Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-15
CONDITIONS OF
NATIONAL TRADE
Annual Session of Business
Representatives Opens Today.
EVERY STATE REPRESENTED
President Frank D. La lame Delivers
His Annual Report.
RECIPROCITY AND SHIPPING
Beneficent Effect of the Panama Canal
Commented Upon-Secretary's
Exhibit Presented.
President Frank D. La lame Delivers
His Annual Report.
RECIPROCITY AND SHIPPING

Willard Hotel. and will continue daily ses-
sons during the remainder of the week.
The opening session was attended by a
good representation of the boards of trade
throughout the country. and the character
of the topics to be discussed during the
meetings indicates that they will be fraught
with much interest to the mercantile and
industrial world
The officers of the organization are Mr..
Frank ID. La lame of Philadelphia, presi-
dent, and Mr.. William r. Tucker of Phila-
delphia, secretary
The forenoon was devoted to preimi-
naries for the meetings to follow. Dele
gates mingled freely and exchanged views
on the matters pertinent to the trade in
terests. Today the committees had in hand
for classification and discussion the various
recommendations and resolutions submitted
to the national body for action.
The feature of tUday's session the
presidents annual address and the report
of the secretary.
President La Lane is fine-ooking type
of the Philadelphia merchant life. His re-
marks were listened to with close attention.
After thanking the organization for the
high honor of having been selected its presi
dent for the past year, he launched into
his subject with vim and business CELEBRITY.
There is no better way of knowing
men well nor of studying the conditions
of trade than by visiting the boards of
ident La lame had the past year broken
bread, he said, In many cities, and con-
tinued:
TT is not in one city this condition
exists. but everywhere the cry was, How
can we move our crops anc do the COM
merce of the country? The giant pros
perity of our country, which, 1 think,
Will continue for many years, is the re-
suit of our well-tilled farms capa-
bic and progressive merchants and man.
ufacturers and the pushing our network
Vail egnh i1rT..
great and new west and south, so large
part of which forty years ago when
/ studied geography, was marked on the
map the Great American Desert
Congress at Milan.
I'm September of last year your presi-
dent had the honor of attending the
International Commercial Congress, held
at Milan. There were 500 delegates with
credentials from all The great boards of
trade in the world-clear-h headed men of
affairs many with international reputa-
lions. They came from China and Japan
and Russia and every state in Europe,
Africa and South America and Canada.
The outcome of tine congress will re-
suit in closer and more prosperous
union of commercial financial and even
political relations between the countries
participa ting. 1t is 10 the credit of the
National Board of Trade and PennSyl-
wanna that both meetings were attended
by Americans, the first at Liege and the
next at Milan. Most important measures
looking to larger traffic and securing
permanent peaceful international rela-
tons have been considered. and the COM
mercial bodies in the United States should
not be slow in participating in these
semblages. There was discussed the
value of boards of trade, and it was
shown what had been done by organiza-
ton for the commerce of the world.
INDUCES in Retrospect.
"A short retrospect l think in order. At
its start the national board made a de-
termined stand for rivers and harbors pro-
lection and improvement; the first action
II took was against nefarious bill in
Congress giving a private corporation the
right to dig out the only safe and navi-
gable entrance to the Mississippi river and
To give IL the right to collect toll from
every vessel going in and out. The east
south. west and north spoke SO deter
minedly for the protection OF this our
greatest waterway for the commerce of the
world that the bill was showed under
forever.
The creation of a Department of Com
merce and Labor, with a cabinet member
at its head, is what the national board
was organized for, and though it took so
many years to carry out the project, 1t
came and now the Secretary at its head is
leading business man. who has been a
delegate to our conventions.
we have advocated consular reform
and while the bill passed last year Is moi
all we asked it is step in the direction
or sending capable, intelligent men abroad
as consuls A great Improvement in the
service l noticed in trip to Europe dur
ing August and September. Your consular
reform committee did splendid work
your resolutions on the rate bill We're
OF the greatest advantage to the CONNER
cal interest, to the interstate commerce
commission and to the railroads The
National Board of Trade never stood on
posed to the railroads, it stands for a
square deal.
AT the last session NJ Co,ou -,
was enacted amending the interstate com
merce act placing upon common carriers
ana shippers such restrictions as will no
doubt eliminate the evils that have been
IN effect for many years both as To re
bates and furnishing of free Transportation
70 many who had no claim upon carriers
Inc consensus or opinion seems to be that
the amendments recently adopted have
been beneficial both 10 the carrier and
shipper, placing all shippers on a ma ritI,
without preference. regardless of the guam
tity of traffic offered
Shipping Interests.
Your recommendations last year ON the
shipping bill were given the greatest con-
soeration by members OF the Senate and
house your committee with that matter in
charge was unceasing In its work through
out the session. every member of the Sen
ate was seen, your president receiving q
nice letter from Senator Gallinger thanking
the board for its work and expressing his
appreciation or the value of your infiu-
ence.
Your committee did good work in the
House. but adjournment came before a vote
could be taken. 1t had already passed the
Senate. The work will be as vigorously
pushed the coming season If you reiterat e
your resolutions at this convention
THE program, with its recommendations
and resolutions, presented to this conven-
ton. is of great Importance; the burning
questions of the day are taken UP, and
will be thoroughly discussed by the trained
and skilled men of business here as dele
gates, and who are able to point out in a
practical way the needs of commerce.
I'VE should feel Inundated by the decline
In American shipping and should never stop
our energies till we build our own merchant
marine. Our share in the commerce of
Asia will be increased many fold when we
can ship through the Panama canal the
products of our farms and mines and mills
In our own ships direct from every part of
our country by our deepened and improved
waterways. What a prospect for trade with
Il thousand millions OF people living in those
countries on the Pacific ocean?
Beyond Widest Dreams.
when the Panama canal is finished and
>our trade is increased to a degree beyond
Mr. xxtId draa ha d,, 70