Evening star., 1911-05-26
MERGER IS BEATEN
Board of Trade Votes Down
Proposition.
BALLOTS SHOW 145 TO 88
Lively Debate on the Subject Con-
tinues for Three Hours.
FINAL RESOLUTION MR.. EDSON'S
FINAL RESOLUTION MR.. EDs0N's
Thinks Existence of Chamber OF
Commerce Necessary to CONNER
cial Development of District.

claI Development OF District.
The Board of Trade rejected the prop
osition to merge with the Chamber oil
commerce by a large majority al a spe-
cial meeting in the New Willard Hote
last night. The vote turning down the
merger was 145 10 IS.
The resolution adopted-offered b. John
JOY Edson-was 50 worded as 10 act di-
rectly upon the question at issue and
make IL appear that neither at present
nor in the future would the Board OF
Trade consider a merger with the Cham
Der OF Commerce.
FOR more than three hours last night
the pros and cons OF the plan were dis
cussed, and at times there was strong
1eehng manifested on both sides. Busi-
ness men were aroused by the sugges-
tion that the Board of Trade should con-
1ne itself strictly 10 civic matters NJ l.
Weller, who IS not a member of the
chamber, challenged any one TO show
him in the charter OF bylaws of the
board anything which tended 10 prove
that the board was not a trade organiza
uon or anything that specified the board
was a civic Improvement body alone.
E c. Graham was brought to his feet
plainly angered. by a suggestion of Hope
Darneflle to the effect that since most
of the members Of the Chamber of
Commerce had already had vote when
this merger proposition was before the
chamber for action, 1T would be a
graceful thing for them II they would
retire or refrain from voting now, and
let the other members of the board
have had do hat
is best to- do il, the premises"
Mr.. Darneille's suggestion was greet
ed with applause. and when w. T.. Shan
non obtained recognition a little later
Mr.. Shannon declared that he, for one
although favoring the merger did not
intend to cast vote.
Had the Chamber of Commerce known
that such sentiment as is evidenced by
the applause following Mr.. Darneille's s
remark found place in large number of
the members of tho board II never would
have voted for merger said Mr.. Shan
non.
Starts Ball Rolling.
Thomas w. Smith started the ball roll
ing by introducing resolution providing
for the appointment of a committee of
seven to act with similar committee
from the Chamber of Commerce in draw
ing up plan for the merger of the two
organizations, with instructions to select
chairman not one of their number. but
a member of both bodies. The joint COM
mittee was to make a report to both
bodies when IL had completed It's work
The resolution was similar TO that adopt
cd by the Chamber OF Commerce last
week.
Adds B. Browne was the first man to
take the floor in opposition to the merger.
and he warned the members of the Board
of Trade that IL they Joined In one organ
3zation with the Chamber Of Commerce
and put the commercial and civic effort
and development Of the city together
members OF Congress would take afrront.
since they were opposed to having Wash
ington a commercial city.
He suggested in that event the tendency
of Congress would be to dissolve the part
and the citizens of Washington, whereby
the government paid one-half the ex-
penses OF the city government
MI. Browne the noffered a resolution as
q substitute for Mr.. Smiths resolution,
which provided merely that the Board of
Trade should continue doing the work 1t
has done In the past. In the light of
his remarks. members of the board in
terpreted the resolution as an attack on
the commercial development of Washing
ton. and Mr.. Browne was kept explaining
the rest of the evening that he was not
In any way antagonistic. but strongly and
opment of the city He finally withdrew
his resolution and permitted Mr.. Edson' S
substitute to be acted upon.
Mr.. Moses for Merger.
Arthur C. Moses led the argument for
the merger.
Senator Gallinger. chairman of the
Senate District committee. told me within
the last few hours that the best results
for Washington could. In his opinion, be
obtained by a merger of the Board OF
dc nd hEA IA hor ~ 90
said Mr.. Moses Representative j..
Hampton Moore of Pennsylvania told me
that Washington should have light man
ufacturies, such as have made Paris
France. l see such a future for this city,
when IL shall be representative of the en-
tire country Paris is of France.
stand for this merger because the con-
Eolidated bodies viii have much greater
weight when they go before Congress
than have the two bodies today. Let 1t
be called the Board of Trade, if YOU wish
Why should we quibble over a name? But
let us get together.
The substitute resolution offered by
Mr.. Browne lodges the question" de-
clared John l. Weaver. why not face
this proposition like men and settle it,
Mr.. Weaver spoke in favor OF the merger.
W. n. Singleton opposed the resolution
looking to a considera ton of the merger.
lie said that merger might he brought
about In four ways-by the dissolution
of the Board OF Trade. by the dssolu-
tfon of the Chamber of Commerce. by
the union of both and by the dissolution
of both and the formation Of third
body He declared that in each case the
plan was impracticaL Illegal and hyster-
iCat
Mr.. Singleton was answered by Conrad
IL Syme, who insisted that there was
nothing in the charter constitution of
either body which would prevent a legal
union. He insisted that the charter of
the Board of Trade showed the organiza-
tion was organized a trade body and
not as a civic body.
"Is il better for the Board OF Trade to
obtain legislation for a new public park
or to obtain fair railroad rates which
will permit the citizens TO purchase their
supplies at reasonable rates. asked Mr.
Syrne. When we go 10 Congress foI
legislation. members or Congress con
stantly ask why don't you get togeth.
er and let US know what the people OF
Washington really want.
Frederick l.. Siddons. speaking for Tho
merger declared that he had no doub,
the able lawyers In the Board OF Trade
and Chamber of Commerce could find a
legal way for the consolidation of tn,
two bodies IL they were employed TO dc
So He said that the necessity OF con.
soIidation was simple.
Favors United Front
I'VE need TO present a strong anc
united front TO Congress" said Mr. sid
dons THE duplication OF work done b,
the two bodies is foolish. and when they
work for opposing things their work II