The Washington times., 1911-01-03
COMMERCE CHAMBER
IS FACING A CRISIS
Election of D. ]. Callahan to
First Vice Presidency
the Issue.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

of Commerce to their own. personal ad-
dividual member of the Chamber in
Where Interests Were Served.
But the possibilities Of the situation
are not the only alarming features by
which the individual member is con-
fronted. The individual member Of the
Chamber has just had forceful Illus
tration of what happens when such
an institution as the Chamber OF Com
merce or the Board of Trade is domi-
mated by special interests.
Note the great street car seat investi-
CATION, recently conducted by the trans
portation committee of the Board of
Trade. This committee was appointed
by General Harries in his capacity as
president of the Board Of Trade. Six
weeks ago It file da report which has
become the joke of the business COM
munity of Washington. In that report
it seriously and ponderously declared
that the only transportation question SO
vital as to demand special inquiry by
the committee was the question whether
the street cars of Washington should
have seats that run lengthways or cross
ways of the cars!
interchangeable transfers, crowding OF
cars, rates of fare, ventilation Of cars,
control of capitalization, distribution Of
earnings, capitalization Of surplus, con-
solidation of the two companies with
view to lower charges and better serv-
ice, the proposed public utilities COM
mission-these questions were all ig-
nored, but the seat question was looked
upon as the one thing vital, the only
thing affecting the welfare OF every
man, woman, and child in the District,
the sole thing that must be 'investi-
gated"
So the committee conducted a very
formal, very serious investigation. 1t
propounded to its witnesses such mo-
mentous queries as this:
Have you ever heard any complaint
from people of short stature against
the longitudinal seat car on the ground
that they find it difficult to reach the
straps by which to steady themselves
when they cannot obtain seats?'
An Important Conclusion.
The committee reached the conclusion
long hauls and longitudinal-seat cars
for short hauls. Then 1t recommended
that, in purchasing cars in the future,
both companies buy cross-seat cars, and
no others.
The investigation was a case of the
prostitution of the purposes of an or
ganization of business and professional
men-the Board of Trade-to serve the
personal desires of the interests that
had come to control II.
That is the sort OF use to which II is
not unfair or Illogical to expect the
Chamber Of Commerce may be put If
its control passes into the hands Of the
interests back Of Mr.. Callahan's can
didacy.
Now, as to the Chamber of Commerce
The chamber has justified itself. The
reason 1t has justified itself is that It is
a democratic institution. 1t has accom-
plished in four years what the people
OF Washington had never been able to
accomplish without II in a century. IT
mas drawn together the independent,
aggressive. progressive business and
professional men of Washington in a
movement for the common good. 1t
stands for the people and for progress.
It has never been used to promote self
ish or personal interests.
Where Danger Lies.
Except for the newly organized Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, the
Chamber Of Commerce is the only or
ganization in Washington which repre-
sents the progressive thought of the
community. Its period of usefulness to
the community will be ended II any
special interest or corporation influence
becomes dominant in its government.
Today the people of Washington and
the Congress of the United States give
ear when the Chamber of Commerce
speaks. AS the representative of any
its deliberations. its, recon-
its policies. will be treated
as the report of the Board of Trades
committee has been
treated-contemptuous