The Washington herald., 1907-12-11

Dues of the Chamber OF Commerce will
remain at $50 annually. as decided az the
initial meeting of the body last June
This was decided at the general meeting
of the chamber last night at the Raleigh
Hotel by a tie vote on an amendment TO
the constitution proposed by Chaplin
Brown. President Harper exercising his
prerogative cast the deciding vote, de-
claring the proposition lost
The motion by Mr. Brown was that the
dues Of the chamber be reduced. the un-
derstanding being that the dues should be
fixed at SO year. The question was
discussed in rafting fire Of three-minute
speeches. the proposal TO reduce the dues
being supported by Chaplin Brown, Con-
rad Syme, Albert Schulteis T. c. H.
Vance. p. NJ. Brown, and John Fleming,
while those opposed were d. J. Kaufman,
John L. Weaver. Postmaster Barnes. A
S. TrundIe, Ross p. Andrews. d. S Por-
ter G. Y Worthington. and Allen d.
Albert
The stock Arguments.
IN the stock arguments for and against
the proposition were advanced. the gist
of the views for the reduction being that
the larger dues would materially lessen
the membership of the organization. and
those for retaining the dues at so annual
ly being that the body needed the addi-
tiOnal amount to carry on its various
projects
The business OF the meeting took the
routine form Of reports from committees
and general discussion. one OF the most
interesting reports submitted was that Of
the retail trade committee. through its
chairman. ID. J. Kaufman Mr. Kaufman
briefly reviewed the work of the commit
tee. stating that ninety-eight Of the prin-
cipal merchants of the city had Joined
the movement, contributing about 81 800
to the guarantee fund. He said the en-
couraging feature of the movement had
been the getting of the merchants together
into united action 10 advance the trade
Of the city This had been successful.
and the results of the Shopping Weeks
had been satisfactory Mr.. Kaufman
said the trade zone tapped was bounded
IN general terms by the cities Of Fred
ericksburg. Lynchburg. Cumberland. Fred
erick. Hagerstown. Annapolis. and Upper
Marlboro
Eleven daily papers in this territory
and eleven weekly papers had been made
Use OF by the committee in advertising
the plan. In Winchester. Herndon. and
MaTtinsburg the papers refused TO carry
the advertisement. and in Fredericksburg
the principal paper declined to carry out
its contract after two insertions Mr.
Kaufman said the difficulty in those
places had been partially met by the dis
tribution of booklets and other advertis-
Ing material in place OF the newspaper
publication.
Praised by MIR. Kaufman.
Mr.. Kaufman praised the attitude
taken by the press OF Washington and
the work done by il 10 urge the work
along.
Il was stated that the committee had
been aided in a number Of WAYS. An
engraving company prepared gratis the
eats for the out-of-to town advertisements
\ local newspaper set the type for the
advertisements, and furnished them To
the committee. A prominent furniture
house furnished chairs, desks. and fur
nishings needed for the headquarters
Gas stoves were provided, telephone
service was given; electric lighting was
free. and numerous other gratuities We're
furnished the committee. all Of which
were specified, and thanks extended
Mr. Kaufman stated that many Gus
toners had come 90 the city. some from
as far south as Charlottesville. Va. and
some from as far north as Carlisle. Pa.
Mr.. Kaufman called attention TO what
woman purchaser had told a member Of
the committee in praise Of the plan of
coming 20 Washington TO do holiday
shopping. She was from Purcellville. Va.
and she said it was the custom of fami-
lies in her vicinity 10 send to Chicago
for their purchases from catalogues fur
nished by the great retail stores in that
city. She said it was much more salts
factory 10 come to Washington and see
what she was buying
Mr.. Kaufman said the committee bad
yet 10 hear a word OF complaint from
those benefited against the manner in
which the plan worked. The visitors were
pleased. and said so, and hoped the mer-
chants would make it possible for those
at a distance 10 come 10 Washington 20
trade at regular intervals
The report was favorably commented
upon by several members, and adopted
with a motion Of thanks 10 the merchants
and others who had given free service
Tor the uses OF the committee The com
mittee was also commended for its ex-
cellent work.
The school Committee.
Another feature of the evening was the
report from the committee on schools.
submitted by its chairman. Percival
Brown. The report was long and able
exposition Of the present school law. set
ting forth its many excellent features.
and commencing it as legislation which
ought IN the nature of things. 10 meet
the requirements OF public education in
Washington. Criticism of this law was
deprecated, and a strong plea was en-
tered for further trial Of the law before
Il should be needlessly condemned or
changed. The general conclusions Of the
committee We're summed W as follows:
1t is the opinion of the committee that
the powers vested in the board of educa-
ton are not too large TO secure that gen
eral supervision which the act intended
the board to exercise for the benefit OF
the children. teachers. and the com
munity. The board is responsible to the
community for the wise disburs ement Of
school funds. for the general condition OF
the schools in far as their fitness for