those In charge OF
the schools. The personnel OF this com.
mittee will be made known by PRESIDENT
| Harper at the next meeting.
| 1t Is evident from the sentiment ex-
| pressed at the meeting last night that
| high-salaried commercial secretary is
| needed to further the interests OF the as
ISOLATION and to follow up the details; to
get facts, receive visitors keep hammer
| ing in the interest of the local commerce
| and business. and to make the various
|
something
At various times since its organization
| the chamber has had such high-salaried
official in mind. Last night the employ
| ment Of the officer was advanced by Mr..
Charles ]. Bell. second vice president in
| the form of resolution. The resolution
was adopted with the understanding that
| the matter will be taken up by the presi-
| dent and the executive committee at an
early date and report made at the next
| meeting.
! William F. GUIDE. the secretary of the
association, who will be relieved of some
| what of a burden in the event of secur-
ing a secretary under this resolution
took occasion to acquaint the members
with the amount of work that he Is COM
PEELED to perform. He said he receives
at least dozen communications day
from all parts Of the world, asking for
Information about the city. Many of the
communications are from persons con-
templating a visit to the city and who
; want all possible information about it..
; what hotels to stay at, points of In
terest, etc. He said that in the majority
of such cases he has purchased the only
. available guide books of Washington and
. mailed them to the inquirers. which
books, he said, are not satisfactory, and
he made a motion to have a special COM
. mittee appointed to compile and publish
a handsome and appropriate book tell
ing all about the city and at the same
time exploiting the business advantages
of Washington.
; His motion met with instant favor and
1t was adopted without a dissenting vote
An amendment was made to the motion
by William Hhhn. calling for the inser-
ton of advertisements In the book. which
| fact he said, will make 1t source Of
| revenue to the chamber instead of an
expense.
No Report on Permanent Home.
Much disappointment was expressed
| when 1t was learned that the committee
| at work considering the site for the
building for the chamber. would not re-
port last night. Mr.. Charles ]. Bell the
chairman said the committee had been
working hard, but had not yet COM
pleted its work. The report, he said,
will be made without fail at the next
meeting.
There was considerable discussion of
Communication addressed to A. L. Gard
ner general freight agent of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. complaining of
the new rules regarding the time limit
placed upon unloading freight cars In
Washington. The several wholesale mer-
chants who were at the meeting bitterly
scored this new rule and declared 1t to be
an unjust and selfish one and should be
remedled. The matter has been referred
to the subcommittee on wholesale trade
During the discussion. several of the
members accused the chamber of doing
too much indorsing and resolving and
not enough real work.
Status Of Conduit Road.
The report from the standing commit
tees were read and all of them were
shown to be well organized and hard az
work Chaplin Brown, chairman of the
committee on municipal legislation, offer
ed two resolutions which were adopted by
the chamber. They set forth that: The
Washington Chamber of Commerce recon-
| mended to Congress the amendment
| of section 1908 ]. of the code of law
/ for the District of Columbia. so as to
1 provide that of the amount found by the
jury as damages for the taking of the
land there shall be asse ssed as benefits
only the amount of the actual benefits.
and no more. on the property mentioned
in said sections to be so assessed
THE law as 1t stands now. requires the
| jury to assess the whole amount of dam
ages awarded for the taking of the land
against the property In the square and ad-
Joining or abutting squares. The language
In the code Is that the damages and costs
shall be assessed as benefits, but this is a
misnomer. and the jury Is required to as
sess the whole city. whether the property
Is benefited or not.
The law has proved to be such a hard
ship on property owners that the authorf-
ties have ceased the enforce ment of 1t.
Section 491 g. of the code, contained just