Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-14
DEBATE IN CHAMBER
Business Men and Lawyers in
Lively Discussion.
OVER STOCK PROPOSITION
Report Of Manufactures Committee
Meets With Opposition.
PLACE OPEN TO ARCHITECTS
Salary for New Municipal once
Fixed at $5,0Oo-Maj. Judson
Elected Honorary Member.
PLACE OPEN TO ARCHITECTS

A debate in which business men LINED
up in good- but earnest battle
against lawyers was the leading feature
OF the Chamber OF Commerce meeting
last night The argument on the prop
osition 10 amend the chambers constitu-
ton so that the body may hold stock In
corporations which 1t might intend to
encourage in the District of Columbia
lasted two hours. The skirmish started
with the report of A. c. Moses. chairman
of the manufactures COMMITTEES. who
introduced the resolution to change the
constitution, and from a discussion on
the merits Of the proposition the wordy
fight was turned into a legal argument.
in which several lawyers made impassdon-
ed speeches. Those who saw dangers
ahead sought to have the whole matter
referred to the committee on law and
legislation. but that motion was lost
after some clever parliamentary maneu-
vering, and the matter now stands as un-
finished business to be discussed at an
other meeting of the chamber.
The manufactures committee Is seeking
to find good enterprises for Washington.
Mr. Moses explained In some detail that
any project that his committee recon-
mended to the Chamber of Commerce
would be as sound as the closest investi-
IL.
several other chambers of commerce
are doing in the way of inducing manu-
features to start In their cities, and said
that the live way to build UP Washing
toms enterprises 10 for the chamber to
take an active part and to show Its
willingness to help by putting money
into them. With the Chamber Of Com
merce investigating the projects and in
dorsing the worthy ones, 1t was Mr..
Moses idea, that the city would grow in
4 hA 1fvAa FhA Ssyf0 atspp AZ
committee hoped to see.
Mr.. Noses Resolution.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Moses
would change the constitution In the fol-
lowing manner:
In preamble. paragraph 2, after the
word activity add ito indorse and to
subscribe to the stock Of manufacturing
concerns, and that sums SO subscribed
shall be recommended to the chamber
for action by the board OF directors; fur
ther. that such stock shall not be held
by the chamber for greater length of
time than In the opinion Of the board OF
directors may seem necessary to foster
such industries in the District
Isaac Cans Immediately opposed the
change. and. Conrad syme asked Mr..
Moses what would be the individual fla
bility Of the members of the chamber
If the concerns should fall down." Mr..
Moses replied that the chamber would
not subscribe to stock not fully paid up.
The battle then began to grow warm
and lawyers. rising from all sides Of
the room, began to fire 80 many hot
questions that Chaplin Brown. who had
been, the adviser of the manufactures
give his views. He said that all the safe
guards he knew of had been provided
for; that the manufactures committee
would make 2 searching examination Of
al. projects: that the board of directors
would then examine the matter. and
through It the fun chamber would gel
the facts and decide the questions.
He explained something of the incor-
porating laws of several states. and said
that as to the liability Of members there
would be no way to dodge 1t, except by
withdrawing from the Chamber OF Com
merce. ANY member would be RESPONSE
BILE for the action of the majority OF the
members at any meeting. he said. but he
tion proposed would reduce any danger to
very small point.
Urged by Mr.. Lancaster.
William e. Shannon spoke in support of
the proposition, and as he took his seat
c. c. Lancaster. breaking away from
the lawyers, appealed to the member 20
put the matter through at once, and
begged the chamber, with some humor.
not to let the matter get into the hands
OF the attorneys, because there are no
two or them who think alike" His speech
was applauded loudly, but a less enthu-
siastic member poured little cold water
on the proposition. and it looked for q
time as II the law and legislation com
mittee would have to take 1t to them
selves and dissect 1t. However. p. M
Browne came to the rescue OF the man
ufacturfng committee and offered to in
sert the words proposed to be- before
subscribed" and to change the amend
ment oy adding the words at the end
ana further that such stock shall be
held by three trustees for the chamber
and that no stock shall be Subscribed
1or until an appropriation shall have been
made to pay for the same from availa BILE
or Commerce"
instead Of clearing the tangling arsu-
ments. this Immediately brought from
several members the objection that the
resolution was not so radically changed
from the original that 1t would REQUIRE
a new meeting with five davis notice -
make It's adoption valid. There was !
confusion OF tongues and a ,parliamen.
tary tangle. an appeal from the chair or
one OF President GUIDES decisions, anC
wee PRESIDENT oyster took the gavel FOL
minute. Before he relinQuished 1t tn,
motion to. adjourn was put and carries
and the excitement was over The nex,
meeting will probably see the matte,
Drought up again.
Municipal Architects Salary.
AS exciting as this matter was, II had
rival in the discussion over the cham
bars attitude toward the ONCE Of mu
nteipal architect. This has been dis.
cussed. at the school committee meet
snEs and before the board OF directors
William Z. Shannon renewed his fight
AGAINST the chamber indorsing the reso-
Iution. which would open the ONCE to
competition by any one in the United
ates. AFTER some debate, in which
the name of no possible candidate was
mentioned. the chamber finished the mat
ter by resolving that the salary or the
ONCE should be $4,000 year, and tina,
the ONCE should be open to any archi
tect In the country. and that a COM
sary.
Maj William v. Judson. Engineer
Commissioner, was elected an honorary
member by rising vote, and as he was
present last night he made a short
speech to the members thanking them
and commencing their work.
+. p. May, chairman Of the wholesale
trade committee. made a report which
showed that the advertising that the cit,
has been getting has not been fruitless
cided that further impetus should BIZ
given to the advertising Of the city By
appointing ten men to look after 1t fol
the. Chamber Of Commerce. Mr.. Cans
Rochester. n Y. Chamber Of Commerce
spoke for better advertising Of Wash
fngton. and Endorsed a request which had
come from residents OF Quantico ASKING
for better train service to Washing
ton. The Chamber OF Commerce will
agitate the question with, the railroads.
DIVORCE AppLIcANr NOT o.