The Washington herald., 1909-04-14

An amendment to the constitution. au-
thorizing the chamber 20 iudorse manu-
featuring enterprises and under certain
conditions 10 subscribe to the stock of
such enterprises. was the chief subject
discussed last night at the April meeting
Of the Chamber Of Commerce. The dis
eussion lasted two hours and was earnest
and spirited throughout.
Some Of the speakers said it was the
first real live proposition ever brought
before the body. and incidentally the
lawyers Of the chamber received a good
drubbing at the hands Of the business
men for throwing technicalities IN the
way Of the prompt passage Of the reso-
luton embodying the principals stated
The opinion of the members present was
brought out in a vote upon a purely par
Hamentary question. which was lost 81 to
35. Finally, however. and attempt 10
amend the proposed amendment was
ruled out OF order by President Guide
and a vote on an appeal 20 the house
sustained the chair, and a motion to ad-
jOurn intervened before action was had
on the main question.
Mr. Hoses Offers Amendment.
Tire proposition to amend the constitu-
ton came up under a report by a. c.
Moses, chairman Of the manufacturers
committee. There had been some talk
previously about activity through the
chamber 10 help in building UP the city,
and Mr.. Moses said he thought the time
was ripe for such activity. He said he
was convinced that Washington could
have manufactures If effort was made In
the right way TO bring il here. He thought
the right way was for the Chamber of
Commerce % take the initiative by way
OF investigating the claims Of worthy
manufacturing propositions, getting at
the basic facts of assets, prospects, and
good win. mechanical devices. &c. in
dorsing the enterprises and giving them
such announcement as IL could give. To
this end he offered the following amend
ment 10 the constitution:
In preamble paragraph 2 after the word 'ac,ir-
ity." add TO ind0rse ard 70 sibs0ibe TO the stock
81 manufacirllg concerns and that Suns 80 sub
scrihcd shall b. recoumendcd 70 the chamber for
action ny the board Of directors; further. That such
stock shall not De held by the chamber for a
greater length q time than IL the opinion Of the
board Of directors may SEN Necessary 70 foster
such industries in the District.
becomes Live Question.
The amendment was no sooner offered
than it was seen TO be a live question.
Several lawyers present began to ask the
meaning Of some Of the phraseology Of
the proposed amendment, and a rapid fire
OF questioning and answers followed.
one Of the first questions raised was
upon that Of the liability Of members
when the chamber had subscribed TO
the stock Of a corporations The discus
sion went down 70 basic principles and
at al points was most interesting.
The chamber resolved itself into two
opposing groups one favOTing the prOpO-
sition as being tho one thing needed 10
lift Washington out Of its helpless atti-
tude toward manufacture and commerce
and the other opposing the principle Of
making the Chamber OF Commerce a body
with investments in corporate enter
prises- In some way half the members
present participated in the discussion
One Of the most interesting speeches
made was that by Chapin Brown, who had
been the adviser Of Mr.. Moses in draft
ing the amendment. Mr Brown told how
it had been drafted. with a view TO
throwing about the proposed action OF
the chamber all the safeguards possible
It was necessary first for the committee
on manufactures 10 make thorough in
vestiSati0n of the enterprise. The next
was 10 report the findings TO the board
ton. and then to be passed upon by the
chamber itself. AIr. Brown thought that
the modus operandi Of the proposition re-
duced liability TO the minimum and fore
stalled any ill-adViSed or foolish invest
ment in the stock Of corporations.
Wants Moral Support.
Mr.. Noses explained that it was not IN
tended to invest largely in the stock Of
Endorsement had been obtained, sub
scription Of a few shares Of stock amount
ing to $500 or so would be asked, so that
it could be said the chamber had given
the proposed enterprise its moral and
financial support. Then Mr.. Moses said
the necessary money 20 start any factory
in reason could be raised by popular sub
scripton.
So many objects were raised 70 the
amendment and its wording that P. N.
Brown offered an amendment to the
amendment which inserted the word
proposed" before the word subscribe
IN the original draft and added the fol-
lowing words at the end:
And further that such stock shall be held bv
three trustees for the chamber. and that no sfo-t
shall be subscribed for until aprrDrviatior shan
have been made % paw for the same from available
money in the treasury Of the Chamber Of Commerce
This form Of the proposed amendment
Immediately raised the question whether
the chamber had the right under the con-
stitution 70 pass it without five DAYS
notice being given, and in the parlia-
rnentary tangle which resulted from the
settling Of that problem the chamber ad-
jOurned without action.
Mai. William Y. Judson, Engineer
Commissioner Of the District, was pres
ent by invitation. His election as honor
AIRY member Of the Chamber was passed
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