The Washington herald., 1907-10-23

! A special meeting Of the chairmen and
vice-ehairmen Of the standing committees
of the Chamber of Commerce was held
yesterday afternoon. and the proposed
employment OF a secretary 10 give his en-
/ tire time 70 the interests Of the chamber,
with special reference to bringing new
/ business to the city. was discussed. After
la fun and free expression of opinion. the
] sense Of the meeting was embodied in
resolution TO be reported TO the board of
! directors.
This meeting was called IN pursuance Of
action taken at the last meeting Of the
| chamber, that the board Of directors
should Immediately take up the ques-
ton of employing a commercial secretary,
! consider its feasibility, and report at the
/ November meeting.
| The action taken by the members at the
meeting yesterday was practically unani-
nous, one vote being cast against 1t. not
because there was objection 10 the plan
| IN itself. but because this member diff
/ fered from the others in thinking such
/ secretary should not now be employed
Enthusiasm Developed.
| Considerable enthusiasm in the project
| developed, and several earnest speeches
were made. The general sentiment may
1 be gagged by the fact that one of the
members declared he was personally
| ready 10 guarantee one-twentieth Of the
salary Of the secretary, and would per-
/ sOnally md nineteen other men 20 pay
| the remainder
| The opinion is almost unanimous in the
| chamber that not much Will be accom-
plished until the body has a secretary
/ who can give his time to its affairs de-
velop plans for the expansion of business,
/ and follow out such plans to a successful
| conclusion. The idea is not so much that
a man of national reputation with a big
salary shall be employed. as that a capable
man shall be placed in the position who
Will earn the salary paid to him in actual
results achieved, after having been given
the time TO work them out
| Following is the resolution adopted:
! Resolved, That il Is the judgment Of
/ this meeting that the work Of the Cham
/ Der OF Commerce requires the employ
ment Of a secretary commensurate with
/ the task not only of administering the
| accustomed affairs Of the secretary's
| Office. but also OF bringing new bust
ness TO Washington and with giving his
| whole time 10 the work OF the chamber
/ Those present were Arthur Q. Moses.
| chairman; Allen d. Albert, secretary:
/ Robert n. Harper, president Of the cham
| ber; D. J. Kaufman. John L. Weaver, H
| c. c. Stiles, Chapin Brown. Charles G.
! Semmes. c. G. Linkins, J. H. Ralston,
and Monroe Luchs.
Would Defeat the Plan.
The chamber has started a movement
to defeat the alleged plan Of the railroad
| companies entering Washington. to-force
the public, through extra charges for
| tickets. 10 pay the cost Of building the
new Union Station and its approaches
President Harper has appointed a COM
mittee 10 take Up the subject with the
| railroad companies and ascertain, If pos
sible, what the intention is and work to
have such plan abrogated, if it is actu-
| ally determined upon.
| II is understood this committee is a
! strong one. made up Of some Of the most
| active spirits OF the chamber. President
/ Harper was not ready TO announce the
names Of the committee last night. as he
had not then received the acceptance Of
the position from one OF more of the
men appointed They will probably be
! auDouDced TO-DAY