The Washington herald., 1907-01-13
FIFTY sign PROTEST
Board of Trade Men Oppose
Commercial Secretary"
TO FIGHT COMMITTEES PLAN
Claim Project Would Change Entire
Character of Organization by Con-
features and COmmeree-InnOva
ton Would Entail Great Expense.


Board of Trade have signed a statement
deprecating the action Of the committee
on commerce and manufactures. with
reference to the proposed employment of
a commercial secretary for the board.
1t is set forth that such policy would be a
departure from the avowed purposes Of
the Board of Trade, and it is argued that
the revenues Of the organization are not
sufficient to meet the demands Of such
a secretary. The statement is a plea for
the oId-estabIished usage Of the board,
leaving to other organizations and other
means the upbuilding of Washington
commercially
Board Has General Purpose,
The statement follows:
TO the members Of the Washington
Board Of Trade:
Article 1 of the bylaws of this board
provides:
It's object shall be the consideration
Of, and acting upon. matters concerning
the commerce, prosperity. and advance
ment of the material interests Of the Ma
tional Capital, and the dissemination Of
information relating thereto 1t shall
give special attention 10 the promotion
OF public improvements.
Ever since its inception, over sixteen
years ago, this board his striven for
these objects. especially tie promotion Of
public improvements. and has accom-
plIshed much with a single view TO the
benefit Of the Capital and all its citizens.
Its record of achievement Is admirably
summarized in the recent annual report
Of President Wilson
Plan CORtempIates Heavy Expense.
The committee on commerce and
manufactures, one Of its twenty-five
standing committees. has made a report
which viii come up for action at a meet
ing Of the whole board on Monday, Janu-
airy Il, lgg7, IN which # recommends the
employment Of an expert special secre-
tdry of "a high order Of ability to pro-
mote the establishment of manufacturing
establishments and jobbing houses. 10 be
known as the commercial secretary at
a salary Of 5000 per annum. with an ad-
diu9nal allowance for clerk hire travel
ing and Office expenses.
The present revenues Of the board are
between 5000 and 5000. which sum meets
the current expenses OF the organization
and leaves a small surplus TO meet the
more urgent needs Of the boards twenty
two standing committees.
The adoption of this recommendation
Of the committee on commerce and manu-
factures would absorb in the work OF one
committee the boards total revenues, and
would compel large increase in the dues
of the members and the restraiEment OF
the energies Of the board 70 one branch
OF ITS activities. and that not a promotion
OF public improvements
would Change Character OF Board.
The Inevitable effect Of the adoption
Of this recommendation would be 10
change the whole character Of the Wash
ington Board Of Trade from what il Is.
and always has been. a general citizens
organization. representing all classes and
aiming 10 promote the welfare Of the en-
tire community, 70 a purely commercial
body.
The question is whether the board will
remain q representative citizens orgaui-
zation, especially working for the pro
motion of public improvements. with a
large and widely diversified membership.
paying small annual dues. or will become
purely commercial body, much smaller
IN membership. paying much larger dues.
ana working primarily for the benefit OF
the manufactures and trade Of CONNER
Cial Washington
The purpose of this paper is to ear
nestiy urge You to be present az the meet
ing on January "a. 1907. and express by
your vote your best judgment as to
Whetner such change IN the character
Of the board should take place"