The Washington times., 1910-09-16
BUSINESS MENFIGHT
NAVAL STORE PLAN
Will Take Matter to Con-
greSS, Say Opponents
of Project.
DESIRE CONFERENCE
WITH COMMISSION
Officials Wish 70 Learn Course TO
Be Pursued In Constituting
New Law.


and one which would lead 10 militarism
In the United States, the plan of the
Navy Department 10 establish commits
sary stores in Washington. ANNAPOLIS.
and other cities which are naval sta
tons Is TO meet an organized opposition.
To enlist the support of every Cham
Der OF Commerce. and Board Of Trade
IN the country in campaign to have
Withdrawn from the law the authority
under which Acting Secretary OF the
Navy Winthrop has ordered the estab-
hshment Of these stores is the plan Of
action which the Washington Chsuber
Of Commerce viii be asked TO adopt al
its next meeting
Decide to Act.
This decision was reached at q meet
ing OF committees represenrfnp- the
Chambers Of Commerce Of AunaD01fs and
washington held yesterday afternoon in
the local chamber, acting upon the sug-
5estiosi Of Ross P. Andrews. who pre-
sided
The Annapolis delegation. led bv
Mayor James F. Strange, called the At
tenuon o. the Washington men N the
Navy Department order estab1isrf1g
fully-eQuipDed commissaries first Al
Washington and ANNAPOLIS and later AZ
other naval stations he pointed to T.
as menace 10 the business life Of An
napolls- and as a serious uencroachuert
IN Washington and other places by the
Government upon the cities retail uoer-
chants.
1he Annapolis merchants asserted that
the ancient city was dependent for life
upon the Naval Academy. its merchants
hVed because they supplied the needs Of
the academy attaches. and now the
Government. through the navy. pro
posed 10 take away this means Of slls-
unence by establishing a store Of sun
pies with which the merchants could
not hope TO compete
Cowie Criticised
Paymaster Covvie was criticised for
o having suggested the order as q meas
70 increase his popularity in the navy
The belief was expressed that the DoIfcv
OF extending the cOmmisssry store was
not a governmental policy. but a
bureaucratic one, and that while little
nope existed for having il abandoned by
the department, a successful appeal
might be made to Congress by the bust
ness men Of the country
It was pointed out that the Tinted
States could buy cheaper than any .per-
son OF corporation. could sell for less
than merchants could buy. and that II
II chose TO 90 into the retail business
against local business men there was
no hope Of successful competition
R P Andrews outlined the night which
was being made against the Postoffce
Departments policy Of continuing the
free printing Of stamped envelopes. He
showed that the fight was against 2
bureaucratic policy and not against 2
governmental one, for the House had
passed bill by 197 10 q votes dong
away with the custom, but that there
was not time enough TO get the bill
passed by the Senate at the last session
Fight Is Planned.
He said the fight on the commissarv
store would probably have TO be waEed
in the same way, and suggested that
resolutions be adopted by the commit
tee for Endorsement by the whole Cham
Der Of Commerce, these resolutions 10
he sent 70 every business organization
o. the kind in the country enIisting their
support through their Representatives
and Senators.
This suggestion met with unanimous
approval, and, after further discussing
the dangers attendant upon an extern
sion Of the naval policy. the meeting
adjourned Those representing the An
napOliS Chamber Of Commerce were
Mayor Strange, John DOuwY William r
CnlldS, EnnallS WaSSamanns William q.
Brewer, Raymond l. Moss, and Harry
L Brewer secretary Of the Annapolis
Chamber Of Commerce
The committee representing the Retail
Merchants Association Of the Chamber
of Commerce were r P Andrews, Har-
~ kaufman. Morris Hahn, NJ A. Leese, /
and j. PlIiID Herman