Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-28
POLICY OF BOARD OF TRADE
Sentiment in Both Bodies Now Ap-
parently Opposed to Amalgama-
ton and Favors New Plan.

Trade at special meeting called for the
purpose, yesterday afternoon, puts on rec
! ord the directors recommendation Of an
alternative method of preventing the de-
velopment of competing citizens associa-
lions on precisely similar lines. in case
either the Chamber of Commerce or the
| Board of Trade rejects the proposed mer-
ger, which has been under consideration
| by special committees of the two bodies
since last spring.
| The second half of Mr.. Noyes' resolu-,
| tions. which was also unanimously adopt
| ed. provides:
THAT the right of the Chamber of Com
merce to take the initiative in action
| upon the merger suggestion of it's direc-
| tors is fully recognized; and that when
| ever the Chamber of Commerce shall
favor either the division of labors sug-
gested by the Board of Trade committees
report or consolidation in the name Of the
Board of Trade as reported by the con-
ference committees of the two boards of
directors. the favored proposition shall
be promptly submitted to the Board of
Trade for its consideration and action
The directors of the Board of Trade
cannot under the bylaws bind the Board
of Trade in respect to the merger PROPOSE
tioR; and they recognize that the right
and obligation to take the initiative in
action on the subject are with the Cham
Der of Commerce.
Sentiment in Chamber
While neither the Chamber of Com
merce nor its executive committee has
gone on record since the conference of the
two special committees. a prominent
member of the Chamber of Commerce
stated yesterday that there had been
quite a change of sentiment in the cham
Der upon the subject of the proposed
| merger. and new and forceful objections
had been raised to it by considerable
number of the chambers most influential
and active members.
1T was their idea,' he said, that the
best interests of the District would be
conserved by keeping the two bodies sep.
arate. each working alone the lines which
led to their creation, namely, the Board of
| Trade for the consideration of civic mat
| tiers. and the Chamber of Commerce for
commercial trade objects"
The development of this mutual senti-
ment in the two bodies will, it is thought,
lead to each so shaping its affairs as to
effect the results indicated in the Board
| of Trade resolutions.
History of Movement.
Last winter the Chamber of Commerce
| took the initiative looking to it's merger
| with the Board of Trade by the appoint
ment of a committee consisting of Jack
son H. Ralston, A. D. Albert and D. J.
Callaghan.
! The board of directors of the Board of
Trade followed this action with the ap-
| pontment of a special committee consist
| ing of John B. Larner, Thomas w. Smith
and William G.. Henderson, with limited
powers to action.
The result of the conference of these
two committees and their conclusions are
stated in the report of the special commit
tee of the Board of Trade, which was read
and acted upon at the meeting of the
.,Tr of 10 n
yesterday afternoon.
Previous to the consideration of the re-
port William NJ. Hallam and George Cur
| tbs Shinn, upon recommendation or the
membership committee, were made men,
bers of the Board of Trade.
Report of Committee.
The report of the committee follows:
AT the last meeting of the board of
directors the undersigned committee was
appointed for the purpose of comforting
with committee already appointed by
the Chamber of Commerce on the subject
of a merger of the two organizations.
I'm pursuance Of the authority vested
in this committee your committee was
present at two joint conferences. The
subject of merger was discussed by the
members of the committees from every
standpoint and especially from the stand
point of ACCESSIBILITY.
Your committee did not believe that
under the said resolution it had authority
to consider any plan or scheme which
contemplated the change of the corpo-
rate existence or name of the Washing
ton Board of Trade. 1t therefore with
out division took the stand that unless
the committee of the Chamber of Com
merce would concede this proposition no
result could be obtained.
Joint Resolution Passed.
After much discussion the following
resolution was passed:
Resolved, That in the judgment of
the committees appointed by the boards
of directors of the Washington Board of
Trade and the Chamber of Commerce it
is deemed advisable to merge both or
CARNATIONS, and said committees will
recommend to their respective bodies
that such merger be effected under the
name Of the Washington Board of
Trade
subsequently. in the discussion which
followed, it was revealed that the COM
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce did
not think it's board of directors would be
willing to consent to an arrangement
which would practically absorb that as
sociation. 1t further developed that
even if the merger along these lines was
satisfactory to the Chamber of Com
,nerce there were certain other changes
and alterations of the bylaws Of the
Washington Board of Trade which would
be essential.
Your committee, upon considering
these suggestions, which contemplated
the modification of the manner of the
election of certain officers of the Board
Of Trade and the manner of tranSacting
business at general meetings. was of
opinion that these changes a whole
were impracticable and inadVisable, and
therefore opposed them.
Decision to Report Back.
THE result, therefore, of the discus
sion subsequent to the passage of the
resolution already quoted convinced
your committee that even though the
resolution had been passed it would not
be proper. under the circumstances, to
report the same to the board without
expressing the views of the committee
on the general subject of merger
ut may be interesting to refer to the |
early history of the Board of Trade to
from time to time. not only in the di- |
rectory of this board. but upon the floor |
in general meeting of the members, that |
the words Board of Trade in its corpo- |
rate name constitutes a misnomer and |
that 1t has been performing duties |
which are inconsistent with its name |
object and purposes.
Some time prior to the incorporation |
of the Board of Trade there existed in |
the city of Washington body of in |
f1uential and prominent men which was |
known as the committee of one hundred |
This committee of one hundred consid- |
cred all general public matters having |
reference to the municipality and ex-