The Washington herald., 1909-05-12

From the adoption Of a resolution
warmly indorsing the auditorium project.
which was defined as a matter Of vital
policy for the chamber, 20 the considers-
ton Of vital change in the mode OF
government for the District OF Columbia.
was the road Travelled by the Chamber
Of Commerce at its May meeting last
night at the headquarters in F street
Between these extremes the chamber
voted down the proposed amendment %
the constitution providing for authority
10 purchase stock in corporate enter
prises. and attended 20 a IitJle routine
business
The subjects under discussion brought
out al the heavy guns OF oratory IN the
chambers arsenal OF eloquence- Not a
dull minute passed in the three hours de-
batting and a fairly good volume Of busi-
ness resulted
Callahan Presents Resolution.
The resolution indorsing the audito-
rum project and voting an appropria-
ton 70 the purchase of stock amounting
70 1900 was introduced by n J. Gala
han and was as follows.
Whereas TIE National Auii,o-i.a Company has
foT is 0ojocr the construction q g brlding that
va roeslly Ell lo-E-f-t need but Eil material
g aid IN the ders-orzosut ~ our CITY and is rs-
COURSES VII T-oTs q interest IN the rrde ard NJ
building q Washington, ard when completed VIII
U-dCubtslIr hrng dire-t benefit 20 ever business
Interest; the-rfo-e b II
Resolved That the Cllzr,hsr q Co-rusr-s through
rs boaTd o5 dire~ors. commend most enthusiastically
tie obse-7s e The euts-TTlse- and rec0u-msud tbs
sFFc-1-r-e-- -i c1Eul-fes y Eve ~ the Y-esi-
-er- 20 c--5e- WITH the projectors with virw u
aiding II every war possible tha u-0Fress Cf the
subscriptions be- u further
Reslivad. That tie Chz1he- q Commerce. Eist-
lu- % evidence ifs substantial ercc1ra seuent ar-
prcr-izrs ont ~ re u1rc~s n0v IN rhe treaSuy
the SIM ot Sl.cW rs r-rtrhu--ol 70 the cause
ard ru-i.s In rs-u-n therefor twenty shares cf tie
zrl-l --0cz n the National Audifo-iu-n C1nTa,.-
Mr.. Callahan explained that the resolU-
ton had received the unanimous approval
Of the board cf directors. and carried a
recouuendatiOn that the appropriation 10
buy the stock be made by The chamber
Nj Callahan spoke strongly IN favor Of
the project declaring that II meant much
for the upouil5ing Of Washington, much
for its business interests much for its
public interests, and would forever do
away with the stigma now applied 10 the
CapIal city thai tt has no Place 90 house
sven a small convention.
Long Debate Follows.
The resolution literally let loose the
rivers Of debate. Several lawyers raised
strong objection. They surrounded the
proposition with a halo OF horrors. de
caring that L opened the food gate wide
FOR al sorts OF schemes for depicting the
treasury OF the chamber. entsnEling Il
With outside corporate ventures. and re-
moving IL completely from the purpose
for which il was formed. The business
men took a different view. They declared
or one Of them did, that they. could get
along without the lawyers OF The help Of
tbs Supreme Court in so plain a business
matter as the building Of the proposed
auditorium
Some Of the lawyers Joined the ranks
OF the business men. and before the dis
cussion ended. II was made clear that
there was really no objection 10 the
proposition worthy Of the name. and IL
was passed with only six dissenting
votes.
At one stage in t1e consideration OF the
question n amendment was offered TO
strike out the concluding words OF the
resolution and make a sJraiEht-oUt dona-
ton OF 5000 to the enterprise without the
receipt Of stock. but this was voted down,
on an explanation from Capt James F.
Oyster that the method adopted for build
ing the auditorium was upon q stock sub
scripti0u. and there was no way in which
the company could we'll receive d. gift
such as proposed. Moreover. he suggested
that the stock might be worth its face
valve. and more. and could be disposed OF
after the building was erected, and the
chamber reimbursed.
List OF the Speakers.
Those taking g part IN the discussion of
the subject were George z. Sullivan.
Ross Andrews a Leftwich Sinclair. "
c. Sullivan. P. 7. Moran. Julius Peiser.
John Fleming. 2 L. Siddons, Isaac Cans,
Allen u Albert. T. c. H Vance, P. N
Brown. and JamesF. Oyster.
While the members were feeling II good
hurnor over the passage Of the rssolu-
ton. A G. Moses. saying that II vas :
good tine 10 give vent 70 a little en-
thUsissm. subscribed 1900 70 the audi
toriUm fund Isaac Cans subscribed 500
for Saks & Co, and Harry King a
similar amount for Kings Palace
a c. Moses was then recognized by
President GUIDE and took Up the matter
Of the amendment 20 the constitution pro
y1ding for authority TO be lodged in the
chamber 10 subscribe for the stock OF
corporations with view 70 their en-
couragenent, after they had been prop
erly Investigated BY the committee on
manufactures and the appropriation for
the purpose had been voted by the cham
Der
Mr.. Moses Pleads for Change.
Mr. Moses in presenting the subject 70
the chamber made q most impressive
speech He declared that the body had
come 10 the parting of the ways where
II would 60 forward 10 the accomplish
ment Of something definite for the I'd