Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-28

;is$ts.sts.s:.$::3$3tsssss:s.:s:sss:::: ::::t3.tt
public opinion and the adoption Of legis-
lation.
THE influence of this committee of
one hundred was so farreaching and
effective that later some of the members
and others interested determined that 1t
would be for the best interests Of the
city for them to form a corporation and
thus create permanent organization
Upon examination Of the law in force in
the District of Columbia at that time it
was found that there was no section of
the statute which contemplated the in
corporation of an organization Of this
kind other than that section which
specifically provides for board of trade.
They We're therefore. compelled to
incorporate under this section, which re-
qufres the use of the name Board of
Trade This accounts for and explains
the apparent misnomer.
Affairs Of the Board.
THE Board of Trade has. from the time
of its organization, largely devoted it's at
tention to business which has been of a
civic character, although there are sew
eral committees of the board which have
for their object matters commercial or
semi-commercial Efforts have been made
upon various occasions to stimulate ac-
ton along commercial lines, but these
efforts have not been successful in any
substantial degree.
Some years ago certain members of
the board. who were particularly inter-
eSted In the commercial feature, sep
arated from the Board of Trade and with
others formed an organization known as
the Business Mems Association.
hn arff fov, ocv
as the Greater Washington movement
brought into being another organiza ton
which was called the Shippers and job
bers' Association started primarily for
the purpose of looking after commercial
interests. and this because of the fact
that neither the Board of Trade nor the
Business Mems Association was giving
sumc1ent attention to that particular
branch of work. The work of the Ship
pers and Jobbers Association along COM
that was creditable was accomplished.
Amalgamate Into Chamber.
These two organizations continued in
existence until about one year ago, when
the Chamber of Commerce was formed
as result Of the union of the Business
Mems Association and the Shippers and
Jobbers' Association. We think it is fair
to say that it was the general impression
of the public that the Chamber of Com
merce was organized for the express pur-
pose of caring for that branch of the
work which was not sufficiently looked
after by the Board of Trade.
The Board of Trade has accomplished
in the period of its existence a large amount
of public work, and has by the efforts
of its officers. directors and members Gre
ated and nodded public opinion and car
ried through successfully many large and
important schemes, having for their pur-
pose the welfare of the citizens of Wash
ington upon purely civic lines. The
which is now recognized as being of
much value to the profession and to the
citizen, is the direct result of the work
of the Board of Trade. Many other
ervations. taxation. sewerage system, fill
tration plant. grade crossings. street ex-
tensions, Public Library. Municipal build
ing, etc, might be mentioned.
Board Should Be Preserved.
1--WE hold and maintain that the Board
of Trade should be preserved in its en-
tirety along the lines it has chiefly work.
ed and which have been SO successful.
We hold firmly to the opinion that there
should be an organization in this District
whose duty it shall be to protect and
promote commerce and manufacture in
all of its phases. and We believe that
united and concentrated effort on the part
of the Chamber of Commerce. which is
composed of SO many men of high char
acter and enthusiasm, would certainly
bring about great good and benefit to
commercial interests.
1--WE also believe that if the Board of
Trade were to devote it's attention exclu-
sively to civic matters that organization
would still be more effective. We FUR
Their believe that it is unfortunate to have
two organizations operating along the
same general lines. This ought not to be,
and we further believe that 1t Is unfortu-
nate that there has never existed IN WASH
inpton an organization devoted exclusively
to commercial and trade interests.
."The non-existence of such a body for
so many years has meant great loss 10
trade and commerce. Inc supJect Oh
traffic rates and discrimination against
merchants and manufacturers alone is
sufficient to justify an organization work
ing exclusively along those lines. Inc
results to be thus accomplished, in our
Judgment, would be far-reachinS and ben
eficial beyond computation.
Might Mean Conflict.
ITO consolidate these two organizations
might mean a conflict at once, such con-
f1ict as would leave either municipal or
interests dominant, one to
the exclusion of the other, and We might
find ourselves practically in the same po-
sition. after a lapse of time, as has been
the case of the Board of Trade and the
other organizations already mentioned.
There were other matters that devel-
oped during the course of the discussion
of the general subject by the joint COM
mittees, raising questions that in our
Judgment would create a very serious
difference of opinion and possibly result
disastrously to the merged corporation.
We believe that members of the Chamber
of Commerce who are favorable to this
amalgamation would insist upon very
radical and far-reaching changes in the
bylaws of the Board of Trade.
Two of these changes have already been
suggested, both of which as a whole were
opposed by your committee. and which,
we believe. if carried out, would be de-
parture from the conservative course al
ways maintained by the Board OF Trade.
These bylaws. at least. in SO far as
they relate to the reference of new bust
ness to appropriate committees. have re-
suited in the highest degree of accuracy
in the work of the Board of Trade. 1t
has ever been the policy of the board to
prevent In every possible way hasty or
ill-considered action. Therefore. when
the Board of Trade expresses itself upon
any question. the respect and attention of
Congress, the general and local govern
ment. as well as the public at large. Is