The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-28
FOR MEMORIAL TO CONG. N. D. SHERRY John c. Gallagher Proposes That New Federal Build
 ing be Urged as
 Such. GREAT POPULAR PETITION Scheme Brought Up at Chamber of Commerce Mectine-President
 Warren Makes Annual
 Address.
GREAT POPULAR PETITION

In speech of some orator,cal merits, John C. Gallagher. secretary of the New Haven Chamber of Com merce. proposed nt the meeting of that body held last evening that a strong effort be made to secure the erection of new federal building partially along sentimental lines-as a monument to Congressman N. D. Sperry. the oldest representative in Washington, who all but holds the rec ord for the longest term of service, who was for twcnty-eight years the head of the local postoffice, which un- der his administration ranked the very first in the land, who was the father of the civil service in the postoffice, and the originator of the rural free delivery system. There Is, 1t is true said Secretary Gallagher, "a lighthouse down the harbor, which Is six inches or more out of plumb (and of all things on earth, 1t seems to me, a lighthouse ought to be crect) and that light Is unofiicially known as Sperry light: I understand 1t is not known such at Washington, however. But here Is something that would ap- peal to all In Washinston--a monu- ment to Uncle N. D. I think the money would come easily and surely signatures for petition for the build Ing could be had without much trouble about New Haven If it were under- stood that this was the intention" :"
 Collector Winchell and many of the members of the chamber present fav- ored the idea.
 A large part of the meeting last night was taken up with routine busi- ness. The minutes to be read were long and lengthy Secretary Gala gher prefaced the reading of them by saying the situation reminded him of George M. Gunns latest--at least the latest he had hcard-which was of the negro preacher who went to Trinity church and who afterwards said the only criticism he had to make about 1t was that too much of the time was taken up by the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting.
 The executive committee reported that 1t thought action on the part of the chamber In reference to the Aldrich currency bill was unnecessary, inasmuch as the bankers of the city who are most vitally concerned with It's provisions, have seen fit to take action upon 1t and to forward their beliefs on the subject to Washington. ha pt l.. of routine bills were ordered paid
 From then on the meeting took on a very national aspect, for there were read communications from about ev- cry national commercial organization in the country inviting the New Ha- ven Chamber of Commerce to join them, or to take other action The request of the National Board of Trade, asking the chamber to CO., operate with its committee on forestry was referred to the executive commit tee The National Council of Com merce wrote to tell of its formation last December upon the suggestion of the secretary of commerce and la bor in his office and to ask ihe local organization to apply for membership in 1t, A copy of letter from Secre- tary Strauss was enclosed which ask ed for expressions of opinion upon several important matters. Among these were the questions the appoint ment of special commercial agents for work abroad by the government and the special lines of investigation they should follow out; the utility of send ing exhibitions to industrial exposi- tions abroad; and the proposed tariff negotiations with Branch. MT Adler spoke in reference to joining this or- ganzation and finally the matter was left to the executive committee for investigation.
 The American Civic associations had written the chamber urging 1t to | --.a
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