Evening journal., 1911-02-03
TRADE BOARD
NEEDS MONEY
Almost Embarrassed Because
$4,000 in Dues Remain
Unpaid
DISCUSS COST OF
MARKET STREET LIGHTING

WIN ltS various committees more /
active than ever before in the work |
for betterments for this city, the |
Board of Trade, according TO reports |
made at the meeting held last even !
ing, is practically financially cmbar- |
rassed, owing to the fact that many
business men belonging to the body |
| have neglected to pay their dues for
the year which ends April LIST. Many
of the business men who attended the
meeting last evening we're surprised
to learn that back unpaid dues on the
boards books now, total in the neigh
borhood Of $4,000.
Owing TO the activity Of the trade
/ body at this time the necessity for
/ having this money in the treasury
without further delay was apparent
to all and a plan was formulated sub
| ject to the future action Of the direct
ors. looking towards its collection
and to the dropping of delinquent
members from the membership rolls
! II they do not within the next few
months pay up
The unfavorable financial condition
of the board was shown during a dis
cussion led by Oscar T. Crosby, of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
ton Company. which arose from the
proposition now under consideration
relative to raising the annual dues
from $5 to $40. A vote will be taken
on the subject soon and meantime a
collector will be appointed to canvass
the members with view to securing
the back dues.
Mr., Crosby in speaking Of the ac-
tiyity of the Board suggested that it
would be well to employ a permanent
secretary who would devote his entire
time and attention to the work Of the
board, with a salary that would JUS
tify such activity but this suggestion
was held over pending the result Of
the vote on the question of dues.
II. G. Mehaffey, chairman OF the in
dustrial committee of the board, sug-
gested that it would be well to issue
a pamphlet setting out Wilmington's
advantages as a manufacturing and
business city for distribution among
business men and manufacturers who
might possibly be induced to come
here. This suggestion met with gem
eral favor
Lighting Cost Up.
Desmond NJ Cronin, of the shoe
firm of Pyle and Cronin, speaking as a
member of the mercantile committee,
told of the progress being made in
the scheme to secure better lighting
facilities for Market street and read
short report on the cost of electric
current as quoted by the Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company
showing the cost to be double that
paid previous TO the consolidation Of
the electric companies of the city. In
this report the question was asked,
rrra II, tffo Of
rates had so greatly advanced. The
prices quoted by other electric COM
papies, notably that of East Bridge
port, Conn.,, we're shown to be much
lower than those charged by the local
corporation.
Members of the municipal commit
tee reported on their work looking
towards the passage by the Legis-
lature Of new bills making radical
changes i'm the municipal government.
The measures now being advocated
by the Board of Trade include the
reduction of the membership in Coun-
ell to nine, a simplified ballot bearing
only the names of Offices to be filled
and the nominees without any party
designation, an increase i'm the powers
of the Board of Health and Of the
Water Board, and changes in the pres
ent method Of collecting taxes. New
measures under consideration, ac-
cording to Chairman r. Chalkley Hat
ton, include changes in the laws gov
erning street paving, increase in the
power of the Street and Sewer Com
mission and the election of a fire mar
shall and his first and second assist
ant by City Council instead of by the
fire companies.
The question Of approving Of a
measure taking the choice of fire
chief provoked discussion during the
course Of which il was suggested that
such a move would be a step towards
the establishment of a paid depart.
ment I'm this city. The measure was
finally referred TO the Legislative
committee for investigation.
Chairman Rudolph, of the socia
committee. submitted a communica,
ton he had received offering the ser
vices Of a L. S. engineer as lecturer
on the Panama Canal. The lecture
it was explained would be illustrated
with stereoptican views. IL was de
cided to make an effort to secure per
mission to use the auditorium Of tn,
High School in which to hold the en-
tertainment.
William ID. AIullin, chairman OF tn
delegation from the Board which at
tended the annual convention Of tn
National Board of Trade. held las
month i'm Washington. read a repor
showing that Wilmington bushes
men had been we'll represented on tn
various committees appointed by tn
national body. and that a number q
recommendations made by represent
atives from this city had been adopt
ed by the convention.