The Washington herald., 1907-05-07
BUSINESS MEN ELECT
Organization Of Chamber of
Commerce Perfected.
ROBERT N. HARPER PRESIDENT
Purposes Declared 10 BE Promotion
of General Welfare of Citizens of
Secretary Loeb Made Honorary
Members-The Board of Directors.

In meeting, which in numbers. uuan-
unity Of sentiment and enthusiasm sur
passed anything Of the kind ever held in
Washington, the Chamber OF Commerce
was organized last night at the Arlington
Hotel
Il was throughout a gathering whose
purpose it was 10 do things. and they were
accomplished by an application of that
principle as pleasing as ii was noteworthy.
AZ Il o'clock the members looked back
upon a volume OF business transacted Of
which everybody congratulated everybody
/ else
While the preliminaries went through
with what member facetiousiy said was
/ like creased lightning" there was also a
spirit OF seriousness and determined pur-
pose which argues well for the success Of
1.-The organization
Peciscly at o'clock. the hour set for
/ the meeting. 200 members of the now
/ defunct Business Mems Association and
/ Jobbers and Shippers Association were
/ In the hall This number was later
augmented until about SOC were pres
ent. Charles J. Bell called the meet
ling 10 order and proposed that Capt
James T. oyster should serve as tenn
pOrary president, which was unanimously
/ carried when put to vote. Tn like
manner William F. Guide was made
/ temporary secretary.
Capt. Oyster Explains.
/ Capt oyster briefly stated the OBJ
/ ject of the meeting to be the reading
Df a report OF a Joint committee ap-
pointed by the two parent bodies TO
/ prepare a constitution for the Chamber
| of Commerce. He sketched the move
ment leading up to the merger of tho
two bodies, stated that the gathering
was called together for business pur-
poses and would Immediately proceed
to the consideration OF the report.
Jackson H. Ralston, chairman, pre-
sented the report. after il had been de-
cided that he should have the floor dur
t ing its presentation, TO say whatever
/ he Thought should be said IN explana-
/ ton Of the several sections, and that
/ speeches of members should be limited
/ to three minutes each. The proposed
| constitution was then read, section by
section. briefly discussed, and adopted
with a few verbal amendments
The constitution provides that the new
/ body shall be called the Washington
/ Chamber of Commerce. It's purposes are
| declared 10 be To promote the general
welfare Of the citizens Of the District Of
| Columbia, particularly to adopt ways and
| means for the advancement Of their bust
ness interests by affOrding a field for the
/ exercise Of concerted thought and ac-
tivity. To bring the citizens Of the Dis
/ trict of Columbia. especially its business
men. into more friendly intercourse and
| closer relationship"
Regarding Membership.
! Then follow regulations regarding mem
/ bershiD. officers. ana management. in a
/ president. two vice presidents. and a
board Of thirty directors. all elected by
/ bs Hot by the members Of the body. The
directors are clothed with power to con
duct the business affairs of the body. to
appoint committees. hear reports, and
make suggestions to the chamber. Dues
are $50 per annum. other regulations re-
late TO the withdrawal of members, meet
I'ings, which are to be held monthly on
/ the second Tuesday of each month. from
| October to June, Inclusive. with provision
/ for as many special meetings as may be
desired.
The standing committees are six in
number-membership, building manufac-
! tories. and wholesale trade. retail trade,
law and legislation. and municipal regu-
| lations. The constitution concludes with
/ provisions for amendments and a regular
/ order of business. 1t was stated that in
! general terms it was founded upon the
constitution of the Chamber Of Commerce
Of Cleveland. Ohio.
AS the several sections We're read by
Mr.. Ralston there were brief discussions,
and in some cases minor verbal changes
suggested. but the document was adopted
without any material change in any part.
Only one section came in for extended
Fdiscussi0n or much difference Of opinion.
/ That was the matter Of dues. The COM
mittee suggested annual dues Of $50,
/ payable IL advance. Some twenty mem
Continued on Page 3, Column 2.
xyar,r ,,;es ETloor4,,rr q n ,,or 100 20,