Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-07

making the dues so would operate to keep
out a considerable percentage of prospective
members. '.'---
Expression Of Views.
For more than half an hour the argu-
ments on the dues question continued,
those who took part, with the sides they
espousedi being as follows:
d. ]. Kaufman-"I am in favor of SO"
Col. O. G. Staples"Twenty dollars may
keep out a large and very desirable ele-
ment.''
Harry King-"We are here tonight full
of enthusiasm. A year hence it may be
different
Harry Jackson-'I have in mind several
energetic tradesmen to whom $50 may be
prohibitive.''
Monroe Luchs-"There is no doubt the
committee pondered long and deeply be-
fore they decided to recommend so. Let
US support them
Arthur c. Moses-"We are merging two
associations here tonight, and it would be
better to have 500 members paying $50
each than LOCO paying So"
F. l.. Siddons-''Twenty dollars appeals
to me as about the right figure
Woodwork Clum-"Commercial bodies
In other cities-Philadelphia. Baltimore,
Cincinnati, New York, st. Louis-have dues
| ranging from so. as minimum. up into
the hundreds"
8. j. Neutrality-suspicious. in making
collections has shown that you will get
more by making smaller demands and
making them oftener. Make the dues 81
or 80 per month"
c. w. Clagett-"I believe the difference
Of SO in yearly dues will spell differ
ence Of two-thirds in the membership of
the Chamber of Commerce"
William Hahn-"We are starting out now
with good intentions, but why not postpone
the fixing Of this Question of dues until
the chamber has made = showing that it
is worth that amount. Let the determine
finn NJ dnpe nd neYt OcfOhar
or November
Norman Galt-"For $50 we will get $50
worth. For so we would get $40 worth"
r. W. Henderson-'"Twenty- dollars Is
only six cents each day Surely there is
not one Of US but who could afford that"
Twenty dollars per annum. as stated, was
finally adopted as the dues Of the chamber.
Division Of Opinion.
Over the expulsion clause there was
another division Of opinion. As drafted this
clause provided for majority vote of the
whole board Of directors necessary to
secure the expulsion of any member against
whom charges had been made Mr.. New
ton made motion that 1t be made to
read "by a two-thirds vote Of the whole
board" but the suggested amendment was
lost when 1t came to a vote. and the section
was adopted as drawn by the committee.
F. G. Calderon suggested an amendment
to the clause In which 1t was set out the
be the second Tuesday Of each month be-
tween October and June. He wanted the
first meeting In September. motion to
that effect was lost.
The section which provided that the board
of directors should appoint committees ION
membership, on building, on manufactures
and wholesale trade. on retail trade and on
law and legislation" was amended by c.
w. Clagett so as to include committee
on municipal regulations. which, he said,
would be found to be very necessary and
to have great volume Of work before it.
The amendment was accepted by the COM
mittee and by the chamber.
Saw Danger Ahead.
F. L. Siddons saw danger to the declared
democratic spirit of the organization in tie
section which provided for ''chairmen of
committees, as far as practicable, being
members of the board of directors" Mr..
Ralston explained the section was 50 draft
ed because it was felt business could be
expedited by having each committee repre-
sented by It's head In the board-and there
was a general smile over what was char
acterized as a division in the law firm of
Ralston & Siddons. The section was adopt
ed as originally drafted.
Especial approval greeted the reading and
adoption Of the following section: with
the consent Of the board of directors, any
number of members, not less than ten.
who may desire to associate themselves
together as q board or committee for the
purpose of promoting more effectively the
special trade, industry, business, or profess
sion in which they are Interested, may
form a board or committee of the Cham
Der of Commerce subject to the control of
its board of directors, the rules Of this
chamber, and such regulations not In con-
flict herewith as such board or committee
may adopt. Such board or committee may
raise and control its separate funds, but
without power to obigate this chamber In
any manner whatsoever. II the board of
it'll fhA Gov, 80
such board or committee, the secretary Of
the chamber shall issue a call for meeting
of all its members likely to be interested
therein. who may proceed to form such
board or committee"
Constitution Approved.
The constitution having been approved
section by section, 1t was moved by Mr..
Ralston that the constitution as q whole
be approved. and the motion was carried
without q dissenting voice. Considerable
discussion was precipitated by the motion
Of Conrad Syme that the chamber proceed
Immediately to the election Of a permanent
president and two vice presidents, who in
turn. should be empowered to suggest the
names of thirty members to be elected at
the next meeting as the first board of
directors of the body. c. w. Claggett
asked II 1t was proposed to delegate to the
three officers the full powers of the asso-
ciatlon. Inc motion was nnaify split into
two. and the frst,~provlding for an imme-
diate election Of the president and two vice
presidents. was unanimously carried. f.
K. Raymond nominated James F. Oyster
but Capt. Oyster, after expressing his APP
probation of the compliment thus voiced
by the chamber, stated he would be unable
to serve.
Wilton ]. Lambert nominated Robert NJ
Harper for the presidency. Charles ]. Bell
made the necessary second" and
moment later 1t was unanimously ordered
that the acting secretary should cast the
ballot Of the association for Mr.. Harper.
Similar action followed the nominations, az