The Washington times., 1908-01-21
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE
BEGINS CONVENTION TODAY
President La lame
Opens Meeting at the
Willard With Address.

Prepared TO suggest and discuss rem
edies for every conceivable matter of
interest TO the mercantile world In the
United States, $50 delegates to the an
nUaI convention of the National Board
of Trade assembled at the New Wa
lard Hotel today.
President Frank d. La lame OF Phil
adelphia. opened the proceedings with
an address in which he discussed many
matters Of importance which nave Oc-
CURED since the last convention. Prom
inent among the subjects OF his re
marks was the present financial Condt-
ton Of the country.
Sought Relief in Law.
The National Board of Trade had.
he said, for many years advocated a
law which would make impossible the
frequently recurring financial depression
following closely on the heels OF a pro-
uacted period of national prosperity.
The experiences Of the year 1907, Presi-
dent La lame said. merely added
strength to the arguments of the board
Second only IN Importance TO the finan-
Cial legislation, which is declared 10 be
of pressing Importance is the agitation
in favor of river and harbOr improve.
mcnts. The board is almost unanimous
~ in favor Of a Government bond issue
of S5oQ.000.OGO TO carry on this work. It
IS the plan of the board 10 spend this
money al the rate of $50 OO0. 900 each year
for ten years. In view Of the encourage
ing words given to them in the past by
President Roosevelt, many of the dele
gates feel confident that Congress will
in the near future. take favorable action
on their suggestions.
Preliminary Work.
The first session Of the board, which
began at noon, was devoted almost en-
tirely to preliminary work. After Presi-
dent Ia lame had named his appoint
ments 70 the various committees, resO-
Iuuons were introduced by delegates
representing every section of the United
States. These resolutions dealt with SUBJ
jects ranging in importance from such
matters as the American merchant
marine down to the advocacy Of a Fed
eral inspection Of grain.
Among the most prominent of these
subjects presented for the discussion OF
the delegates were: Interstate COM
merce and railroad transportation, uni
form bill OF ladlng, reform In the con-
sular service. postal affairs. recon-
mendatiOns looking toward a parcels
post along the lines suggested by Post
master General Meyer. positive savings
bank, tariff and reciprocity, a customs
administrative act. international arbi
tration, immigration, forestry and irri-
cation, corporation legislation, and
many other miscellaneous matters.
Representative from every large city
in the East entered the meeting primed
with resolutions in favor OF their time
hOnored argument for the upbuilding OF
the American merchant marine IN the
shape Of Federal support or subsidy OF
American vessels. Among the advO-
Gates OF this form Of legislation were
delegates from the Boston Associated
Board of Trade, the Boston Merchants
Association, the New York Board OF
Trade and Transportation. the New
York Produce Exchange, the Philadel-
phia Board of Trade. the Philadelphia
Trades League, the Scranton Board OF
Trade. and the Washington Board OF
Trade.