Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-31
GREATER VOLUME OF TRADE
COMMITTEE OF CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE PRESENTS PLAN.
Method of Attracting Outside Buy
ers-Permanent Work Of the Or
ganization-Meets Tomorrow.

The matter of bringing to this city a
greater volume of trade from the nearby
states was given important consideration
at meeting of the retail trade COM
mttee of the Washington Chamber of
Commerce las evening. The decision was
reached 10 present to the board of d.
rectors of the chamber a report on pros
pective trade getting to be drafted today
by subcommittee composed of Messrs d.
J. kaufman. a. Lisner and c. F. Wall
ran
The plan of working out this problem
was presented in a measure by the report
of special committee which was sub
mitted as follows:
Your committee has the honor to re-
port that in its behalf the first step to be
taken in the matter of encouraging and
stimulating trade from the outside would
be to make Of the general retail trade
committee a semi-independent organize
ton under article g. section 8, of the con-
stitutiOn of he Chamber OF Commerce.
II Is thought best to present to the
directors of the Chamber Of Commerce q
resolution setting forth the desires OF the
committee to be made such a body. The
permanent organization of this COMMITTEES
would have the effect OF doing away with
much OF the rountin that would
otherwise hamper the work. decrease the
effectiveness and minimize the f1eXioility
of its operations. At the same time its
connection with. and responsibility to. the
Chamber Of Commerce would insure the
aid and moral support of the chamber.
Cooperation and Assistance.
1T is the belief Of your committee tina,
when the retail trade committee Is thu.
organized it should have the cooperation
and assistance OF the secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce. And it is the
further belief OF the committee that such
secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
should be paid secretary, devotins all
his time TO the futherance of the cham
ber's work
The committee believes the campaign
for outside trade should not be a spas-
modlc or periodical one. but should be
CONTINUOUS and permanent. Out-of-town
trade should be solicited with the under
standing that the refund of fares, based
on sales made liz in force all the wear
round and that persons coming to the
city and taking part in the plan can
nave their fares refunded at any time
! seemed 10 he the consensus of opinion
oi Inc committeeman that the committee
should first seek the stronger organization
oHered under the constitution of the
chamber. II would then he a permanent
body Accumulated experience OF its cam
paigns for trade. with data working
asset.
Should Be Permanent Work.
The idea was expressed that the cam
Palgn for outside trade should be car
rled on as one Of the permanent works
of the Chamber OF Commerce. I. was
thought That any one living in the con-
tguous territory should be able to come
to Washington any time buy goods and
receive his refund of railroad fare. with
out reference to times and seasons
With this plan once on permanent
footing and working smoothly. it would
then be possible for the committee to Or
game special occasions to bring persons
to Washington. offering special induce
ments outside OF the railroad fare
Washington city was Landed as an ideal
trade center. and the opinion was fully
expressed that the time has come for the
city to shake itself free from its traditions
and take its place among the trading
cities. No apology should be made for
such an attitude. but the claim made and
established that the capital is the best
place in which to trade for a large ter
ritory. the people OF which are not now
brought hither because OF ignorance o.
what is here Or because OF the mistaken
notion that Washington is not and can
not be a trading city.
Not Show Place Only.
The idea that the capital is only a show
place. in which the visitor comes to spend
his money and have an expensive good
time. was deprecated. BY several speak.
ers the committee was counseled that II
was the part of wisdom TO seek outside
trade on the plain business basis, Offering
so much good merchandise for so much
cash as cheap or cheaper than the same
amount can be obtained elsewhere.
Announcement was made that the board
of directors OF the Chamber of Commerce
will meet tomorrow afternoon at 4:a
o COCK at headquarters. 18th and +
streets.