New-York tribune., 1908-01-03
CHAMBER FOR SUBSIDY.
Members Urge Government to A'd
Pacific Mail Service.

The Chamber of Commerce spent most of its time
yesterday IN listening TO the report OF the Sofii'
tee Commerce and Revenue Laws which i
headed by Gustav y. Schwab. The committee III
troduced a resolution urging the adoption of a bill
by Congress permitting the Postmaster General &c
pay for an ocean mail service in vessels OF the
second class TO South American ports on the fa-
cific or South Atlantic ports which are reacheo
by way Of the Pacific, and proposed several inno-
vatons intended TO improve the terminal faclhties
OF New York harbor, including the extension oil
the piarheed line the North River above 80
street and the commercial development OF the East
River water front above the navy yard.
A resolution favorirg the latter was passed with
out discussion The committee pointed out that
most of the piers north of 23d street were at the
present time utterly inadequate to meet require
ments while the piers could not be extended because
the government pierhead line would not permit II.
II the line extended the facilities could be
increased by the erection of piers 500 feet long The
immense value of Manhattan real estate. the COM
mttee says makes the enlargement of the piers
through the excavation OF land impossible.
The report continues:
Another remedy that suggests itself to your com.
mittee consists III the commercial development OF
the East River water front above the, navy yard.
front OF the East River above the navy yard would
be capable of accommodating domestic and ocean
the upper pc reaches Of e East River at its enfrance
velopment and utilization for terminal purposes If
the approaches that render the navigation OF the
Gate removed.
Ar. Schwab also read the report of the delegates
who attended the meeting called by Secretary Straus
of the Department of Commerce and Labor at
Washington on December and to discuss the
proposition Of establishment by the government
Of service OF information with regard TO foreign
commerce and foreign tariffs and their bearing on
the extension OF the foreign trade of this country
This conference adopted plan formulated by the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor for the creation
OF a National Council of Commerce, TO consist ot
one delegate from each commercial industra!
organization invited TO Join, and to exercise among
other things the functions of receiving reports and
communications from commercial bodies and from
the State Department, of furnishing the Secretary
of Commerce and Labor with authentic information
the needs different industries of suggesting
specia; investigation abroad by agents of the de-
partment, of acting intermediary between the
department and commercial and trade bodies and o.
comforting with the various departments of govern
ment regarding legislation that is approved by the
council.
After telling of the work of the delegates in
Washington, Mr.. Schwab said that under the char
ter provisions the Chamber of Commerce could no,
become a member of the National Council.
The question of substituting the mall ships of the
Pacific produced long discussion, but the resou-
ton finally adopted
Edward King elected president TO sue
ceed the late ID. Willis James and William A Nash
was elected the Craftsmanship of the committee
on finance and currency, made vacant by the resg-
nation Of Durnont Clarke Morris X. Jesup was
elected a member of the board of trustees for the
chambers real estate.