The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-28
Chamber of Commerce Not
Wholly Pleased With Ac-
ton of Board of Trade.
COMMITTEE AGAINST
CONSOLIDATION NOW
Doubt Now Expressed If Chamber
Would Support Much Discussed
Plan by a Vote.

MUCH DISSATISFACTION Win the dull-
merger report submitted to the directors
of the Washington Board of Trade was
expressed today by members of the
Chamber of Commerce.
The decision Of the special merger
committee OF the Board Of Trade
against consolidation with the chamber
caused no surprise in itself. but it is
said that the number of members Of
the latter body opposed to a merger is
increasing. Prominent members OF the
chamber said today that on account Of
the way in which their initiative to-
ward a merger has been met, II is
doubtful whether vote in favor Of
consolidation could now be secured from
a majority of the members OF the
chamber.
The merger question will eventually
come before the Board OF Trade as
body. some time after the annual meet
ing on November 8. Whether the
Chamber OF Commerce will again take
up the matter 1t is not definitely known.
The resolution passed by the Board OF
Trade directors left the proposition
open, however, for further oveTtures
from the chamber especially such as
might be favorable 10 the dominance
az the Board OF Trade.
Feature of Report.
A feature Of the report Of the merger
committee which has aroused consid-
cradle dissatisfaction among the mem
bers q thu Chamber OF Commerce is the
embodyiug therein OF a resolution passed
ia favor Of merger under the name of
The Washington Board or Trade, al a
conference between the merger commit
tees OF the Board OF Trade and the
Chamber OF Commerce, in spite OF
which, the report goes on TO argue, ana
then 10 declare, against consolidation.
The report suggests that the Board OF
Trade cOnnne itself 10 matters purely
civic, and the Chamber Of Commerce TO
matters purely commercial.
The merger committee OF the Board
of Trade is composed Of John b. Lar
ner, Thomas ". Smith, and William Il.
Henderson.
Committee Report.
This resolution also appears in fun
below.
The merger committee, composed Of
John 3. Larner. Thomas W. Smith, and
William Q. Henderson, submitted the
following report;
To the Board of Directors, the Washing
ton Board OF Trade:
Gentlemen. AT the last meeting Of
The board Of directors the undersigned
committee was appointed for the pur-
pose OF comforting with a committee
already appointed by the Chamber OF
Commerce on the subject OF a merger
Of the two organizations. The resOlu-
ton appointing this committee Is as
follows.
Resolved. That committee Of three
be appointed by the chair 10 confer
with a like committee appointed by the
Chamber Of Commerce. said committee
however, not 10 be empowered with any
authority TO consider or agree to any
proposition involving the corporate eN-
istence of the Board Of Trade.
In pursuance Of the authority vested
in this committee by said resolution.
we were present al two joint confer
ences. The subject OF merger was dis
cussed by the members Of the commit
tees from every standpoint. ana eSpe-
cIaIly from the standpoint OF adviSa-
hility. Your committee did not be-
Ileye that under the said resolution they
had authority 10 consider any plan or
scheme which contemplated the change
Of the corporate existence or name OF
the Washington Board OF Trade, and
they, therefore, without division took
the stand that unless the committee or
the Chamber Of Commerce would con-
Cede this proposition no result could
be obtained.
Resolution Passed.
After much discussion the following
resolution was passed:
Resolved, That in the judgment OF the
committees appointed by the boards Of
directors Of the Washington Board Of
Trade and the Chamber of Commerce
it is deemed advisable TO merge both
organizations, ano said committees viii
recommend to their respective bodies
that such merger be effected under the
name of the Washington Board Of
Trade.
Subsequently, in the discussion which
followed, it was REVEALED that the COM
mittee of the Chamber Of Commerce did
not think that its board Of directors
would be willing to consent TO an ar
rangement which would practically alb
sorb that association. 1t further de-
veloped that even If the merger along
these lines was satisfactory TO the
Chamber Of Commerce, there were GER
tain other changes and alterations OF
the bylaws OF the washington Board
OF Trade. which would be essential, and
your committee, upon considering these
suggestions which contemplated the
modification of the manner Of the cleo
ton OF certain officers Of the Board of
Trade, and the manner of transacting
business at general meetings, was OF
the opinion that these changes as
whole were imDracticable and mad
Visable, and, therefore, oppose the same.
The result, therefore, of the discus
sion subsequent TO the passage OF the
resolution already quoted. convinced
your committee that even though the
resolution had been passed II would
not be proper, under the circumstances,
10 report the same TO the board with
out expressing the views of the com
mittee on the general subject of merger.
Explains Criticism.
Il may be interesting to refer to the
early history of the Board Of Trade to
explain a criticism which has been
made made from time to time. not only
in the directory Of this board. but upon
the floor IN general meeting OF the mem
hers, that the words Board of Trade"
in its corporate name constitutes a
misnoner and that it has Deeu perform
Ing duties which are inconsistent with