The Washington herald., 1911-12-13
CHAMBER REJECTS
FINANCE MEASURE
Declines to Approve Stock
Company Enterprise.
WILL EMPLOY PUBLICITY MAN
Majority in Chamber of Commerce
Refuses to IndOrse Change of
merciaI BodY-PresS Agent to
Draw Salary of $1,000 Year.

All the splendid oratorICal effort brough
forth in time of stress by Charles w.
Darr and a few trusty yeomen failed to
save the Cummins financial measure
from relegation to the outer darkness at
the regular meeting of the Chamber Of
Commerce last night Twice the plan
was brought before the Chamber board
of directors in the past week, and twice
no action was taken. 1t came TO the
full meeting of the Chamber last night
as a stranger to many, who declined to
go on record as favoring a land promo
tion enterprise, officially backed by the
Chamber OF Commerce.
Another measure, nearly as important,
passed the Chamber by vote of a to
90. This was the plan to employ a public
ity man at salary of s., 400 year, with
a stenographer at $500 per annum. D. j.
Callahan was the godfather of the pub
licity plan, and in the end, decisively
won his point, though in debeate the
success OF the measure was doubtful
Refuse to Change Policy.
In adopting one plan and discarding
another, the Washington Chamber of
Commerce refused to change its policy
from that of a civic organization to
commercial one. This point was used
with telling effect by enemies of the
finance plan. In effect the plan of B. v
Cummins, former land agent of the Rock
Island Railroad, was to have the Cham
Der appoint a committee of three atto--
neys-n-fact, who would organize a stock
company, issue stock to cover the notes
of members of the Chamber, which would
be devoted to the purchase of suburban
property in Washington.
The land would be Subdivided and i'm
proved, thus enhancing its value, and sold
at price to cover cost and profit of l2ls
per cent, which would go to the Chamber
of Commerce for the financing of the
s., 10000 George Washington Memorial
Hall. In, addition, the plan was expected
to bring to Washington 5000 families of
retired farmers, merchants, and business
men of the territory west of the Missouri
River, who would not constitute a drain
on the resources of the city.
Oppose Finance Plan.
George Y. Worthington and P. T.
Moran were the plans chief oppo-
nents, basing their attack not on the
validity of the idea, but on the position
in which the Chamber of Commerce
would naturally place itself through
the support of a land promotion propo-
sition, no matter how worthy. 1t Is
possible that the matter might have
gone over for further consideration,
but for the lateness of the hour and
the fact that the board of directors
had twice failed to act. Mr.. Darr called
for a decision and the defeat of the
measure was almost overwhelming.
Considerable opposition apparently
developed to the publicity plan during
the debate, and the result was dubious.
Chiefly through the efforts of Isaac
Cans and D. J. Callahan, however, its
benefits were unfolded and a trial of
the method asked. The vote was so
IN A votes for the measure, with 80
against II.
The committee has selected the man for
the position, but his name was not an
nounced His duties will consist of pre-
pairing magazine and newspaper articles
dealing with Washington from every ad-
vantageous standpoint. His work will
be under the direce supervision of a. ON
mittee appointed by the president OF the
Chamber.
Bell withdraws Resignation.
President Oyster announced that a spe-
cIal committee had called upon Charles
]. Bell, who recently rendered his resig-
nation as vice president of the organiZa-
ton, and that through their efforts Mr.
Bell had reconsidered and would remain
an. officer of the organization. Richard
B. watrous, secretary of the American
Civic Association, rendered the Chamber
an invitation to the sessions of the
American Civic Association, of which he
Is secretary, and z. ]. Webster, of Spo-
kane Wash, gave a very brief talk on
the beauties OF Washington compared
TO other capitals Of the world.
Nwv-.