Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-13
Chamber of Commerce Con-
siderS New Business"
REPORT FROM COMMITTEES
Organization Opposes Bill Against
Usurious Interest.
FAvORS A MUNICIPAL COURT
Members Debate Subject of Street
Car Facilities to Union Station.
Other Matters.

The Chamber Of Commerce held its Nav
session last evening in the Brentano build
ing. Eth and r streets the president. Mr.
Robert y. Harper. presiding. Arrange
ments were made to urge the passage of
the bill prepared by Justice Stafford and
Judge kimball. affecting penal and cor.
rectional methods; to oppose the Gallngei
bill. which provides that the taking of
usurious interest shall be a criminal Of
Tense: to place the chamber on record as
to the extension of railroad facilities tc
! the new Union STA ton: to have the board
of directors map out a zone beyond which
manufacturing may be carried on within
the District Of Columbia; to inquire re-
garding the rumor that a new race track
is to be built in Maryland near the Dis
trict line and see what If anything can
be done to prevent IL. and to invite the Ma =
tional Cash Register Company. which. II Is
| reported. is TO leave Dayton. Ohio. to To-
cate in this city.
Only a few reports were submitted by
the standing and special committees.
Cha pin Brown of the committee on law
and legislation reported the passage Of the
municipal court bill by the Senate. and IA
vorable consideration in the House. but
stated that there is little likelihood of the
enactment Of the law at this session of
Congress.
II. c. G. Stiles reported the action taken
by the committee on conventions, and an
nounced the meeting of the Virginia Press
Association in this city. June l. d. s..
Porter stated that the committee on sal
aries of government employees is collect
ing data on the subject and making pro-
visions for such action as is possible to
advance the cause.
Need of Public Interest.
Allen D. Albert jr.. reported that bill
on penal and correctional methods has
been drafted by Justice Stafford and
Judge Kimball and submitted to the Sem
ate. and that all that appears to be
necessary to secure its adoption is public
interest and pressure. He urged the men,
beers of the chamber to lend their infiu-
ence in that direction.
Wilton j. Lambert referred to the bill
of Senator Gallinger-Senate No. 2031-
which proposes to punish for the taking
of usurious interest with fine OF not
more than 500 and imprisonment of not
exceeding six months. In the interest OF
unfortunate borrowers. he explained
whose hardships would be increased by
the enactment of such a law. he urged
that the chamber do what it can TO oppose
such legislation. j. H. Ralston supported
the suggestion of Mr.. Lambert, and de-
clar.d that as result of the laws against
ueury in the District the unfortunate Dor
rover. by subterfuges now employed. is
required to pay exorbitant and extortion-
ate rates of interest. He also spoke Of the
hardship of holding lenders. who are will
ing to take extraordinary risks to accom-
modate such class of borrowers. 10 the
conventional rate of interest. Chaplin
Brown spoke along the same lines, and
vigorously denounced the Gallinger bill
BY vote. the committee on law and legis-
Iation was directed to take steps TO OPP
pose the passage Of the BILL
Union Station Railway Facilities.
After debate. in which Messrs Stiles.
Albert. Porter, Schulteis Trundell and
others participated. the chamber adopted
resolution setting forth that as the
lack of street railway facilities to the
new Union station Is daily menace
not alone to the comfort OF those who
arrive at or depart from that station,
but that il is actually a menace to the
commerce of the city, and that the
need of proper street car service is so
apparent. it is the sense of the Chamber
OF Commerce that proper legislation pro-
vidng therefor is necessary" The sec
rotary was directed to transmit copies
Of the resolution to the committees OF
Congress in conference on the subject.
On motion of Mr.. Albert the committee
on law and legislation was directed to
| inquire into the report that a new race
track is to be ~uilt in Maryland near
the District line. thus defeating the OBJ
ject of recent anti-race track legislation.
and to report back to the chamber =.
Angus Almond formerly president of
the Commercial Club of Louisville. Ky
was introduced by President Harper. and
made remarks complimentary tn the spirit
| of the chamber and the good work in
which II Is engaged.
Zone for Manufacturing.
Mr. Schulteis suggested that the board
of directors map out A zone outside of
| which. in the District Of Columbia. man.
ufacturng might be carried on without
hampering rules and regulations. The
motion was unanimously adj pied. mo-
| ton of Mr.. Mayer. to invite the National
Cash Register Company TO establish its
works here. was also adopted.
President Harper announced that May
~ j. p. Kenyon of New York. vice presi-
dent of the Sheldon School of Scientific
Salesmanship of Chicago would deliver
lecture on Business Building Topics"
in the hall OF the Chamber Of Commerce.
COT, VIM n TEEE MEAN