The Washington times., 1911-01-20
PLAN REJUvENAT|ON
OF BOARD OF TRADE
Members of National Organ
ization Propose to Make
Ii Real Power.

Thorough reorganization of the Ma
tional Board of Trade probably will be
effected within the next six months for
the purpose of making that great body
Of business men a real power in the
nation.
This has been agreed upon by a num-
Der of members of the board who are
determined that it's continued existence
undr present conditions would be use
less. A committee has been appointed
to devise ways and means by which the
organization can be rejuvenated. Sert-
Gus consideration is being given to a
scheme to reorganlze along the lines
of the National Council of Commerce, of
which H. E. Miles,. of Racine, Wis, is
a member.
The reorganization committee consists
of John P. Truesdell, of the New York
chamber of commerce, chairman; W. r.
Tucker, of Philadelphia; John H. Fahey,
of the Boston chamber of commerce;
Albert J. Logan, Of the Pittsburg cham
, Der Of commerce, and Charles England,
of Baltimore.
This committee is to report in six
months as to the best method Of putting
the Board of Trade on a national foot
ing which will enable it to become a
really effective organization. The pres
ent plan is to outline a scheme which
will make the organization as power
full as the British board of trade.
Wants Government Aid.
In order that this may be accom-
plished the committee expects to appeal
TO Secretary Nagel, of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor, to give 1t the
assistance of the Government somewhat
after the manner in which the British
government recognizes the board OF
trade of that country as the representa-
tive organization of the business inter-
ests of the country. Secretary Nagel
has been made acquainted with the
plans of the reorganization committee,
but he will not commit himself on the
proposition until the committee comes
to him at the conclusion of its laborS
with an outline of what it proposes
to do.
Dissatisfaction with the manner in
which the National Board of Trade is
being conducted is the cause of the in
vestigation now under way. The an
nual convention of the board, which has
just been concluded in this city has con-
Nnced many of the members that in
stead Of being representative of the
business interests of the country the
National Board of Trades annual meet
ings in Washington are social rather
than business affairs and that the
oretical and academic questions are dis
cussed at the meetings to the exclusion
of subjects which are real and vital
to affiliated bodies throughout the
country.
To Be National Body.
The investigating committee will pro-
coed with its investigation, to the COM
pleted within sixty days, with a view to
making the National Board of Trade !
an organization which will make its in |
fiuence felt not only in Washington upon |
matters of national legislation, but |
also in the States in matters of State |
legislation.
Members of Congress pay little atten-
tfon TO resolutions passed by the present |
organization. regardless of the subject |
matter of the resolution. 1t is desired |
to make Congress and the Government |
realize that the board of trade is an |
organization to be considered in such |
matters as currency reform and mer-
chant marine, but It is recognized |
that there will have to be extensive re-
forms within the organization before |
this can be brought about.