The Washington times., 1911-05-02

A special meeting of the directors OF
the Board of Trade is to be called by
the president, Gen George H. Harries,
for next Monday afternoon at Ais
o'clock for the purpose of discussing
the proposed merger of the board with
the Chamber of Commerce. While the
merger was the subject of a long aid
earnest discussion at yesterday after
moons meeting of the board, no de-
ciSion was reached, and II was an
nounced by General Harries after the
Eynon that the matter would have the
right of way at special meeting to
DE called for next Monday.
The subject was brought before the
board through two reports, one from
the membership committee placing it.
and the other from the voluntary COM
mittee of James Sharp, Julius Garffnkle.
A. L. Hensey, and John b. Sleman, Jr.,
announcing that of 724 members of both
655 had voted in favor of the merger,
50 against, and 10 were non-committal.
The latter committee requested that the
result of the poll be laid before a spe-
Cial meeting of the Board of Trade, and
suggested the appointment of a CON-
mittee to meet a similar committee from
the Chamber Of Commerce.
Harries' Views.
President Harries then stated that in
order to elucidate the matter the re-
suit of the last attempt to merge the
two bodies should be made known to the
board. He said that on October 2. 1908, a
special committee. composed of John B.
Larner. Thomas w. Smith, and w. G.
Henderson. after holding conferences
with committee from the Chamber of
Commerce. had adopted a resolution
declaring for n division of functions
along commercial and non-commerCial
lines between the two bodies. He said
that this resolution has been received
by the directors of the Board of Trade
and by them transmitted to the Cham
Der Of Commerce.
Although that was done over two
years ago." said General Harries, the
Chamber of Commerce has made no re-
ply to our communication and 1t would
seem that the matter has been up to
that body since them
D. J. Callahan came quickly to the de-
fense of the Chamber and asked for the
record bearing out the history OF the
case as stated by General Harries. After
considerable digging by the secretaries,
upon motion of J. H. Small. the secre-
tary was directed to have the full min
utes ready at the next meeting. William
F. Guide also promptly asked how many
had signed the report adverse to the
merger. He was informed that eight
members were present and that the
committee consisted of twenty-eight
members.
GUIDE Is Heard
While the secretaries were looking for
the record of two years previous, Mr..
GUIDE declared that 1t was of no impor-
tance, anyway.
After more than two years expert
ence, the recommendation of the COM
mittee, that the two organizations work
along separate lines. has not been found
feasible" he said. There is no use in
talking about that now. This board has
a heavy responsibility resting upon Il
and has been asked by a majority of
members to lay the subject formally be-
fore the Board of Trade for its action.
l can see no reason now why there
should be any delay"
Mr.. Callahan followed Mr. Guide with
ouite as much carnestness of expression,
and took direct issue with General Har-
ries upon the facts in the merger his
tory. He brought out clearly for the
first time the result of the conferences
of 1908.
Mr.. Callahan then brought out that
the resolution adopted at that time ~
the directors of the Board of Trade was
drawn by Theodore Noyes, declaring
for separate functions and no merger,
while the resolution of the joint COM