The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-01
New Commerce Building
Must Be an Investment,
Says Harper in Report
President of Chamber and Building Com
mitteeman Bell Each Subscribe $4,000
for Securities on Lisners Motion.

Charles j. Bells committee on build
ing of the Chamber Of Commerce held
its first meeting yesterday afternoon
at the headquarters of the Chamber.
1914 street. forty-two members OF the
committee being present. Monroe Luchs
was unanimously elected secretary Of
the committee and f.. c. Graham vice
chairman.
Mr.. Bell. in opening the meeting, said
that a building Tor the Chamber should
De erected on a plan that would not
have the appearance of a subscription
scheme, but should be simply a good
investment 10 those who put in their
money, and 10 the Chamber He then
called on r. n. Harper TO submit his
plan. introducing him as having given
the subject more thought than any OF
the other members.
Subscribe $4,000 Each.
After the reading by the secretary u
Mr.. -Harper's plan, the meeting was
thrown open for a discussion. In the
course Of this A. Lisner moved that
everyone present should subscribe 5000
to the securities of the Chamber Al
though this motion did not receive a
second, X. n. Harper and Charles J.
Bell quickly followed With like sub
scriptions II was not the purpose OF
the meeting, said Mr.. Bell, 30 do more
than informally discuss the whole mat
ter and 10 receive Whatever information
members had to offer.
The committee authorized MIR. Bell TO
appoint a committee Of seven, himself
10 be one, consider carefully Mr. Har-
per's plan and those OF any others that
might be submitted ard report back 10
"a
Text of the Report.
Following is the text Of the report
submitted and read at the meeting yes
ter6ay:
'sThe object Of this undertaking is
in effect an opportunity for the business
and progressive men OF Washington 70
lend a helping hand, accompanied with
practically no risk, TO erect in this. our
National Capital, monument 10 the
thrift. energy. and pTOgressiVeness OF
our business men, as well as 10 estap-
I lish a practical determination in the
onward march of progress another step
/ i'm making Washington the most beauti-
tul city i'm the world.
1T should be borne in mind at the
outset that this move Is intended as a
| financial investment, and not a contri-
button without proper and adequate Sc
! curity hat with a reasonable guarantee
| of regular returns in dividends.
The plan in detail, below outlined, is
simple and practicable. and should be
/ considered within the bounds OF prudent
! business and not a wild cat specula-
/ ton
Estimate of Money Needed.
"The amount of money necessary TO
perfect this undertaking must be deter
mined by conditions and the. business
| Judgment OF the committee having the
project in charge; dealing with il in
every particular as though il were a
/ personal business proposition or invest
ment
1T is expected that a building le-
Gated on one of our principal streets will,
/ and necessarily should, cost more than
one on a street Of less business import
ance, and with such conditions the op-
pOrtunities for revenue Will largely be
/ The guide in determining the magnitude
/ Of the undertaking, well as the To-
\ cation. In any event. the building must
/ he centrally located. for the convenience
OF the business and financial men OF
1T is recognized that the judgment
| and experience OF the architect should
( be. to a large extent, depended upon
I in outlining the interior construction OF
] the building. the following plan VIII.
/ in all probability, however, meet the
\ requirements of such building for the
! purposes for which it is intended, and is
/ presented as a suggestion Tor something
| TO build upon.
Revenue From Building.
AS a revenue producing possibility
must be largely considered in the con-
st-uction OF this building. every avail
/ able foot OF il must be utilized to the
! greatest possible advantage. To do this
we must start in the very basement and
then in the street floor. both of which
should be worked out for business oc-
cupancy with the greatest revenue pro-
ducing possibilities in view.
/ Above this the entire remaining part
/ OF the building should be divided into
/ convenient and modern office rooms. eX-
] Cepting the top floor; the ceiling of
/ which shall be from fifteen TO twenty
! feet high and part Of floor space divided
! conveniently into dining room proper.
/ kitchen, china and linen closets, and
/ part of the floor shall be reserved for
/ "A public hall. separated from the dining
| room by folding or rolling partitions so
| that the hall and dining room may be
! thrown into one, or kept separate as
/ necessity may demand The private
| dining rooms, two or three in number,
! snail be of varying sizes to be used by
! special committees. organizations clubs
or friends, for consultation and other
/ wise dealing With private or puhlic
| matters while eating, where neither
publicity or annoyance Is desired but
avoided. In one section of the public
hall should be a platform for the pre-
1 siding officer. and above that a balcony
! for music or visiting guests.
! Stores and Store Rooms.
1.-THE basement shall have the heat
ing plant, elevator machinery, coal bins
and possibly the front part. under stores
can be constructed for mercantile pur-
poses, and portions Of the rear into
store rooms for the dining room con-
| Venience.
This building and dining room shall
| be run under the management of a
! committee selected by the president
#, from the members of the Chamber OF
! Commerce owning bonds of the build
ing. This committee shall be appointed
in two classes, the first class shall be
| for one year and the other class for
/ two years; after this each class shall
be appointed for two years and will not
be eligible TO succeed itself.
| The dining room should only be pat
rCniZed by. members. and then only un-
/ Ger special agreement issued by the
Chamber OF Commerce, or q committee
for that purpose. or friends of an elected
| member, when accompanied by such
member, or the possessor of a card Is
| sued in proper form for a limited and
| specified time. under certain established
| rules. The prices charged for meals
l1ncnoOuS pfc shall he rpq1llgfpd nv Thc