Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-16

should serve as a warning to our bust
ness men that markets must be founo
ness is lack OF corporation among the
commercial organizations in all paris
of our country.
Panama Canal Tolls.
1.-THE Panama canal, In which the
American people will have an investment
of over $500 900. 900. will soon be open TOT
traffic Nearly every one of our COM
mercial rivals is already preparing to
meet the new conditions which will ex-
ist when this artificial waterway makes
its changes in the currents OF uaue'
Strong European influences are being ex-
erted in the direction Of low tolls. that
. they may reap the greatest advantage OF
this Improvement at the lowest cost. II
our tolls are placed at too low nsuIe'
there is danger that 1T may d1sarranse
rates i'm the transcontinental railroads
ON the other hand. the tolls should not
be so high as TO make excessive conti-
mental rates possible. 1t Is the OPINION
of many that a decided advantage should
be given TO our American coastw1se
shipping in the use of the canal.
THE principal reason for an apparent
lack Of crystallized public opinion on TINS
subject is due entirely to the absence OF
co-opfrafion among commercial pooies.
In is well for the business men OF the
United States to understand that the con-
trolling factors in our Interstate ana lot
eiSn commerce are at the nations capital
and in order TO get the best results. and
that speedily there must be national
organization, with headquarters at wash
ington, able to advise the business men
of the United States about legislation
concerning business.
zone of the difficulties we suffer from
is that the business interests having most
at stake, and that are widely scattered
throughout the couRtry. do not avail
themselves of the advantage OF agreeing
upon policy which would be most help
full. Often groups of business men repre-
senting various sections present their
views in such a manner that members OF
Congress are forced to compromise In Or
der to get any legislation in the direction
desired. The best compromise obtafnable
is never so good as an original proposal
Wen thought out and agreed upon by
those whose interests are most affected.
This policy Is precisely that which OBJ
tains in the most advanced countries OF
Europe.
Duty Of Business Men.
We are sometimes disposed to speak
harshly of the members or our legisla-
tive bodies. and especially of the Con-
gress, but We must remember that, as
rule. few of them have had extended
business experience to enable them to
enact the right kind of legislation. II
our business men, then. through indinef-
ence, Withhold from them the Information
which would enable them to legisiate
wisely, there Is no one to blame but the
business men themselves.
The bureau of the National Board OF
Trade at Washington has sent out nearly
thirty thousand CONFIDENTIAL letters,
pamphlets. documents and communica-
tons re.ating to treaties and soreign and
domestic commerce. which have been Is
sued by various departments of the gov
eminent This work should be Continued
intelligently and systematically, and
should have the moral and financial sup
port of the business men of the United
States
president Butler of Columbia Uni
versity said that the facts should be
faced that the government was at war
with economic forces. He thought that
emotional insanity was sometimes be-
ing mistaken for moral enthusiasm
The fact was we were living in q
period of development when institu-
lions were put to it to keep pace with
the actual and ordinary developments
of commerce.
Tomorrow you have called a con-
vention of delegates from leading or
troll. ! hope the powerful influence OF
such a convention may be used to
bring about better understanding of
the Sherman law. The country seems
in a waiting mood. Now we should
point the remedy, for conditions for
Annual reports were read by Secre-
tary A. T. Anderson and Treasurer
William II. Tucker showing the
growth and development of the Ma
tionai Board OF Trade during the last
year.
Following the reports of the officers
committees on particular subjects were
appointed and proceeded to organize
and draft their reports. These COM
mittees will make their reports at the
o'clock tonight in the red room of the
New willard
Whether the National Board Of Trade
will consider at any Of It's sessions the
proposition advanced by Postmaster Gen.
eral Hitchcock for the government own
ership of the telegraph lines Of the coun-
try has not yet been determined. The
question has not been put officially be-
fore the board in the shape of a resolu-
ton. but the interest In the matter Is
considerable. and the board may decide
to take IL up.
The Washington Board of Trade, which
Is constituent member Of the national
board, as is the Washington Chamber Of
for consideration resolutions calling for
legislation to encourage the American
merchant marine and a'so for annual
appropriations for the river and harbor
improvement Of the country.
Banquet Tomorrow Night.
The session tomorrow will be devoted to
the considerat'o on Of the orporation prob
lem Senator John Sharp Williams.
Charles A. Prouty. chairman Of the inter-
state commerce commission: Senator
Charles +. Townsend and William S. Har-
vey. president of the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museum. are among the speakers.
The annual banquet will e held tomOr-
row night, President La lame acting "a
POSTMASTER. The list of speakers In
cludes Secretary Charles Nagel of the
Department of Commerce and Labor
Senator Theodore Burton. Huntington
Wilson, Representative L. 4. Padgett,
cha rman OF the commission on economy
and efficiency.
Officers OF the organization will he cho-
sen the last day of the meeting. Thurs
day
The list Of delegates and the organiza-
tons which they represent In attendance
at he convention. are as follows:
Akron tOhio) Chamber of Commerce
- &. Barber.
American Exporters and Importers
Association-William G.. Peck, Thomas
Eddy.
American Seed Trade Association-Al-
bert Mccullough. Charles II. Breek.
American Warehousemen's Association
-. hiiip Cooley, Albert M. Read
Augusta Cotton Exchange and Board
OF Trade-A. J. Salinas.
Baltimore Chamber of Commerce